Cherangani Hills

Cherangani Hills
The rare De Brazza's Monkey
Highest point
Coordinates	1°15′06″N 35°27′02″E / 1.251655°N 35.450478°E / 1.251655; 35.450478Coordinates: 1°15′06″N 35°27′02″E / 1.251655°N 35.450478°E / 1.251655; 35.450478
Geography
Cherangani Hills Location in Kenya
Location	Kenya

The Cherangani Hills are gently rolling slopes in the western highlands of Kenya, and are one of Kenya's five main forests. The highlands, the large central plateau, is divided by the Mau Escarpment rising from the border with Tanzania up to the Cherangani Hills, fencing the plateau that rises to the slopes of Mount Elgon.^[1]

The Cherangany Hills in Trans Nzoia county of Kenya reach elevations of 3500 m above sea level. They include Kameleogon (3581 m), Chebon (3375 m), Chepkotet (3370 m), Alaleigelat (3350 m) and Sodang (3211 m). They are home to a marginalized hunter-gatherer community called the Sengwer.

Geology

The Cherangani Hills are not of volcanic origin, unlike most of Kenya’s mountain ranges. They are located on a forested escarpment with shear cliff walls surrounding them on three sides.^[2] Visible are forested ridges and stark, rocky gorges. The Cherangani Hills offer hill walking in Kenya for the visitor.^[3]

Ecology

The Cherangani Hills are monitored by the United Nations Environmental Programme as one of the five most important water catchment areas in Kenya.^[4] As of the last report, monitoring the change in forestation between 2000 and 2003, the Cherangani Hills were the least affected of the forests monitored, with 174.3 hectares deforested, this loss is occurring within Marakwet District and West Pokot District. Since this forest cover is indigenous, the report recommends that the area be closely watched to prevent further destruction.^[5] The thirteen forest reserves there are collectively known as the Cherangani Hills Forest.

The De Brazza's Monkey has been sighted here.^[6] The monkeys are confined to small areas in the Cherangani Hills that offer them little protection.^[7]

References