Menegai Forest

Menegai Forest is located in Nakuru County in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya.

Menengai Forest is an urban forest situated within the town of Nakuru in Kenya. The Menengai Crater is within the Menengai Forest. It was gazetted as a forest in the 1930s. The Menengai Caldera found in Menengai Forest Station, which is a large shield volcano with an area of approximately 90 km2, with a diameter of 12 km and depth of almost half a kilometer. It is one of the largest calderas in the world and the second most visited caldera in the world.

Menengai Forest Biodiversity

Flora
Over 169 species of flowering plants and 17 species of grasses have been recorded in Menengai Forest. Example of flowering plants include Leleshwa (Tarconanthus camphorates), Euphorbia species and Acacia species. Common grasses in the forest include geothermal grass (Fibristylis exilis) and Boma Rhode grass.

Fauna
There are mammals, birds and insects.
Mammal species include Tree hyrax, Rock hyrax, Olive baboons, Black-faced Vervet monkey and Mountain Reedbucks and Kirk’s Dik diks and Slender Mongoose.
Birds species include Varreaux eagles (only found in Menengai Forest in Nakuru) Abyssiinian Ground Hornbill, Lesser Spotted Eagle, African Marsh Harrier, Horus Swift Apus hours, Turn-tailed ravens, Red-winged Sterling and other birds.
Insects in Menengai Forest include Arachnids, Molluscs and various species of butterflies.

Attractions
• The Menengai Caldera
• Viewpoint
• Geothermal energy production
• Caves
• Nature trails
• Picnic sites
• Fumaroles

Facilities
• Curio shops
• Campsites

Rules to remember when visiting
• Be careful as the viewpoint and cliffs are deep and dangerous.
• Do not feed wild animals.
• Do not start fires in the forest.
• Do not take away animals, animal products, plants or plant parts.
• Do not mark or deface tree stems, stones and other features.
• Avoid noise as it disturbs both wildlife and other visitors.
• Do not exceed 40kph when driving in the forest and drive carefully when descending.
• Take all the litter that you brought away with you.
• Keep to the designated tracks and paths when walking or driving.
• To get the most from your visit, use a guide.

Ref: http://fortuneofafrica.com/kenya/menengai-forest/