Karura Forest #12: Wangari's Corner
The cache, a small screw-capped plastic contained with a shiny lid, is hidden under leaves in a stump about 17m south of the signboard & bench at this historic location of a - so far - successful environmental struggle to preserve this fine forest in the midst of this hectic large city. *** Kindly cover well after replacement to avoid unwanted attention from money muggles - thanks! ***
For background information on Karura Forest including access, fees, features, a detailed trail map and useful links, see GC4PD3V Karura Forest #1: Intro, Info & Entry
To reach the cache: From the location of Karura Forest #11 Up North cross the new footbridge over the Karura River and head up the steep slope and north along the boundary of the forest eventually turning east towards the cache location.
Karura Forest at one time came to symbolize controversial and illegal allocations of land in the country and was known as a carjackers and gangsters destination. In 1998, it became a battlefield. The late Prof. Wangari Maathai (1/4/40-25/9/11) led protests here to oppose the excision of parts of the forest to private developers. Violent battles between police
and protestors saw Prof. Maathai lose some of her hair, but the effort seemed to pay off, the then president Daniel Arap Moi banned allocation of forests in 1999.
See here for a detailed account of her very full and active life.
See here for a short video of Wangari Maathai's involvement in saving Karura Forest
See here for brief video biography of Wangari Maathai and here for glowing tributes from world leaders as arrangements began for her state funeral (BBC report) on 8 October 2011.