Discover Bomet: Forests, Wildlife and Waterfalls

In the Transmara Forest, Bomet stands out as a destination with a distinct forest and nature focus. The forest is part of the Mau Forest Complex within Bomet County and is home to bongos, giant forest hogs, cooper-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, elephants, leopards and buffalo. It is also home to numerous bird species. Species presence may vary.

Forest landscapes in the county

Part of Bomet County lies within the extensive Mau Forest, which is home to various tree species, wildlife and birds. Transmara Forest is also the only national reserve in Bomet County. Together, these details show two scales of the forest theme: the specific Transmara habitat and the larger Mau forest region, which extends across part of the county. To get your bearings, it is worth distinguishing between these levels: Transmara is the named forest and national reserve, while Mau refers to the broader forest region. This means that Bomet’s nature appeal cannot be reduced to a single animal species or landscape type; forests, biodiversity and reserve status are distinct aspects of the destination.

Caves, waterfalls and river areas

Caves and waterfalls are found in the sub-counties of Konoin, Bomet Central, Bomet East and Chepalungu, along the Itare, Nyongores, Amalo and Chepkulo rivers. Unlike the unified view of Mau and Transmara, this theme is spread across several of the sub-counties named here. So when planning your time in Bomet by theme, you can distinguish between forests and wildlife on the one hand, and caves, waterfalls and river areas on the other. This can help you prioritize the destination’s natural attractions according to your interests.

Chepalungu as another forest location

A section of Chepalungu Forest in Bomet County has been fenced off for ecotourism activities. This makes Chepalungu another point of interest for the forest theme, alongside Transmara Forest and the larger Mau Forest Complex.

Kenya in a broader context

Elsewhere in Kenya, you will find other landscapes and cultural heritage sites with a different character. The Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests comprise ten separate forest areas stretching for around 200 kilometres along the coast. They contain the remains of fortified villages belonging to the Mijikenda, known as Kayas. The Kayas were established from the 16th century onwards and abandoned by the 1940s. They are regarded as sacred places and homes of the ancestors, and are cared for by councils of elders. This cultural forest theme complements Bomet’s focus on nature with an example of history and heritage conservation at the national level in Kenya.

Another natural area in Kenya is the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley. It is the world’s most important feeding ground for lesser flamingos, with around 1.5 million birds moving between the lakes. The system also provides the most important nesting and breeding grounds for great white pelicans in the Great Rift Valley. The Lake Turkana National Parks include Sibiloi National Park, as well as the national parks on South Island and Central Island. Across the country, you will therefore find lakes and park landscapes alongside forests and cultural heritage sites. Each Kenyan example has its own geographical setting; Bomet’s focus on forests and nature remains distinct from them.

Discover more destinations: Siongiroi, Bomet, Coast, Tana River, Rift Valley, Migori, Mombasa, Kitui County.

For the broader travel overview: Kenya.