Sigiria Forest #23: Ferocious and Feisty!
The cache, a small black-taped tube, is hidden behind a piece of rotten wood on the side of tree about 3m off the track. Although this is another predominantly creature of the night which you will therefore be unlikely to see, it is definitely a forest resident as it has also been caught on 'Karura Cam' - one of the IR (heat) sensitive cameras set up in various parts of the forest to monitor mammal movements and activities.
See GC4PD3V Karura Forest #1: Intro, info & entry for background info on the forest, opening times, entry fees, etc. and here for a detailed map of Karura & Sigiria Forests and/or download a Google Earth file of the trails here.
To reach the cache: after paying the forest entrance fee, from the Parking at the Karura Forest entrance (Gate A) to the east off Limuru road @ S 01 14.826 E 36 49.021 head back out of the gate and down to the main road. Cross this busy road (carefully!) and pick up the access track to the Sigiria Forest a short distance north. Follow this down a short distance and across the stream to the Sigiria Forest Gate @ S 01 14.804 E 36 48.901 close to the trailhead at Junction 54. From here the shortest route to the cache is to head left (SW) up the trail to Junction 69, right (north) to J53, then left (west) a short distance to the cache location.
An alternative route is J54 then right (north) -> J55 then left (south) -> J53 -> then right (west) to the cache.
Permission to place the cache was kindly granted by the Director of the Kenya Forest Service.
(continued from GC6N4X7 Sigiria Forest #22: Fearless and Fearsome!) . . .
After the wolverine, the ratel has the least specialised diet of the weasel family. In undeveloped areas, they may hunt any time of day, but they become nocturnal in places with high 
human activity. When hunting, they trot with their foretoes turned in. They love bee honey and grubs - hence their name. They are also carnivorous and eat insects, frogs, tortoises, rodents, turtles, lizards, snakes, eggs and birds. They may even chase away young lions and take their kills. They will also eat fruit and vegetables, such as berries, roots and bulbs
They may hunt frogs and rodents, such as gerbils and ground squirrels, by digging them out of their burrows and can eat tortoises easily due to their powerful jaws. They kill and eat snakes, even highly venomous or large ones, such as cobras. They consume all parts of their prey, including hair, feathers and bones, holding their food down with their forepaws. When seeking food, they may lift stones or tear bark from trees.
They often become serious poultry predators and because of their strength and persistence, they are difficult to deter. They can rip thick planks from hen-houses or burrow underneath stone foundations. Surplus killing is common during these events - one resulting in the death of 17 Muscovy ducks and 36 chickens!
Because their thick skin is hard to penetrate and loose so they can twist and turn on their attackers when held. The only 
safe grip on a honey badger is on the back of the neck. The skin is also tough enough to resist several machete blows. The only sure way of killing them quickly is through a blow to the skull with a club or a shot to the head with a gun, as their skin is almost impervious to arrows and spears . . . to be continued (see Sigiria Forest #24 Fiendish and . . . Famous!)
See here for a full length documentary on Snake Killers: Honey Badgers of the Kalahari.
See here for a short video of honey badgers hunting snakes.
See here for video of a honey badger persistently attacking a vehicle in Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania.
See here for another video of honey badgers hunting.