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Enhancing Wild Life and Habitat Conservation
within the Shimba Hills National Reserve

HOW IT ALL BEGAN ... IN THE MILLENIUM

DECEMBER 2000 - The millenium seems as good a time as any to launch a new association, the SHIMBA SUPPORT GROUP.

BACKGROUND: For many years the Shimba Hills National Reserve has suffered declining gate revenues, resulting in deteriorated infrastructure and diminished wildlife management, a seemingly insoluble vicious circle.

However, KWS Kwale is now determined to tackle these problems, and an initiative has been established, whereby participation in the Reserve's problems by interested members of the private sector is not only sought but welcomed.

Thus the SSG came into being during June/ July 2000, and is fully recognised by KWS.

The members of the Initial Steering Committee are:

Gideon Amboga       Senior Warden, KWS, Kwale
Fiona Alexander      Sable Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Dick Knight            Sable Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Ted Goss               Eden Wildlife Trust & Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
Dr.Rene Hailer         Baobab Trust & Sable Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
Sabine Baer           Baobab Farm, Bamburi

OBJECTIVES OF SSG

• to enhance wildlife and habitat conservation in the Shimba Hills National Reserve

• to create public awareness, and to win local support

• to assist towards fundraising and targeting of resources

• to promote a pool of diverse knowledge and skills to assist the Reserve

An early decision was reached that it would be unwise to take on too much too soon, and basically the SSG is set to tackle two main problems initially:

• to address and curb the continuing decline of the sable antelope population within the Reserve

• to rehabilitate and enhance the tourist infrastructure of the Reserve

"CAMPSITE NO.1" BECOMES "SABLE BANDAS"

In line with SSG's aims, an early example has been set by the tourist company "Kinondo Kwetu": they have provided funding for the complete rehabilitation of the self-help bandas once known as "Campsite No.1".

In exchange, they will enjoy gratis accommodation for their clients until their loan is written off.

This type of initiative is encouraged and welcomed by SSG.

So, "Sable Bandas" are once again a highly desirable overnight venue.

All facilities have been overhauled and renewed, you need only take along your food and drink.

Bookings for the four bandas, each equipped with two beds and adjoining bathroom, may be made through the KWS offices at Kwale (4159) or Mombasa (312744).

Charges for the bandas are for Residents KSh.750/= per person per night, for non-Residents US$20/= per person per night.

In addition there is a nominal charge of KSh.250/= per banda for use of the kitchen, which is equipped with gas burners.

Children are charged half-price.

The banda fee is extra to the Reserve entry fee.

MAY 2001: MEMBERSHIP - We welcome our first batch of members. 63 Individuals and 6 Corporations have joined up so far. We hope to attract many more: the stronger our Membership, the stronger our voice. 

MARIDADI MAIN GATE!

A magnificent steel sable now welcomes visitors to the Reserve.

This larger-than-life black bull designed by Tibor Gaal, was made in the Baobab Farm workshop and installed by their fundis at the Main Gate in May, a most handsome donation.

FOREST FACELIFT

Following the refurbishment of Sable Bandas, we are now able to report that during the course of 'O1all other existing tourist facilities within the Reserve will be rehabilitated.

The Makadara Glade will be re-equipped with shelters and benches, the latrine cleaned up.

New bandas will be built on Pengo Hill, a shelter at Sheldrick Falls Ranger Post, and the banda at Ocean Viewpoint (formerly Observation Point) will be reroofed.

Other campsites will be cleaned up.

The funds for this substantial programme will be made available through the generosity of the Eden Wildlife Trust.

The tracks into Mwele Mdogo have been opened up and formed again into a circuit, so that once more it is possible to drive through this superb stand of towering rainforest.

After the rains the glades are dancing with gorgeous butterflies.

Did you know that a First World War skirmish took place on Mwele Mdogo Hill ? 

Please only take this track in a 4-wheel drive vehicle, and do plan to take time out sitting quietly and listening to the secret life of the forest.

This is the heart of the Shimba Hills National Reserve.

We plan to create nice stopping and picnic sites along the track.

FOOTING IT!

The Shimba Foot Safari should take off shortly.

It operates from Sheldrick Falls Ranger post daily (except Wed) at 11 a.m. under armed escort.

Descend to view the Falls, then a moderate climb (not nearly as tough as back up to the Ranger Post!) to a level path half way up the hillside.

A breezy walk into the south with magnificent views all the way to Tanzania and the ocean, frequently sighting elephants in the bush below, followed by a gentle descent to the riverine forest of the Mkurumuji River.

Cool off on the river bank in the shady picnic site, where refreshing drinks and a lunch snack are available.

Vehicles drive to collection point at Mkurumuji via either Kidongo or Vuga, and after picking up walkers, return to Diani/Mombasa via Mwabungo.

Cost is Kshs. 500/= per person including armed escort, use of special Picnic Site and staff, and picnic snack.

A flyer will be available with details at Main Gate or KWS office, Kwale.

GAME PLAN

In order to ephance game-viewing in the Reserve, SSG is hatching plans to facilitate the importation of new mammal species, mainly antelope such as eland,topi, impala and reedbuck, and with the posibility of a very exciting, exotic creature - watch this space!

In order to give back to the sable a large chunk of territorial grassland, the KWS Management Plan for the Reserve (following SSG's recommendation) is committed to the removal of some or all of the exotic pine plantations, which are an aesthetic blight on this otherwise superbly scenic area, followed by regrassing.

This will all naturally entail a period of noise and heavy traffic movement, but there can be no doubt that the end result will be worth it.

SHIMBA beauty - flower from Pavetta.spukunda.
PHOTO: COURTESY - SABINE BAER

AUGUST 2001:  - FIELD NOTES - Jeannie Knocker writes that on 18 June 'rather a rainy day' her party spotted forty sable, ten eles, two giraffe, six buffalo, a bushbuck, a tortoise, three Impala, some Sykes and a nice variety of birds including crested guineafowl and good butterflies.

SSG comment: This highlights our recommendation that game viewing in the Reserve is often at its most rewarding during the rains, especially if you motor slowly along forest tracks immediateLy after a shower this is when to spot those quaint crested kanga, they seem to like emerging from the dripping shrubberies onto the bare earth of the track.

Similarly, other treasures like Harvey's Red Duiker and Peter's Giant Elephant Shrew stretch their legs and move to feeding grounds by leaping across tracks.

FAHMY HINAWY REMEMBERED

SSG records with sorrow the passing away earlier this year of Fahmy Hinawy, of Mombasa.

Fahmy was a fervent supporter of the Reserve, and of several students who spent research time there.

He was unfailingly enthusiastic about all conservation issues and gave generously of his time and resources to fund projects.

He loved to introduce people to the Reserve, and was a frequent visitor to Sable Bandas; and so KWS and SSG have decided to honour his memory by naming Banda No. 1 "Fahmy's Banda".

MEMBERSHIP : Membership has climbed steadily since the inception of SSG and as we go to print we have 98 Individuals and 8 Corporations on the list.

DECEMBER 2001: - FIELD NOTES : The Hon Secy, entertaining guests on a day in the Reserve, remarked "We haven't seen any warthog to-day, the grass is so Long"; before she'd drawn breath, an enormous pig bearing splendid tushes erupted from the vegetation and scurried across the road - great hilarity!

On four occasions we sat quietLy, mesmerised by small coveys of quaint crested kanga, so unafraid and confident that they pecked around our tyres.

A subadult bushbuck froze within a metre of the car, convinced that the thin curtain of vegetation between him and us offered perfect concealment.

A busy, twittering gang of Dwarf mongooses enchanted us for 10 minutes.

Experiences such as these are the reward for not being in a hurry: go into the Reserve for the whole day, wind through the towering Mwete Mdogo forest, picnic in Governor's Campsite, sit out the showers ...

WHOSE FOR SEX ?

Thanks to everyone who registered their impala sightings at Sable Entrance (Main Gate).

20 impala were released into the Reserve in May this year, and since then there have been more than 80 sightings.

It becomes apparent that a group of nine females may often be found in the area of the old airstrip, and another smaller group near Ocean Viewpoint (old Observation Point).

Please look out for the dumi !

Plans are afoot to import another male to ensure the viability of our long-term impala population.

As we go to press, a giraffe capture exercise is under way in the Bura area of Taita, the aim being to bring a little joy into the lives of our all-bull herd by bringing in a few girls.

Sex-ratio imbalance seems to be the order of the day in the Reserve: since the inexplicable demise of the Sable Bandas ostrich hen (ah, is that where the cutlery's been going?), the cocks are decidedly lonely (even sidling seductively up to motor-cars!), so the hunt is on for ostrich ladies.

MEMBERSHIP - Membership took a spectacular leap forward at our Baraza in October, and we now boast 138 Individual and 9 Corporate Members.

DONORS AND SPONSORS

Baobab Farm Ltd.  - Bamburi, Eden Wildlife Trust   - Nairobi, Tibor Gaal - Kwale , Christa Haller - Bamburi, Shimba Kenya - Kwale, Dr. Richard Leakey - Nairobi, Claudia Raven - Germany .

 

Our Contact:   SHIMBA SUPPORT GROUP: P.O. Box 81995, Mombasa, Kenya.
Phone 5486155/ 54855O1 ext.290 Email: baobabtrust@swiftmombasa.com

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