Ngong Forest

Acokanthera oppositifolia, is an evergreen shrub that grows to a height of 3-5m high. its known to be highly poisonous.it was used as a form of defence by Africans by smearing it at the base of an arrow hence the name bushman’s poison.

It’s the ripening season in Ngong forest, walking through the forest,you can not fail to notice the attractive purplish red fruits, its rily an ideal ornamental.

Ranger Akach showing the edible ripe fruits

The ripe fruits are edible but poisonous when unripe! i have noticed that the sykes monkeys are fond of this fruits, but when unripe they avoid them.

Am ranger Akach.I joined Ngong forest in 2004.Being in Ngong forest is wonderful,for sure it has build my interest in conservation. i have gained experience in fauna and flora of Ngong forest and now with no doubt,am in a position to guide visitors into the forest.

Have you any interest in flora and fauna of the forest?come, you are the visitor am looking for.

For more information visit our website www.ngongforest.org

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Pressure mounts on

English Name:Silver Oak

Botanical Name: Brachyleane huillensis

Local Name: Muhugu

In one of our normal patrols, we came across 30 pieces of Silver Oak tree cut in hidden in the forest.

The tree is on demand for carving because of its good quality wood, it carves easily and polishes well with a good finish .

This tree is also used as firewood, poles,posts, carving as well as ornamental

Ngong forest is among one of the very few places in East Africa where this species exists naturally but recently huge volumes have been cleared.

A freshly cut silver oak stump cut.

The mature trees are increasingly becoming scarce. Recently we managed to recover some already carved items from a wood carving yard in the neighbouring Kibera slum.

In a recent Forestry Sector Outlook Study ,The Kenya woodcarving industry uses over 50,000 trees equivalent to almost 8,000 cubic meters of wood annually. This is equivalent to 10 trees being felled per hectares of natural closed-canopy in Kenya every year.

Display of some carvings made from silver Oak

We suspect this illegal activity happens during the night since our rangers are always on ground parol during the day.

we have also erected an electric fence all round the sanctuary to minimize entry.

Do you have other ideas we can implement?

Please share with us

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