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© Isaac Kilusu

Oloitokitok Montane Forest

-2.94249 , 37.49362

Kenya

Located at the foot of the mighty kilimanjaro on the kenya-tanzanian border,just above oloitoktok town is this hidden gem .The habitat here is characterized by vegetations of highland forest and farmlands.The forest is connected to tanzania by those streams running off Kilimanjaro.Oloitoktok forest is home to various birds species which are either forest specialist or forest generalist,the nearby farmlands host a selection of birds that favours cultivations.Some of east african endemics like hartlaub's turaco,stripe-faced,grey-olive,eastern mountain greenbul, southern citril and a recently discovered population of mbulu white eyes ,and kilimanjaro white eye which was previously endemic to mt Kilimanjaro and other isolated Mountains in Tanzania ,this birds were found by members of kilusu bird club.These birds are easily seen here.Covering an area of 765 ha the forest is managed by loitoktok community forest association under the kenya forest service.This is another superb getaway or birding stop over to various birding hostpot such as Mandegee farm,kimana santuary,tawi conservancy and amboseli national park.

Delete exact location

The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Site name was changed by Isaac Kilusu into "Oloitokitok Montane Forest" (2021-08-22 05:09:02 )

Site name was changed by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) into "Oloitokitok Forest" (2021-02-04 17:55:43 )

Coordinates were set by Isaac Kilusu : -2.9425/37.4936 (2021-02-04 17:51:40 )

Site name was set by Isaac Kilusu as "Oloitoktok Forest" (2021-02-04 17:51:40 )

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-22 05:13:34
Located at the foot of the mighty kilimanjaro on the kenya-tanzanian border,just above oloitoktok town is this hidden gem .The habitat here is characterized by vegetations of highland forest and farmlands.The forest is connected to tanzania by those streams running off Kilimanjaro.Oloitoktok forest is home to various birds species which are either forest specialist or forest generalist,the nearby farmlands host a selection of birds that favours cultivations.Some of east african endemics like hartlaub's turaco,stripe-faced,grey-olive,eastern mountain greenbul, southern citril and a recently discovered population of mbulu white eyes ,and kilimanjaro white eye which was previously endemic to mt Kilimanjaro and other isolated Mountains in Tanzania ,this birds were found by members of kilusu bird club club.These birds are easily seen here.Covering an area of 765 ha the forest is managed by loitoktok community forest association under the kenya forest service.This is another superb getaway or birding stop over to various birding hostpot such as Mandegee farm,kimana santuary,tawi conservancy and amboseli national park.
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-02-10 11:13:32
Located at the foot of the mighty kilimanjaro on the kenya-tanzanian border,just above oloitoktok town is this hidden gem .The habitat here is characterized by vegetations of highland forest and farmlands.The forest is connected to tanzania by those streams running off Kilimanjaro.Oloitoktok forest is home to various birds species which are either forest specialist or forest generalist,the nearby farmlands host a selection of birds that favours cultivations.Some of east african endemics like hartlaub's turaco,stripe-faced,grey-olive,eastern mountain greenbul, southern citril and a recently discovered population of mbulu white eyes by members of kilusu bird club are easily seen here.Covering an area of 765 ha the forest is managed by loitoktok community forest association under the kenya forest service.This is another superb getaway or birding stop over to various birding hostpot such as Mandegee farm,kimana santuary,tawi conservancy and amboseli national park.
  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Dusky Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia lugens)
Blue-spotted Wood-Dove (Turtur afer)
Tambourine Dove (Turtur tympanistria)
African Green-Pigeon (Treron calvus)
Hartlaub's Turaco (Tauraco hartlaubi)
Black Goshawk (Accipiter melanoleucus)
Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus)
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Merops oreobates)
White-eared Barbet (Stactolaema leucotis)
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus bilineatus)
Red-fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus pusillus)
White-headed Barbet (Lybius leucocephalus)
Brown-breasted Barbet (Pogonornis melanopterus)
Black-throated Wattle-eye (Platysteira peltata)
Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla)
Tropical Boubou (Laniarius major)
African Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis)
White-necked Raven (Corvus albicollis)
Bar-throated Apalis (Apalis thoracica)
Singing Cisticola (Cisticola cantans)
African Yellow-Warbler (Iduna natalensis)
Evergreen-forest Warbler (Bradypterus lopezi)
Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler (Bradypterus cinnamomeus)
Sombre Greenbul (Andropadus importunus)
Eastern Mountain Greenbul (Arizelocichla nigriceps)
Stripe-cheeked Greenbul (Arizelocichla milanjensis)
Gray-olive Greenbul (Phyllastrephus cerviniventris)
Cabanis's Greenbul (Phyllastrephus cabanisi)
Brown Woodland-Warbler (Phylloscopus umbrovirens)
African Hill Babbler (Sylvia abyssinica)
Mbulu White-eye (Zosterops mbuluensis)
Kilimanjaro White-eye (Zosterops eurycricotus)
Waller's Starling (Onychognathus walleri)
Abyssinian Thrush (Turdus abyssinicus)
African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta)
White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher (Melaenornis fischeri)
Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra)
Rüppell's Robin-Chat (Cossypha semirufa)
White-starred Robin (Pogonocichla stellata)
African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus)
Collared Sunbird (Hedydipna collaris)
Olive Sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea)
Bronze Sunbird (Nectarinia kilimensis)
Spectacled Weaver (Ploceus ocularis)
Yellow-bellied Waxbill (Coccopygia quartinia)
Abyssinian Crimsonwing (Cryptospiza salvadorii)
Peters's Twinspot (Hypargos niveoguttatus)
Southern Citril (Crithagra hyposticta)
Reichenow's Seedeater (Crithagra reichenowi)
Streaky Seedeater (Crithagra striolata)
Thick-billed Seedeater (Crithagra burtoni)

Kilimanjaro White-eye (Zosterops eurycricotus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-22 05:15:01)

African Green-Pigeon (Treron calvus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:58:33)

Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler (Bradypterus cinnamomeus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:58:05)

Evergreen-forest Warbler (Bradypterus lopezi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:57:39)

Brown Woodland-Warbler (Phylloscopus umbrovirens) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:57:21)

White-headed Barbet (Lybius leucocephalus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:57:00)

White-eared Barbet (Stactolaema leucotis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:56:14)

Tambourine Dove (Turtur tympanistria) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:55:10)

African Paradise-Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:54:45)

Black Goshawk (Accipiter melanoleucus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:53:05)

Bar-throated Apalis (Apalis thoracica) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:52:34)

White-necked Raven (Corvus albicollis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:51:34)

Black-backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:51:19)

Black-throated Wattle-eye (Platysteira peltata) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:50:59)

Collared Sunbird (Hedydipna collaris) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:49:30)

Sombre Greenbul (Andropadus importunus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:49:09)

Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:47:27)

Spectacled Weaver (Ploceus ocularis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:46:45)

Yellow-bellied Waxbill (Coccopygia quartinia) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:45:24)

White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher (Melaenornis fischeri) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:44:34)

Singing Cisticola (Cisticola cantans) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:44:15)

Red-fronted Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus pusillus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:43:42)

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus bilineatus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:43:18)

Bronze Sunbird (Nectarinia kilimensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:42:55)

Reichenow's Seedeater (Crithagra reichenowi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:42:02)

Abyssinian Thrush (Turdus abyssinicus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:41:41)

Dusky Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia lugens) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:40:12)

Brown-breasted Barbet (Pogonornis melanopterus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:39:42)

Thick-billed Seedeater (Crithagra burtoni) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:38:50)

Streaky Seedeater (Crithagra striolata) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:38:27)

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater (Merops oreobates) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:37:57)

Mountain Buzzard (Buteo oreophilus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:37:38)

African Dusky Flycatcher (Muscicapa adusta) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:36:43)

Tropical Boubou (Laniarius major) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:36:14)

Blue-spotted Wood-Dove (Turtur afer) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:35:01)

Waller's Starling (Onychognathus walleri) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:34:29)

Olive Sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:34:10)

Peters's Twinspot (Hypargos niveoguttatus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:33:51)

Abyssinian Crimsonwing (Cryptospiza salvadorii) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:33:30)

African Yellow-Warbler (Iduna natalensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:33:09)

African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:32:48)

Southern Citril (Crithagra hyposticta) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:31:46)

Rüppell's Robin-Chat (Cossypha semirufa) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:31:21)

Hartlaub's Turaco (Tauraco hartlaubi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:30:52)

Gray-olive Greenbul (Phyllastrephus cerviniventris) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:30:32)

Eastern Mountain Greenbul (Arizelocichla nigriceps) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:30:16)

Cabanis's Greenbul (Phyllastrephus cabanisi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:29:07)

Stripe-cheeked Greenbul (Arizelocichla milanjensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:28:30)

White-starred Robin (Pogonocichla stellata) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:27:40)

African Hill Babbler (Sylvia abyssinica) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:27:06)

Mbulu White-eye (Zosterops mbuluensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-02-09 12:25:57)

  • Timing and strategy

Anytime of the year is worth a visit.During the cold season birds from the high mountain area in Tanzania drop down to lower altitudes.The forest can be explored by foot at anytime.The villageweaverbirding@gmail.com takes birding trip across kenya also the kilusubirdclub45@gmail.com members offers classic guiding services to this site and others in south east kenya

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-22 05:19
Anytime of the year is worth a visit.During the cold season birds from the high mountain area in Tanzania drop down to lower altitudes.The forest can be explored by foot at anytime.The villageweaverbirding@gmail.com takes birding trip across kenya also the kilusubirdclub45@gmail.com members offers classic guiding services to this site and others in south east kenya
  • How to get there

You will have to park your car at the petrol station opposite oloitoktok dairy farmers depot and walk towards the outward bound school on that dirty road for about 1km before getting into the forest

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-22 05:22
You will have to park your car at the petrol station opposite oloitoktok dairy farmers depot and walk towards the outward bound school on that dirty road for about 1km before getting into the forest

At the moment visitors are just getting in to the forest for free but in the near future there is hope of starting off an ecotourism project and a camp there,get intouch with a local guide and he will show you around but you will have to pay him a guiding fee of 50 usd or more depending on the size of the group

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-22 05:25
At the moment visitors are just getting in to the forest for free but in the near future there is hope of starting off an ecotourism project and a camp there,get intouch with a local guide and he will show you around but you will have to pay him a guiding fee of 50 usd or more depending on the size of the group
  • Other attractions

There are other attractions such as eastern black and white Colubus monkey,sykes monkey,common duicker,guided forest walks and tree planting,the endangered tanganyikan tree squirrel is very common here in areas near the outward bound school etc

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-22 05:27
There are other attractions such as eastern black and white Colubus monkey,sykes monkey,common duicker,guided forest walks and tree planting,the endangered tanganyikan tree squirrel is very common here in areas near the outward bound school etc

You will have to stay at the nearby hotels or camps such as kibob cottages, amboseli junction hotel, amboseli sopa lodge,tawi lodge,satao elerai camp,kimana lodge etc

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-22 05:29
You will have to stay at the nearby hotels or camps such as kibob cottages, amboseli junction hotel, amboseli sopa lodge,tawi lodge,satao elerai camp,kimana lodge etc

always a safe site but have a local guide with you

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-22 05:30
always a safe site but have a local guide with you
All information about this site was contributed by Orniverse users. Neither Orniverse nor the contributors accept responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

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Oloitokitok Montane Forest - Orniverse
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