Dakatcha Woodlands

For a local guide please contact the Site Support Group:

Dakatcha Woodland Conservation Group
Patrick Changawa         farmforestryactivities@yahoo.com
+254 (0)724-618661

Visit for:

• Bird watching
• Hiking at Marafa Hell’s Kitchen and Dakatcha Woodlands
• Camping – at Marafa Hell’s Kitchen (organized by Dakatcha Woodland Conservation Group, contact person- Patrick Changawa as above); get meals and supplies at Marafa Trading Centre

Don’t leave without:
Hiring a trained local guide
Visiting Hell’s Kitchen (Marafa)

Dakatcha Woodland also features cultural attractions such as the grave of Mekatilili wa Menza, an anti-colonial rule heroine; the sacred forest Kaya Singwaya; and Kapangani Rock deep in the Important Bird Area.

You can purchase a copy of the Checklist of the Birds of Dakatcha Woodland from the Nature Kenya Market Centre

Dakatcha is an extensive tract of relatively intact coastal woodland, north of the Sabaki river and between 25 and 50 km inland from the coast. The vegetation is similar to that on the western boundary of Arabuko-Sokoke forest. The landscape is gently undulating, with woodland dominated by Brachystegia spiciformis in the valleys and on the slopes, and Brachylaena huillensis-Cynometra webberi associations on top of the low hills, on red Magarini sands. Much of the useful Brachylaena has already been cut, since it is in great demand as a long-burning, smokeless fuelwood and for carving. There has also been extensive clearance of the hilltops for pineapple cultivation.

Birds to see at Dakatcha

Southern Banded Snake-eagle
Brown-headed Parrot
Fischer’s Turaco
Mangrove Kingfisher
Brown-breasted Barbet
Mombasa Woodpecker
Pale Batis
Chestnut-fronted Helmet-shrike
Scaly Babbler
Black-bellied Glossy-starling
Mouse-coloured Sunbird
Clarke’s Weaver
Zanzibar Bishop
Malindi Pipit
Sokoke Pipit