Azure pools glisten at the bottom of waterfalls and 200 year old trees stretch into the canopy supporting a rich variety of bird and animal life. The forest is a vital corridor that links the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy to Mount Kenya, and one which elephants have been using for centuries.
In the 1980’s farmland became more developed on the southern side of the forest, and farmers came into regular clashes with elephants. In an attempt to alleviate fatal human/ wildlife conflict, the forest was fenced off from southern farmland in 1992. Yet the Ngare Ndare Forest Trust wasn’t registered until 2004, and a concession management agreement was finalized with the Kenya Forest Service only as recently as 2009.
Ngare Ndare Forest is sorrounded by six settlements comprising of different ethnic groups. The communities are namely Subuiga, Kisima and Mbuju found along the south-eastern to the south-western boundary; and Ethi, Ngare Ndare and Manyagalo along the north-western to the north-eastern boundary
The communities that surround Ngare Ndare Forest undertake various economic and social activities namely grazing, farming, bee keeping, herbal medicine collection, fuel wood collection etc. However, as population increases, so has the pressure on the natural resources, and this has led to the need to initiate alternatives to enhance sustainable use of forest resources. The trust gives 70% of it's eco-tourism income to support community development projects.
