Nairobi Arboretum Multi: Trees Please!
To find the cache:
Note: the cache is not hidden at the given coordinates which are for the car park and starting point.
Take State House Road to S1 16.653 E36 48.353 and turn off NW onto the approach road for the Arboretum. Park in the car park at S1 16.716 E36 48.182.
Step 1: at S1 16.699 E36 48.179 in the corner of the car park towards the Arboretum entrance there are a series of 6 Boards listing the organisations which are Friends of Nairobi Arboretum (FONA). There are A organisations listed on the right-most board, ie. the one closest to the Arboretum entrance (don't count the name at the top of each board - Graffins College).
Step 2: enter the Arboretum and after reading the many dos and don’ts on the main notice board on the left, proceed a short distance to S1 16.683 E36 48.159 where you will find interesting information on ‘Gums and Poison’ underneath a Eucalyptus citriodora tree (Lemon [Scented] Gum) which is the species from which citronella oil is extracted. See here for more info and photos of this tree. Although gums are very large trees, their seeds are incredibly small with about B00 seeds in one spoonful (weighing only about 1g)!
Step 3: now head a little way down the side path to S1 16.654 E36 48.139 where you will find a commemorative plaque below a Warburgia ugandensis tree, the leaves of which early Indian immigrants to Kenya, working on the construction of the railway, used to flavour their curries before the chilli plant was commonly introduced. See here for detailed information on this fine tree and here for its numerous medicinal uses. On the plaque you will learn that the honourable Justin Itotia wa Kimacia passed away in 195C. He was a well-known writer on Kikuyu culture. ‘Muthungu wa Miti’ under his name means ‘White or English-speaking tree person’ so he obviously had some connection with trees (miti) . . .
Step 4: continue further down the track until you see an open grassy area on your left with several shady seats. On the near edge of this at S1 16.616 E36 48.108, you will find a labelled Callitris robusta tree with another a few metres beyond. Its pale hard timber is very good for floors and is (fortunately!) completely resistant to something. There are D letters in this word.
Step 5: move across to S1 16.629 E36 48.020 where there is a shady resting place donated by Nairobi South Rotary Club in 2005 with E concrete benches.
Step 6: continue onwards to S1 16.636 E36 47.924 where you will find the exotic (Australian) Grevillea Robusta or Silky Oak tree which was introduced in Kenya to provide shade for coffee bushes - see here for more info and photos of this very useful tree. A local name for this tree is Mukima - the language being indicated in brackets. F is the alphanumeric value (A=1, B=2, C=3, etc) of the middle letter of this word.
Step 7: time to stretch the legs a little – head north where you will find the start of the Sisal Staircase. Follow this all the way down to the Riverside Walk. At S1 16.560 E36 47.878 you will find yourself in the middle of a huge clump of an easily recognisable plant – one of several in this area – which is covered in inscriptions. There are G letters in the name of this plant.
Step 8: Now head right (east) along this valley trail following Nairobi River where at S1 16.526 E36 47.963 you will come across a very fine specimen of the indigenous Spathodea campanulata (Nandi Flame, Flame of the Forest, African Tulip Tree) which has spectacular fiery orange-red flowers in season. However, according to the info on the tree label, after planting you may see these flowers after H years. See here and here for more info and photos of this interesting and beautiful tree.
Step 9: Carry on along the trail to the lowest point where at S1 16.698 E36 48.177 you will find a notice board just up from to the Lower Gate. This was donated to FONA by a company whose telephone number is 5509J0
Final: as you get close to the cache location at the coordinates below, near a bend in the track with several large sawn logs lying around (one of which is sticking up at an angle), head about 15m west off the trail into the forest. The cache, a small black cylindrical tablet pot is hidden at about knee heigh in a small hole in a small tree adjacent to a much larger one at
S01 16.JB(D-E) E036 48.(F-G-2)(A-4)(C+1)
Note: do keep your eyes out for muggles when searching for, retrieving and replacing the cache - when I returned to check the cache a few days after placing it there was someone doing a prayer ritual about 10m from the cache further into the forest who I only noticed because he was chanting . . .
You can check if you solution is correct using the following link . . .
Nairobi Arboretum located along State House Road in the Kilimani area of Nairobi is a protected 30 hectare forest reserve with numerous trails holding over 350 species of indigenous and exotic plants, many of which are labelled. It also has over 100 species of birds, and a significant population of Sykes and Vervet monkeys. It is the largest easily accessible green space close to the city centre.
Entry is free, car parking Kshs 50, but (if checked/declared) cameras are charged a whopping Kshs 1,000 (about $12)! So I just quietly used my mobile phone camera instead ;)
The Arboretum owes its existence to the construction of the Kenya-Uganda Railway (called ‘the Lunatic Express’ by its detractors!) in the early 20th century when trains were steam powered, requiring burning logs. Initially, indigenous trees within 3km of the line were cut down to supply the required fuel wood. With time, foresters noted that indigenous trees grew slowly, and decided to try planting quick growing exotic softwoods to see if they would survive in Kenya, and meet the trains’ fuel needs. It was established by Assistant Conservator of Forests, a Mr. E Batiscombe in 1907 and gazetted as a protected national forest reserve in 1932.
See here for an excellent article giving a full history of the Arboretum and details of the trees and the work of the Friends of Nairobi Arboretum (FONA) established in 1993 to restore the park to some of its former glory after a long period of neglect. Through their continuing efforts the Arboretum has been greatly improved with paved walkways, park benches, trash bins, and public toilets
It has become a popular recreational park for city residents, who enjoy the shade and tranquillity. People come to take long walks, hold picnics, or hold prayer rituals (sometimes rather noisily!). Early mornings are the best time to visit for a quiet stroll as weekends especially can get quite busy with larger groups coming for team-building activities, church gatherings and games on the central lawn. Music and noise may then disturb the otherwise peaceful atmosphere. Romantic couples seek out the more secluded spots for ‘bonding’ – a recommended activity listed on one web-site. Trail runners enjoy jogging around the Arboretum’s forest trails. However, the increasing popularity and use of the park inevitably stresses the environment and poses a challenge to the park management.