Explore the Wild Heart of Eburu Forest – one of East Africa’s last remaining montane forests.
Kenya
Part of the Mau Forest Complex, Eburu Forest is a sanctuary of natural beauty and conservation success. The Eburu Forest comprises 8,715.3 hectares of prime indigenous forest area contained within the steep hills, deep valleys and rolling foothills of Mount Eburu.
Overlooking Lake Naivasha to the south east, Lake Elementaita to the North and Lake Nakuru to the North West, the Mau Eburu forest is nestled within the folds of a geologically active volcanic mountain, whose highest peak, Ol Doinyo Eburu, stands 2,820 metres above sea level.
The forest is fully demarcated with formal title held by the Kenya Forest Service. It is one of the 22 gazetted forest blocks that comprise the Mau Forests Complex water tower.
Traditional bee-hives are allowed within the forest and are tended to by the marginalised Ogiek people. Numbering around 30,000 people, the Ogiek are some of Africa’s last remaining forest dwellers. Traditionally honey-gatherers, they survived mainly on wild fruits and roots, game hunting and beekeeping. Having inhabited the Mau Forest for many centuries, their unique way of life is closely tied to its rich biodiversity and natural resources. We are proud to support these people through the purchasing of their honey for use at Loldia House.
Eburu is home to rare species including the critically endangered mountain bongo, as well as leopard, bushbuck, colobus monkeys and hundreds of bird species. Every walk reveals new discoveries, from vibrant butterflies to the echo of turacos calling through the canopy.
Governors’ Camp Collection is proud to support the Eburu Forest Conservation Project, which works to restore degraded areas, prevent illegal logging and empower local residents as forest guardians. Your visit directly contributes to protecting this vital ecosystem and the wildlife that depends on it.
Guests staying at Loldia House can explore the forest on a game drive or a guided walk which can be organised through the Manager at Loldia House. There is a small entrance fee for Eburru.
A precious mountain forest ecosystem the natural features of Eburu forest, include its diverse forest types, steep valleys, springs and waterfalls and make it a precious ecosystem, rich in biodiversity. The forest features a broad variety of indigenous tree species, such as Prunus africana (African cherry) and Juniperus procera (African pencil cedar), among others. The forest is recognized as a hotspot for birdlife within the greater Mau Forest Complex. It is home to over 40 species of mammals, including the critically endangered mountain bongo antelope, of which about 12 animals, representing 10% of its population known to exist in the wild, are thought to survive in this forest.
The Bongo is a large antelope weighing up to 700 pounds, perfectly camouflaged with a red coat in the case of females, and dark red to almost black in the case of bulls. They normally have between ten to thirteen white vertical stripes that helps them blend into their bamboo habitat. They are browsers and feed on leaves and other forest foliage. Unfortunately their natural habitats are retiring and the Bongo Surveillance Project (supported by Rhino Ark) is a community wildlife conservation initiative which seeks to protect the precious few bongo that remain in Eburu, giving them a fighting chance to survive in their home.
