"Dupoto members are proud to offer you a forest walk passing through splendid indigenous forest where hundreds of colourful butterflies are dancing in sunny spots." 

A brilliant introduction to what is an absolutely stunning place.

Nyakweri Forest - the largest remaining forest of Trans-Mara.

It just so happens that Asuka's dog handler, Lesingo, is also part of the Dupoto Wildlife & Forest Association, and so Asuka got to hear about this incredible forest and went to visit a few times, and also helped to update their brochure. Then just a couple of weeks ago I went along, and then last week we took Brian up to take a look.

Covering 500 squared kilometres and dominated by huge East African Olives, Dispyros, Wild Olive, Kenya Greenheart and Manikara Butugi trees, as well as a home to Buffaloes, Zebras, Impalas, Waterbucks,and, a breeding ground for Elephants, it truly is an incredible place. And that's before you consider the 200 plus species of birds - Turacos, Trogans, Eagles, Wood-hoopoes, Hornbills, etc... - and the large melanistic leopards that have been spotted in the area.

Leopard footprints.

The forest forms part of the dispersal area for the animals of the Masai Mara Reserve, and also is very important in terms of water catchment. The Association has been around for the last ten years, and the young men have been protecting the forest and the animals against poachers and charcoal makers because they understand how much they need the forest.

Dupoto Wildlife & Forest Association

They haven't had many visitors in the last ten years - from what I gathered it was less than forty. But every penny they've made so far they've put back into making this a destination for visitors - above you see a perfect picnic spot with proper toilets behind, and they are even building a welcoming centre just before you enter the forest.

Welcome Centre & Toilets.

There is also a tree nursery, from which they've been supplying the local school. Although I'm sure they would welcome other customers.

Tree Nursery.

Dupoto means eternity in Maa and is the perfect name for the dream of the Association; to keep the forest forever. And all they need to keep the forest is for people to visit and enjoy themselves. Once they've completed the welcome centre they would like to then put the money back into the community by building a school and digging a borehole, so that local people see a value from the forest which is more than from cutting it down and cultivating. A good thing, as crop fields are now coming up to the edge of the forest. 

As you can see we've put a banner up for the Dupoto Forest on our front page, and soon to follow will be a website to help them market themselves better. It would be great if we could get something going with the lodges and camps like there is for the Mara Triangle Maasai Village Association (their website has just gone live, although there still needs to be a lot more content added), which I'm sure it will as a walk through the forest is such a lovely change for visitors to the Mara after being sat all the time in a car. 

We will keep you updated as things progress, but for now here are the prices and if you want to visit then get in touch and we'll pass you on to the right people.

Adult Guided Walk     1,000 KES

Child Guided Walk        500 KES

Adult Camping           1,500 KES

Child Camping           1,000 KES