Kakamega Forest in Kenya is the last remnant of the once-great tropical rainforest that stretched across Central Africa, also known as the Guineo-Congolian forest. The other remaining part is in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), known for its famous gorillas and chimpanzees.
It is famous for its virgin forest, with trees more than 100 years old, and as the source of many rivers that drain into the 68,000-km2 Lake Victoria.
The 24,000-hectare forest covers 238 square kilometres. It has Africa's greatest hard and soft woods: Elgon teak, red and white stinkwood, croton, and aniageria altisima. It has 380 recorded species of plants, which include 60 species of ferns, 150 species of trees and shrubs, and 170 species of flowering plants, including 60 species of orchids. Nine species of orchids are found only in this forest.
Six million people depend on the forest directly, and because Lake Victoria is the source of the Nile, millions of Africans beyond its borders do as well.