Dodori National Reserve : In the coastal region of Kenya, Lamu East in Lamu County is where the Dodori National Reserve a protected wildlife area which is overseen by the Kenya Wildlife Service. In 1976 It has a surface area of 877 km² and it was gazetted In 1976. The seaside city of Mombasa is 292 kilometres away, and Nairobi is 477 miles away. The name of the reserve, Dodori, comes from the river that drains into the Indian Ocean near Dodori Creek, a dugong breeding area. It includes a significant wooded and forested area that has traditionally been home to numerous animal populations, including as buffalo, lions, and elephants. Dodori is home to a diverse range of vegetation, mostly comprising mangroves, swampy grasslands, savannah, and coastal and riverine forests.
It is located in an area that is well-known worldwide for tourism and that is highly valued for conservation by international organizations including the World Wildlife Fund, Conservation International, and the IUCN. This is one of the best places to go if you want to learn about cultural heritage. In 1980 Dodori National Reserve and the nearby Kiunga Marine National Reserve were designated as UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserves. The oldest and best preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa is in the Lamu Old Town which is situated on the Lamu Island.
Lamu town consists of a collection of structures spanning 16 hectares, all of which have been inspired by Swahili architecture, social life, and culture that have been preserved to this day. Once an important trading centre in East Africa, Lamu has had a big influence on technology, culture, and religion. Lamu is a conservative community that has managed to hold onto its prominence as a major hub for Islamic and Swahili cultural education this is evidently seen during the yearly Maulidi and other cultural celebrations. In contrast to other abandoned Swahili communities along the coast of East Africa, Lamu has always been inhabited for more than 700 years.
The development and collapse of the seaports along the East African coast, as well as the interactions between Bantu, Arabs, Persians, Indians, and Europeans, mark an important cultural and economic period in the history of the area. This period is best expressed in the architecture and town planning of Lamu Old Town. The town is made up of stone buildings with curved entrances and narrow streets that showcase a unique fusion of European, Arabic, Persian, Indian, and Swahili architectural styles. When observing the town from the ocean, the structures next to the water, with their expansive verandas and arcades, present a remarkable sight. Inside the vernacular buildings are painted ceilings, massive and tiny niches called madaka and zidaka, and fragments of Chinese porcelain.
The houses are rich in history and are in excellent condition, serving as a testament to the advancement of Swahili building techniques based on mangrove, coral and lime poles. Lamu’s architecture and urban layout effectively display the blending of European, Arabian, and Indian cultural influences over a span of 700 hundred years, utilising traditional Swahili customs that gave rise to a distinct culture. The property’s unique Swahili architecture, characterised by its narrow, meandering alleyways and well-planned spatial design, sets it apart. The Arab traditions around land distribution and urban development are the source of its meandering roadway layout. It is further characterised by groups of houses that are separated into several tiny wards (mitaa), each of which is a collection of structures inhabited by several closely related lineages.
The town of Lamu, which is home to the Dodori National Reserve, is heavily dependent on tourism. However, in recent years, the terror group Al Shabaab in Somalia has been abducting visitors, negatively affecting the area. Following a successful military operation against al-Shabaab, Kenyan troops entered Somalia on October 16, 2011, and the town returned to normalcy. The largest antelope in Kenya, the Lamu topi finds its major breeding habitat in this country. This led to the establishment of the Dodori National Reserve. A luxury yet secluded beach resort on Kiwayu island in Lamu and Kiunga Marine Reserve, Kiwayu Safari Village is located nearby and provides breathtaking views of the marine life of Dodori.
Activities to do at Dodori national reserve
Game viewing
Dodori National wildlife Reserve is well-known for having a larger number of topis than any other national park or reserve in Kenya, despite being the least frequented wildlife reserve in the country. The a lesser greater kudus, elephants, adder’s duiker, gazelles, zebras, sea turtles, lions, leopards, sea cows, and dugongs are among the other species you may view here on your game tour. Making it a distinctive safari location.
Bird watching
Many aquatic birds that are frequently spotted on the water regions may be found in the Dodori National Reserve. To name a few, these include carmine bee eaters, violet-breasted sunbirds, blue-hooded kingfishers, southern banded harrier eagles, honey buzzards, brown-breasted barbets, and palmnut vultures.
Culture tour
The reserve is situated on Kenya’s coast and is surrounded by coastal communities, each with a rich past involving slavery and their cities. Getting to know the locals and their way of life will entice you to remain a while, especially if you also purchase souvenirs from the crafts stores.
How to get there
Dodori National Game Reserve is approximate 280Km between Mombasa and the 300 km. The waterway leading to the creek can be reached by boat. In 1976 both Dodori National Reserve and Boni National Reserve were established as protected areas and are located next to each other. Boni is situated in the north-eastern area of Garissa County.
The best time to visit.
The Dodori National Reserve is accessible all year round due to its hot and humid environment; but, because to its isolated location and difficult roads during the rainy season, accessing it requires a 4x4F safari drive car.
Where to stay at Dodori National Reserve
Although there aren’t any lodging options inside the reserve, guests do have the option of staying outside of it at places like Munira Island Camp and Mike’s Camp, which are both about 28 km distant. The choice of lodging options is likewise extensive, spanning from budget-friendly to five-star luxury hotels. A few of these are the Mandeli Hotel, Honeymoon House, Forodhani House, Southern Cross, African Pearl Hotel, and many more.
