Thursday, September 9, 2010

Securing Karura Forest

Thursday, 26 August 2010 10:46 

The Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in partnership with the Kenya Tourism Board has embarked on a programme aimed at securing the Karura forest. The partnership will, among other things, see the forest reserve turned around into a recreational facility, which will allow Kenyans to sample newly introduced nature trails.

Karura Forest lies just on the outskirts of Nairobi city, and is managed by the KFS. Sitting on an approximate 2500 acres of land, the forest is an amazing site of its kind. Previously, the forest made the headlines for all the wrong reasons, from instances of crime to land-grabbing. Now the Kenya Forestry Service and the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) have partnered in a bid to secure the name of this key natural resource.

To witness the beauty of Karura forest, you have to drive in through the canopy of trees, arriving to its caves, which were formely used by the Mau Mau as hideouts, during the struggle for Independence. The terrain is beautiful, and a visit with friends can be exciting, especially as there is no need to worry about security.

Further in, Karura forest offers the inimitable sights and sounds of a 50-metre waterfall that creates an immediate sense of peace and and refreshment, and an undying sense of connection to nature.

According to KFS officials, there are plans to refurbish some sites to make them more attractive, and efficient for recreation. There have been plans to also turn the nearby Shell/BP Sports Club into an education centre. The KTB Managing Director says there is need to utilize all the easily available recreation facilities.

With all this beauty contained at proximal distance from the heart of the city, and as efforts to secure Karura intensify, it remains for Kenyans, first and foremost, to lend their support -just by visiting!










Courtesy of K24 & Youtube

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