Karura Forest #38: Muhugu Trail Stump
The cache, a small plastic pot, is hidden under bark pieces in a small hole at the base of a rotting tree stump about 2m off the northern side of the Muhugu trail in a section overlooking the well vegetated Ruaka river valley.
Muhugu is the Swahili name for the Silver Oak (Brachylaena huillensis) which is found in Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and throughout East Africa. In Kenya, it is common in the semi-deciduous tropical forests of the central highlands (such a Karura Forest) and in the lowland dry coastal belts. Surprisingly it is not an oak at all but actually in the sunflower family Asteraceae which has over 23,600 species.
It slowly grows to 35m tall with a dbh (diameter at breast height, 4.5 feet) of up to 85cm. It has been estimated that under natural conditions a tree will take at least 100 years to reach a bole diameter of 40cm. It has a fluted and often curved bole (trunk), which makes it difficult to obtain large dimensions of timber and grey, smooth or rough bark with longitudinal cracks.
Uses:
It has a very hard high density wood, ideal for processing into charcoal, and was Kenya's main source of fuel until the 1830s. It is still a popular fuel source, and in some areas it is threatened by over-exploitation. This has led to concern from conservationists over habitat loss for endemic animal species living in Brachylaena cloud forests. In 2002 it was estimated that with the current illegal and illegal and unsustainable extraction of Brachylaena huillensis wood in Kenya the resource would bedepleted in 2–3 decades. It was also exported as short logs to India as an inferior substitute for sandalwood for use in cremations.
The timber is pale yellow/brown, with a characteristic storeyed structure, scented somewhat like sandalwood, straight grained with conspicuous growth rings; texture is very fine, even, strong and stiff. However its failure in bending is sudden and complete. It is hard to work but does turn 
and work well with sharp tools. It takes a high polish but splits easily along the grain.
It is mainly used for construction, first-grade flooring, joinery, interior trim, furniture, fence posts, toys, novelties, boxes, crates, tool handles, carving and turnery.
In Kenya, it is one of the most highly favoured woods for carving artefacts. Essential oil distilled from the wood has a pleasant, vetiver-like smell and is use in perfumery. Due to its durability, it is used as fence posts, for example in northern Tanzanian along the border with Kenya where it is over-exploited. It is also suitable for bridges, hydraulic works, poles, piles, cabinet work and railway sleepers, and an ornamental and boundary tree around dwellings.
In traditional medicine, root decoctions are used to treat schistosomiasis and leaves to treat diabetes. Male flowering trees are a source of pollen for honey bees.
See here or here for more details of this important tree.
See here for background info on the forest and useful links and here for Karura maps.
How to reach the cache location:
Enter the forest at Gate C (Sharks Gate) off the Kiambu Rd @ S01 14.395 E36 50.644. After paying the entrance fee & parking you car, head north to the Junction with the eastern end of the Muhugu trail @ S01 14.253 E36 50.607. This is the start of the 8-cache Muhugu trail - Tara Path circuit.
If you take the clockwise option: head left (west) here and follow the Muhugu trail along the south side of the river as far as the junction @ S01 13.788 E36 49.713. Turn right (north) here and head down and across the Ruaka river and up the other side to join the Tara Path. Follow the path along the northern edge of the forest until you descend to cross the river again to compete the circuit. Distance = 6km, time required (including cache/rest/photo stops = approx 3 hours).
Cache sequence:
1. GC6B9C8 Karura Forest #39 'Minilope' Suni
2. GC6BAFH Karura Forest #38 Muhugu Trail Stump (this one)
3. GC54GT5 Karura Forest #13: Huruma Beezone
4. GC5YP4N Karura Forest #33: Lantana Land
5. GC5YP89 Karura Forest #34: Aloe Aloe
6. GC5YPE5 Karura Forest #35: What a load of (bul)bul!
7. GC54GYH Karura Forest #14: East Side
8. GC5YPRJ Karura Forest #36: Ruaka River Swamp
If you take the anti-clockwise option: head straight on and compete the caches in the reverse sequence.