The other day I just
said Nairobi is a blessed city, this is because of its eminent nature of multitudinous
trees unlike some other cities in the world. No wonder it’s well known as the
green city. In relation to this, there is the Nairobi arboretum, which is located
along state house road in the kilimani area only 2.1 kilometers from the Kenyan state house via
Arboretum Road and its 3 kilometers from the CBD.
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| Signage at the Nairobi arboretum |
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| a road path in the arboretum |
The word arboretum simply means a botanical garden where many different trees or shrubs are grown for study or
display.
Established in 1907 by one Mr.
Batiscombe who was then Deputy Conservator of Forests, trying his hand on forestry
for Kenya. It was gazetted by the government in 1932 as a national reserve and later
in 1996 a title deed was issued to it by the Commissioner of land and dedicating
it as a public owned reserve. It was a research land set aside for growing nonnative
tree species, to counter the high demand of wood required as fuel for the newly
constructed Kenya- Uganda railway line and thus help save Kenya’s indigenous
forests.
With the consistence and help of foresters, various seeds
were acquired from all over the world and planted to have a complete collection
of indigenous and exotic trees not forgetting shrubs (Short trees with several
main stems arising at or near the ground.)And with time the plantation increased
to a big forest.
The Nairobi arboretum which is currently under the care of Kenya
Forest Service ,occupies 30 hectares and holds over 350 tree species including a large number of eucalyptus trees; it also harbors
over 100 species of migrant and resident birds, a big number of insects,
reptiles and small mammals, mostly the exuberant
Sykes and Vervet monkeys.
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| a weaver bird resting on a tree |
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| Vervet monkeys enjoying a meal in the arboretum |
It’s a nice place where tourists and city residents especially
couples spend their good time during the weekends, it’s ideal for resting giving
the fact that it has a big canopy from the multiple trees.
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| a couple having some good time in the arboretum |
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| a group of youths on a team building mission |
Set a date and visit the Nairobi arboretum, it’s free of
charge, what are you waiting for?
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