In And Around Watamu - A Visit to Arabuko Sokoke Forest

Butterfly hunting. There. I have now uttered the words. JCR, this post is for you.


Liz's boyfriend Richard insisted we go to the Sokoke Forest on a mini day safari as it was a quick drive from our rented vacation home. So we loaded up the car with my wild 4 1/2 nephew Willow and my even wilder sister Sue, the butterfly net, the traps and the rotten banana mush that would be used as bait.



Richard might as well be the Butterfly Whisperer as he tracked butterfly from the hood of the truck as we made our way along the wooded trail and deeper into the forest. We took turns driving slowly and exploring on foot. At one point, I was away from the group on foot and heard a very deep bass growl come from the bush about 30 yards away. I quickly decided that it was best to make my way back to the group and minutes later we found evidence of elephant in the area.



Richard set his traps (netted cylinders that safely capture the butterflies) with rotten banana mush as we went deeper and deeper into the forest. He even stumbled upon and dismantled a basic snare trap left near the entrance to the den of a small unsuspecting rodent. He's quite the naturalist (wait, isn't that what they call nudists?) and is very protective of his animal friends.



Willow, Sue, and Rich were all enjoying nature and all its wonders, while my adjustment - to the sounds, sights, and smells of jungle life - continued with no way out. Trapped in the forest, with nature lovers, meant embracing all that was on offer. This is the key difference between nature loving Kenyan Fusco and nature adverse Southern Ontario Fusco. When faced with no option I'll adapt.






As we ventured deeper and deeper into the Sokoke, we came across a gentleman with a slingshot hunting monkeys. To what level of success, I don't know, but when challenged to hit a certain branch at about 40 yards, he was a deadly shot.


All in all, a nice day in the jungle was had by all. But don't take this as a change in my position on butterflies, those that love them, and the truth about the evil that they do.