Kibodo

Beyond the mountains and grassy plains of Kenya’s interior is a wild coastal world just waiting to be explored. The long Kenyan coastline benefits from the influence of converging wildlife, terrain and indigenous tribes to provide a uniquely African experience out of most visitors’ reach. Only a handful of westerners have made inroads into the area, making this exploration extraordinary. Along the coast the culture is a unique blend of Arab and Swahili cultures, centered around the town of Lamu, a jewel of an ancient civilization. The town transports visitors back in time to a maze of a city without motorcars, relying on donkeys for all transportation. EpicQuest has exclusive access to regions of the Kibodo that only a handful of westerners, other than scientists and conservationists, have had the opportunity to explore. Best accessed by helicopter, wild and savage; this is Africa at its most primitive. For contrast, begin and end the day on the deck of Manda Bay Lodge, where ocean breezes melt away the intensity of true adventure. Stargaze from the upper deck of Manda Bay’s traditional dhow, while waves lap at the hull.

Kibodo Trust is a stunning community conservation region encompassing three diverse national reserves. The name Kibodo comes from the surrounding Kiunga Marine National Reserve, which is bordered inland by the Boni and Dodori National Reserves. In combination, these reserves contain some of Kenya’s pristine and least documented coastal forest habitats and species, alongside communities whose livelihoods are solely dependent upon their natural resources.

What differentiates Kibodo is its unique combination of forest, coastline and sea. Elephants wander through the forests, and wild dogs, striped hyenas and lions all leave the bush to scavenge along the high water mark. Turtles clamber out of the sea to lay their eggs in the sand where they themselves may have hatched over 50 years ago. The large area is full of wildlife and thick vegetation where game drives reveal a surprising number of animals and bird-life. A scenic flight over the uninhabited land reveals large herds of buffalo, hartebeest, zebra and eland. The Kibodo bush country is spotted with an occasional natural sweet water lake full of Hippopotamus and other rare species such as the Lesser Kudu and Hirola hartebeest.

Your EpicQuest adventure may take you to Kibodo from a number of points in East Africa.  If you are arriving in Kenya and going directly to Manda Bay, you will be met at the jetway of your international flight upon arrival in Nairobi. Ease through a private immigration and customs process, before transferring to either your city hotel or your next flight onward. Whether starting off the journey in Nairobi or other parts of Kenya, your EpicQuest guide will join you on a chartered flight to the private Manda Bay airstrip.

The soothing Indian Ocean breeze sets the stage for mild tropic weather and a comfortable journey into Kibodo. From November to March, the temperature averages around a pleasant 30˚C (85˚F) with little rain. Summers warm up to highs around 35˚C (95˚F), but still skies remain fairly dry. Overnight, expect temperatures to fall to 20˚C (68˚F). The long and short rains that hamper travel in other parts of Kenya have less of an effect on the coast, but EpicQuest still avoids trips during those periods.