The Shimba Hills National Reserve, 30km South of Mombasa, consists of rainforest, wood-‐and grassland and is very important for the conservation of plant biodiversity in this area. More than 50 percent of rare plant species in Kenya can be found in this zone. Part of this ecosystem is one of the largest coastal forests in East Africa. It is an important bird area and houses forest birdlife while the grasslands are the living environment for localized species such as the Red Necked Spur Fowl, Croaking Cisticola and Zanzibar Red Bishop.
The tropical forest of the Shimba Hills is also a unique habitat for elephants of the Kenyan coast and the last breeding herd of indigenous sable antelopes in Kenya is domiciled in this national reserve.
A special highlight of the area is the famous Sheldrick waterfall, offering the possibility to enjoy the picturesque scenery while walking down the descend to the refreshing freshwater pool at the foot of the falls. The Reserve has several breath-‐taking vantage points which offer splendid views of the rolling hills and forested countryside, the Indian Ocean and Chale island to the East and the Tsavo plains and Taita hills to the West.