Nestled on the southern slopes of Mt. Kenya at an elevation of about 7000 feet lies the Castle Forest Lodge. The rustic Castle Forest Lodge, a pretty cabin built in 1910 on a natural clearing deep within the serried forest on the southern slopes of Mount Kenya National Park, is both a romantic secluded getaway and a perfect base to explore the beautiful montane landscape.
It’s all about serenity, the healthful alpine, and the mountain, ergo it is famous for its tranquil atmosphere, lush surroundings, and proximity to nature. Located at the foot of Mount Kenya, its landscape is characterized by lush green tea and coffee farms, rivers, and rolling hills, and the weather, year-round, is temperate and salubrious. Known for its agricultural productivity, breathtaking landscapes, and cultural heritage, Kirinyaga is a key contributor to Kenya’s economy.
Around Kenya, there is a collection of rare experiences, in middle-budget secluded hideaways, offering guests intimate encounters with parts of Kenya that rarely get under the limelight. Whether short, long, alone or with family or friends, you’ll find the ideal hotel here. The entire team is eager to help you plan your memorable holiday. Long, short, big and small, we’ll help you work it all out.
Accommodation and Amenities
In 2000, the charming and historic Castle Forest Lodge was fully renovated and revamped, and increased its accommodation to host up to 30 guests. Castle Forest Lodge offers different accommodation options to visitors.
We opted to camp and this cost us 1,000 KES per person, using our gear. The bush-hut mountain cabins, with fireplaces and verandas, are pretty snug and cozy. The outdoor sitting areas are perfect for a salubrious mountain tete-a-tete over tea.
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The lodge has a restaurant offering delicious meals prepared from fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. It cost us 1,450 KES pp and I did not quite enjoy the meal. However, I did order some samosas off the menu which were delicious. The next morning, we began the day with a very hearty breakfast. This, I enjoyed.
Eco-Friendly Practices
It has a 100% eco-friendly policy.
Activities and Exploration
mt kenya // Castle Forest hike experience
Guests at the lodge may also enjoy fly-fishing, riverine walks, and swimming. Walking trails leading to the forest, waterfalls, and routes towards the Lenana Peak are essential for relaxed frolic walks.
I started my walk around 4pm but things were really quiet. Taking the northern trail I soon find a pair of very vocal African Stonechats (above). Maybe it was the bright sunny day but it was not until about an hour and a half later that things began to pick up.
For the most part, the trail through the forest was fairly flat and easy to hike. The last 10-minute hike leading to the waterfall was quite slippery and just a little steep but I managed to make it down okay. The hour-and-a-half-long hike to arrive at the waterfall was worth it and was a refreshing way to end the one-way hike.
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Wildlife and Nature
The lodge is surrounded by dense indigenous forest, waterfalls, streams, and an abundance of wildlife, including elephants, buffaloes, colobus monkeys, and various bird species.
Once you reach the Castle you are in a cleared area where cottages dot the landscape and cattle and horses keep the grass well groomed. Pied Crow’s and White-eyed Slaty Flycatchers were conspicuous with Hunter’s Cisticola continuously calling in the background.
Several Cinnamon Bracken Warblers called from low in a bush and one briefly showed which is typical behavior for this species. A Thick-billed Seedeater perched briefly before being chased by a Hunter’s Cisticola (left). Heading back to the clearing male Silvery-cheeked Hornbills (below) could be seen following females either in the trees or in flight.
The lovely large Mosque Swallows with their cinnamon-orange and cream underwing pattern flew around the cottages as did, Lesser Striped Swallow which could be seen skimming water from the top of the swimming pool. Red-eyed Doves descended to the edge of the pool to get a drink and a pair of Pin-tailed Wydahs caught my attention as they flew up from a taller patch of grass.
As we drew nearer to our destination, clear cloudless skies gave us a glimpse of Mount Kenya standing majestically on the horizon. Upon arrival at the Castle Forest Lodge, we signed in at the main building and got acquainted with the environment. We were surrounded by thick dense forest and the beautiful sounds of nature. I am not an avid birdwatcher but I was excited to see two hornbills in very close proximity to us.
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Planning Your Visit
The lodge is accessible year-round, but the drier months (January-March and July-October) are ideal for outdoor activities. Castle Forest Lodge is owned by Government of Kenya, and run by Melia Laa.
Shortly after getting back to the lodge, we packed up our things and headed back to Nairobi. Arriving quite early in the city, we decided to stop at the Gateway Mall for dinner and a movie.
I certainly recommend visiting and hiking around Castle Forest Lodge if you haven’t been there yet.
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