The Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew - An ecological wonder and a highly recommended add-on to a Kenya coast holiday
After countless attempts and many missed opportunities, I finally got some descent chances to photograph the elusive Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew. This shy, endemic creature has been a personal holy grail, an almost mythically shy animal seen mostly screaming across a path at high speed and requiring some patience and determination to photograph. It is found exclusively in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest and the Dakatcha Wetlands along Kenya’s coast, forests also imbued with mythical or magical like qualities.
Despite their incredible value to conservation, these areas often go unnoticed by the throngs of tourists who flock to the nearby coastal towns and resorts. This lack of attention underscores how vital it is to raise awareness about their significance and fragility.
The Arabuko Sokoke Forest is more than just a home for rare species—it’s a living relic of a once-vast ecosystem. Millions of years ago, during wetter climatic periods, this forest was part of a lush expanse that connected East Africa’s coastal regions to the Central African rainforests. This corridor remains rich with life, linking what are now the Tanzanian Arc Mountains to Kenya’s coastal forests. The Eastern Arc Mountains are an ancient range, dating back over 100 million years, making them not only one of the oldest mountain systems on Earth but also a critical epicenter of endemism and biodiversity.
Should you need a guide in Sokoke, you should not hesitate to call Albert Baya (+254 728463453). He is an excellent naturalist and birdwatcher.
As East Africa dried out over millennia, many species became isolated in patches of remaining moist forests or on highland refuges, surrounded by arid bushlands and deserts. This environmental shift set the stage for unique evolutionary paths. Among these survivors were the Giant Elephant Shrews of the genus Rhynchocyon, whose earliest evidence appears 17 million years ago on Rusinga Island in Lake Victoria. Over time, populations became geographically isolated and evolved into distinct forms. Today, we have four remarkable species from this lineage:
The Black-and-Rufous Sengi found in Zanzibar and coastal Tanzania.
The Checkered Sengi from the Southern African highlands.
The Gray-faced Sengi of the Udzungwa Mountains.
The Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew, found exclusively in Sokoke.
The Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew is not just a rare and beautiful creature; it’s also a poignant reminder of the incredible evolutionary stories locked within East Africa’s landscapes. Photographs of this shy animal represents more than a game of patience—I hope they are a showcase and an invitation to visit and protect such special places like Sokoke.
Should you need a guide in Sokoke, you should not hesitate to call Albert Baya (+254 728463453). He is an excellent naturalist and birdwatcher.
