The shimba hills are located approximately 33 km south of Mombassa in Kwale district of coast province, were gazetted as a national forest in1903, grassland areas were incorporated in 1924and several subsequent extensions took place to bring the reserve to its present size. In 1968most of the reserve was double gazetted as the shimba hills national reserve. To smaller areas to the west adjoining the reserve and almost entirely forested remain as forest reserves, Mkongani North and Mkongani West forest reserve.

A fenced elephant wall corridor connects the shimba hills with Mwaluganje forest reserve to the north. It should be noted that the shimba hills are a dissected plateau that ascends steep from the coastal plains, 30 km south west of Mombassa and just south of Kwale town. The surrounding escarpment rises from around 120 metres to 300 metres across the bulk of the plateau and as high as 450 metres at Marare and Pengo hills.

Getting to the park
Shimba game reserve can be reached by both road and air transport, that is to say the reserve’s main access is via Diani 56 km from Mombassa.
A 1.5 km airstrip, regular flights also at Ukunda airstrip at Diani beach and at Moi international air port in Mombassa.

Major attractions
Scenic landscape comprising hills and valleys extending beyond the reserve boundaries, coastal rainforest, and sheldrick’s falls. Some of the wildlife includes sable, elephant, buffalo, and waterbuck. Reedbuck, hyena, warthog and bush pig, giraffe, leopard, baboon plus Sykes’, black faced vervet monkey and Angola Columbus monkey, serval, Harvey’s duiker and suni. Introduced species include Masai giraffe and ostrich. And one should therefore note that they are free to visit the park at any time of the.

Activities
Some of the major activities in shimba hills national reserve include, game viewing, birding, game drives, among others.

Climatic conditions
The climate is hot and moist but cooler than that of the coast with strong sea breezes, and frequent mist and cloud in early morning. Annual rainfall is 855 to 1682 mm. the mean annual temperature is 24.2C.