Brackenhurst #5: Little Monster!
The cache, a small plastic bag, is hidden at neck height under twigs and leaves in the fork of small tree just off the upper side of the trail in the woodland just north of the grounds of this country hotel and conference centre, where you may also be able to spot this little monster - if you are lucky!
To reach the cache location: see GC66FWA Brackenhurst #1: Garden for directions to Brackenhurst. Once you have parked your car, head for the tennis court (location of GC6KXBN Brackenhurst #4 Little Beauties) and on to the gate at S1 07.191 E 36 40.537. Exit here - tell the guard you will be returning later - and head for S1 07.176 E 36 40.544 taking the small grassy foot trail which branches off here between the houses. Follow this around the corner to S1 07.171 E 36 40.604 where the trail passes between a fence on the right and houses on the left and then on to S1 07.187 E 36 40.616. Turn left here and head of the steps into the woodland. Follow the trail as it winds up through the trees to the junction at S1 07.164 E 36 40.637. Turn right (east) here and continue up the trail which then joins a larger track and then on to the junction at S1 07.191 E 36 40.537. Turn left (north) here and head up to the cache.
Jackson's or Kikuyu (3-horned) chameleon (Trioceros jacksonii jacksonii) is a species native to East Africa but also introduced to Hawaii and Florida. The genus name derives from the Greek τρί- (tri-) meaning 'three' and κέρας (kéras) meaning 'horns' referring to the three horns found on the heads of males. Jacksonii refers to the famous English explorer, naturalist and ornithologist Sir Frederick John Jackson, who was the 1st Governor of Kenya at the time the creature was first described and carried out several extensive expeditions in Kenya when he collected many specimens of birds and reptiles. He collected this chameleon in the Kikuyu area of Kenya, hence its other name.
The English word chameleon comes from Latin chamaeleō borrowed from the Ancient 
Greek χαμαιλέων (khamailéōn), a compound of χαμαί (khamaí) 'on the ground' and λέων (léōn) 'lion'. The Greek word is a calque translating the Akkadian nēš qaqqari, 'ground lion'.
Jackson's chameleons are native to woodlands and forests 1,500-3,200m in south-central Kenya and northern Tanzania. where annual rainfall is seasonal but >127cm. It is more widespread in Kenya, where it is even found in hedges (including along roadsides), on small trees, in plantations and wooded areas of some Nairobi suburbs (see here for a video of one on the patio of our house in Kilelshwa).
They are also called 3-horned chameleons because males have 3 brown horns - one on the nose (rostral horn) and one above each superior orbital ridge above the eyes (preocular horns), somewhat reminiscent of the ceratopsid dinosaur genus Triceratops. They are usually bright green, sometimes with traces of blue and yellow, but like all chameleons, they change colour quickly depending on mood, health, and temperature.
They are small- medium-sized chameleons - adult males reach 38cm and females 25cm, but more typical lengths are 15-25cm. They have a saw-tooth shaped dorsal ridge and no gular crest. They attain sexual maturity after 5 months and their lifespan is variable, with males mostly living longer than females. In captivity, they can live for up to 10 years with health adults weighing up to 1.5kg.
They feed mainly on small insects, but also eat centipedes, isopods, millepedes, spiders, lizards, small birds and snails in the wild where, despite its slow and sluggish nature, it is a very successful predator.
They are less territorial than most species of chameleons. Males will usually assert dominance over each other through colour displays and posturing to try and secure mating rights, but not usually to the point of physical fights.
Most chameleons are oviparous, but Jackson's chameleon gives birth to live offspring with 8-30 live young born after a 5-6 month gestation.
This species is popular in the international pet trade (8% of all chameleon pet trade) due to its mini-dinosaur appearance and is captive bred in Kenya for export.
For more information on this creature, including fascinating information on its behaviour see here and here, for a general short video on chameleons see here and for an amazing 4-eyed 'chameleon', see here.