Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary
Kwale
District of Kenya's Coastal Province
 Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary Over 150 Residents |
 Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary
Cycads
Fan -Like Plants |
Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary
Mombasa
Baobab Tree
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Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary — Kenya
Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary is located in East Africa, in the
Kwale District of Kenya's Coastal Province, and is
a mere 45 kilometers southwest of Mombasa. The sanctuary
has an area of 36 km², and it, along with the
adjacent Shimba Hills National Reserve combine to
form the Shimba Hills Ecosystem.
Mwaluganje is located in an ecosystem characterized
by rolling hills, steep ridges, cliffs and winding
water shades. A forested area of approximately 23,736
hectares, comprising of Shimba forest, Mkongani West,
Mkongani North, and Mwaluganje forest, also surrounds
it. The Mwaluganje forest is part of the current sanctuary,
and the beautiful Mwaluganje Travelers Tented Camp
is in the forest reserve.
The
ecological attractions in Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
are diverse with scenic beauty such as the great natural
forests, awe-inspiring cliffs and the warm blue Indian
Ocean. Other natural attractions are "God's Bridge,"
"Time Rock" and the traditional shrine that
characterizes the sacredness of the community.
Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary was created in 1993 to conserve
the serene surroundings, which house the rare and
endangered African elephants, moist deciduous forest,
riparian vegetation, and other special attractions
available in the ecosystem.
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Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary Attractions
Elephants
Experience: Elephants
are the main attraction at Mwaluganje Elephant
Sanctuary and there are as many as 150 residing
there. Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is a historical
bull area where independent elephant bulls grow
in preparation for the demanding life of breeding
males.
Their
families live in the neighboring Shimba Hills
Reserve and Mwaluganje forest. On occasion,
family groups visit males during the mating
season, or cross the sanctuary as they travel
between feeding areas. Once or twice a year,
several related elephant families join up and
travel as a unit of 200 females and calves (of
all ages).
They
gather in the Shimba Hills and move into Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary during the rainy season (December,
and March/April). Such large herds usually last
for no longer than three to four days, and are
consequently a rare and magnificent sight to
see. Like human families at reunion, these gatherings
are marked by noisy greetings (i.e. trumpeting).
Botanical
Experience: Dinosaur Cycads are fan-like
plants that evolved around 300 million years
ago, and can be sighted while driving across
the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary. They were
most plentiful during the Jurassic period (180
million years ago), when dinosaurs roamed the
earth.
All
six of Kenya's Cycad species (Eucephalartos
hildebrantii) are found in Mwaluganje. This
species can grow to be 150 years old. Today's
cycads are confined to tropical and sub-tropical
regions. There are 11 general and approximately
250 species. The second largest is the African
family, the Eucephalartos, which consists of
60 species.
Baobab
Trees: Mwaluganje Elephant
Sanctuary baobab trees (adansonia digitata)
is one of Africa's most unusual deciduous trees.
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The
interior of its trunk (reaching up to 9 meters (30
feet) in diameter) and the lower branches are soft
and spongy and can store large quantities of water.
Baobabs are specially adapted for long dry seasons.
They are leafless during this time of year, thus reducing
transpiration or water loss. The baobab is an extremely
slow growing tree, reaching up to 18 meters (60 feet)
in height.
Truly
giant specimens may be several thousand years old.
Bats pollinate the flowers of the baobab, and many
other animals depend on the unique tree for food and
shelter. Look
out for them in the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary.
The
Scenic Landscape: Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary valleys overlooking the Taita Hills
are a sight to behold with quite flowing waters and
serene surroundings it almost like in paradise. These
beautiful hills roll up to Tsavo National Parks to
the East and the Indian Ocean to the west, and are
marked by striking features like the: Golini cliffs,
Kitanze Falls, Manolo River, which consists of the
Riverine vegetation and Meandering Rivers.
Educational
Experience: Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary was
launched in the early '90's largely to reduce local
human/elephant conflicts, which were on the rise due
to both more elephants and more people. Elephants
would destroy crops and people would retaliate.
More
than 200 families have voluntarily contributed land
to the reserve, agreeing not to farm this important
elephant habitat. Today, they live nearby and manage
the sanctuary, earning more from tourism than from
farming, a critical factor in ensuring the survival
of these elephants. The sanctuary has also enabled
the community to build school classrooms and enjoy
a steady water supply and better roads.
Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary is currently receiving support
from Eden Wildlife Trust, Born Free Foundation, East
African Wildlife Society and Pact Inc to build the
community's capacity to run the sanctuary sustainable
for the benefit of present and future generation.
 Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary Independent
Bull Elephant |
 Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary Kwale District of Kenya
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 Mwaluganje
Elephant Sanctuary Large Elephant Herds
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