Deep Tour inside the Sacred Forest of Kaya Kinondo, Kenya

This is a deep tour inside the sacred forest of Kaya Kinondo in Kenya. Spread out along around 200km of the coast province of Kenya are ten separate sacred forested sites, mostly on low hills, ranging in size from 30 to around 300 ha, in which are the remains of fortified villages, Kayas, of the Mijikenda people. They represent more than thirty surviving Kayas. The Kayas began to fall out of use in the early 20th century and are now revered as the repositories of spiritual beliefs of the Mijikenda people and are seen as the sacred abode of their ancestors. The forest around the Kayas have been nurtured by the Mijikenda community to protect the sacred graves and groves and are now almost the only remains of the once extensive coastal lowland forest. If you're in the Diani Beach area, be sure to spend an hour or two exploring the deep tour inside the sacred forest of Kaya Kinondo Forest. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has been sacred territory for the Digo people for centuries. You'll need to walk with a guide, who will tell you about the beliefs and ceremonies held here, as well as the medicinal and culinary uses of the plants growing in the forest which, although only 75 acres, is said to boast 187 species of trees. You'll also see black-and-white colobus and Sykes monkeys, as well as baboons. A walk here is highly recommended. If you have time, ask your guide to show you around the local Digo village, or even to introduce you to the spiritual healer. 00:00 Introduction 00:23 The Miji Kenda People 00:38 Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest 01:00 Rules for entering the sacred forest 03:05 Hiking into the forest 04:10 Shrine 07:19 Colobus Monkeys 07:50 Cycad palm 09:08 Lianas or climbers 10:41 Ficus tree/ fig 13:24 Medicinal tree for your sinuses 16:05 Rubber tree 17:38 Tree for treating depression 19:37 Tree for making clothes 24:19 Roots growing all over the surface 25:10 Tamarind tree 27:12 Depitis Natalensis 28:26 Prayer site 31:02 Fire place- first settlement believed to be over 500 years 32:30 Ancestors burial grounds 33:49 Dispute resolutions 34:56 Indian Almond tree #sacred #sacredforest #kenya #nature #mijikenda #forest #naturephotography #naturevideo