In Watamu
Trip Start
Oct 11, 2008
1
9
64
Trip End
Feb 20, 2009
Where I stayed
A Rocha, plot 28, Watamu
Watamu, Kenya
Sunday, October 26, 2008
We are staying at A Rocha Kenya's Field study centre in Watamu. (www.arocha.org). The centre is very close to Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, a remnant of a dry coastal forest that originally stretched from Somalia to Mozambique and which contains some very interesting endemic species such as the Golden Rumped Elephant Shrew and the Sokoke Scops Owl. Mida Creek, even closer by, is an excellent bird watching area with mangroves that are a spawning ground for fish and a safe feeding area for young turtles. A Rocha is working for the protection of the creek and the forest through an environmental education program in the primary schools surrounding the forest.
Rather than adding to the already overloaded Kenyan curriculum they use the English lessons to explain the importance of these wonderful sites and encourages the children to value and protect them. It is an excellent program but unfortunately they are having difficulties getting it funded.
While it was very easy to get Safaricom to sponsor the Boardwalk at Mida Creek (where they can put a nice signboard) it proves to be much harder to find sponsors for long term and not so visible educational programs that will, in the end, help protect Kenya's beautiful coastal habitats for future generations.
