KAYA KINONDO: A SACRED FOREST IN KENYA
Kaya Kinondo sacred forest in Kenya is a sacred site for the local community inhabiting the Diani beach area, the Digo people, and it is believed that there is a spirit inhabiting every tree.
Are you planning a visit to the Kenyan coast? Do not forget to spend some time in the also called Diani beach sacred forest and get to know the local culture while having an experience of profound experience with nature.
The forest has been very recently opened to tourists and it is a hidden gem in Kenya.
In this guide I will share with you all you need to know to visit this sacred forest and will share some photos and videos of my visit to this sacred place. I spent around a month in the Diani beach area and have visited the forest at slow pace and got to know it in detail . It is one of my favorites places in Kenya.
KAYA KINONDO SACRED FOREST VISIT VIDEO
Find here a video about my visit to this sacred forest. The video contains footage about some of the different medicinal plants in the forest, hugging the sacred tree and swinging in a natural liana hammock.
ABOUT KAYA KINONDO
Kaya means a sacred site and source of spiritual power for the Mijikenda people and these sites are usually located inside sacred forests.
There are around than 60 Kayas in the South coast of Kenya and 11 of them have been declared Word UNESCO heritage sites.
The Kayas are a part of the identity of the Mijikenda community and a home to their ancestral spirits. Most of the Kayas are closed to visitors but since the recent opening of the Kaya Kinondo Ecotourism projec,t part of the forest has been opened for guided tours. There are however specific rules that visitors must follow, such as a dress code, not loud noises and walk always in the company of a Digo guide.
Kaya Kinondo is the Kaya of the Digo people who inhabit the area Galu beach, on the South end of Diani beach.
The sacred forest is a place of prayer and rituals for the local community, and the place where their ancestors find their final rest.
THE DIGO TRIBE
The Digo tribe is one of the Mijikenda groups that inhabit the southeastern part of Kenya. They speak their own language of Bantu origin.
They are socially organized into clans and they have a rich oral tradition of storytelling, dance and music.
The Digo people are farmers and fishermen, with a focus in crops, like maize, cassava and coconut.
However their cultural heritage has experienced changes over time as a result of their interactions with other communities and modernization.
KAYA KINONDO SACRED FOREST LOCATION
The sacred forest is located in the Diani beach road in the area of Galu beach, just a few Km from all the hotels and resorts.
Find here a pin with the location of the Kaya Kinondo sacred forest;
HOW TO GET TO KAYA KINONDO
The best way to get to the forest is by Tuk Tuk or taxi. Tuk Tuks are usually cheaper in the Diani beach area so that is the option that I would recommend to get there. The road is not in very good state so I would not risk taking a motorbike.
If you are staying in the Galu beach area you could also get to the forest by foot. It is just a 2 Km walk from the Pinewood resort.
Make sure to call the reception before your visit to make sure that the forest is open and a guide available as you will only be able to walk inside the forest with a guide.
Kaya kinondo sacred forest telephone number – +254 745 797653
KAYA KINONDO SACRED FOREST ENTRY FREE
The Kaya Kinondo entrance fee is 400 Kes for residents and 800 kes for non residents.
The fee includes the clothes required to enter the forest and a guide that will accompany you during the whole visit.
The fees go to help the local community and to the forest conservation efforts. Do not forget to tip your guide as he is doing the job on a volunteering basis.
KAYA KINONDO SACRED FOREST ACTIVITIES
The visit to the forest is consist on a walk along the area of the forests open to tourists where you will get to know the medicinal power of some of the trees and the uses the Digo people make of the area, such as rituals and celebrations.
There are lots of coral rocks scattered inside the forest as the sea used to reach the forest area. There are many very ancient trees in the area and the oldest of them is a 600 years old tree that is said to be home to an old spirit that will fulfill your wishes and remove all stress and negative energy from your system.
The Digo people have their own music instruments and if you would like to see a group of them performing you can request in advance. This performance is not included in the standard rate and the price is negotiable.
MY EXPERIENCE VISITING THE KAYA KINONDO SACRED FOREST
This ancient forest visit was on of the best things I did when staying in Diani beach. The forest has an aura of relaxation and tranquility that impregnates your as you go deep into the area with the ancient trees. The guide was really knowledgable about the plants and the culture and made my visit very enjoyable.
If you are looking to experience the true sense of nature and feel a virgin places that has for centuries only been visited by the local community this is the place for you.
Do not forget to check the little museum at the entrance as they have some traditional Digo musical instruments and tools, such as the Kajamba.
KAYA KINONDO SACRED FOREST FAQs
SACRED MIJIKENDA KAYA FORESTS
The sacred Mijikenda Kaya forests are places of ritual and source of spiritual power for the Mijikenda people. The Mijikenda groups are nine Bantu ethnic groups closely historically related groups.
The nine Mijikenda groups are:
Chonyi
Duruma
Giriama
Jibana
Kambe
Kauma
Ribe
Rabai
Digo
KAYA KINONDO ECOTOURISM PROJECT
The Kaya Kinondo ecotourism group is local community group founded in 2001 and making efforts to promote responsible tourism in the sacred forest while helping to preserve it and the local traditions.
DIANI SACRED FOREST
The Diani sacred forest is the same as the Kaya Kinondo forest.
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