Karura Forest

Karura Forest is a forest reserve on the northern edge of Nairobi, about 6 kilometres from the city centre, divided by Limuru Road into the main forest and the smaller Sigiria block. It is co-managed by the Kenya Forest Service and Friends of Karura Forest, a community forest association, under a joint agreement that runs to 2041.

Friends of Karura lists events among the uses of the forest: gatherings in designated areas for weddings, concerts, team building and educational tours, and its online portal takes bookings for events, filming, picnics, eco tours and activities. There are no halls; events happen outdoors among the trees, at sites such as Amani Garden and the KFEET Centre near Gate A and Karura Gardens on the Kiambu Road side. No guest capacity is published for any site, so numbers are agreed when booking.

Smaller groups can use one of five designated picnic sites, where a picnic means up to 25 people with no catering or temporary structures; weekend and public holiday picnics are booked by 5 pm the day before. Forest rules ban loud music, campfires, open fires and fireworks, and Karura is plastic-free, so organisers should plan for sound limits and for taking all rubbish out.

The main entrance, Gate A, is on Limuru Road opposite the Belgian Embassy, with road access to the KFEET Centre and the Friends of Karura office. There is parking at the main gates, and entry and parking fees are paid by M-Pesa through eCitizen. The forest opens at about 06:00 with last entry at 17:30. Matatu routes 11B, 106, 107 and 116 from the city centre stop at the Belgian Embassy.

Ask the venue

• Outdoor space
• Parking

No loud music, campfires, open fires or fireworks. Karura is plastic-free: take all rubbish out. Entry and parking are paid by M-Pesa through eCitizen.

Ask the venue for pricing

Karura Forest, Gate A, Limuru Road (opposite the Belgian Embassy), Nairobi

Gate A, the main entrance, is off Limuru Road opposite the Belgian Embassy, with road access to the KFEET Centre and the Friends of Karura office. Gate C ('Sharks Gate') is off Kiambu Road. Matatus 11B, 106, 107 and 116 from the city centre run to the Belgian Embassy stop (southbound).

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