This is not only a colobus conservation but also a forest protection Centre which has been in existence for the 21 years since 1997. Its core aim is to protect the endangered species of Angolan colobus, as well as protecting the forest in which these monkeys live. They offer education programmes to the school children and the local community among other activities.
Their effort has seen a remarkable reduction of monkey deaths which was mostly as a result of accidents; hit by cars while crossing the road, electrocution when they step on naked electric wires and also poaching. While driving along the Diani beach road, you are likely to notice the “colobridges” or ladders running on tree tops from one side of the road to the other. This is done by this Centre to help the colobus pass through them while crossing the road. In conjunc- tion with the Kenya Power Company, they have also done insulation on all electric wires running around and this has significantly reduced the elect
Inside the Centre, there is a monkey clinic and a vet who treats them whenever they fall sick or get accidents. You will also get to see some of the orphan monkeys in cages where they are taken care of until after six months before they are released to the forest or parks. There is also a rehabilitation center; can you imagine this? This nurtures all the monkeys collected from people’s homes by the Centre staff in conjunc- tion with the Kenya Wildlife Services. The aim of the rehab is to turn these monkeys from being pets into free wild animals.
Your tour to the centre will be crowned by taking a walk along the nearest coral ray forest with huge baobab trees among other species. Trees roots hug on each other on the ground making beautiful patterns along the forest. A coral rag forest refers to trees roots spreading above the ground because of their inability to penetrate underneath as a result of corals.
Corals are hard and rocky so you also need to be careful while walking around the forest. You will enjoy this in company of a guide who will tell you all the history about everything in their, as well as the do’s and don’ts when you come across one of those giant baboons. What you need; Make an advance notice to the centre if you want to enjoy a whole day forest walk in search of wilder primates and other creatures.
The entrance fee is 250 Kenya shillings for the resi- dents and 700 for the non-residents. Consider carrying some additional money because they sell some goodies at their reception whose in- come is geared towards the support of the facility. Its location is approximately 30 kilometers south of the Likoni Ferry and a few steps off the main Diani beach road.
