History :Not only is the lush woodland of DeKUWC among the last tracts of indigenous forest in the region, but it is also steeped in revolutionary history. During the Mau Mau rebellion, the dense forests were a hideout for Kenyan freedom fighters, including national hero and Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi.
The conservancy is part of a larger forest system known as Nyeri forest, currently managed by the Kenya Forest Service. Traditionally, this landscape was a source of livelihood for Kikuyu communities, who collected firewood and edible and medicinal plants from the forest.
Today, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology protects 140 acres of this valuable land as a sanctuary for ecosystems and wildlife, and we are pleased to share this haven of nature and history with you. Waiting for you beyond our gates are 9 species of grazing mammals, two species of primates, dozens of species of indigenous birds, reptiles and amphibians, and a variety of indigenous vegetation.