Kakamega Forest · Western Kenya
Sleep at the edge of Kenya's only rainforest
Isecheno Blue Shouldered Guesthouse is a clean, affordable and friendly base just outside Kakamega Forest — with hot showers, home-cooked meals and expert-led birding and nature tours that start at our door.
- Short walk to Isecheno trails
- Hundreds of forest bird species
- Hot showers & meals
Welcome
A simple, warm home in the heart of bird country
Named after the Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat — one of the forest's shy and beautiful songbirds — our guesthouse exists for people who come to Kakamega for nature.
We are a small, locally run guesthouse near Isecheno Forest Station in the southern section of Kakamega Forest. Visiting birders describe us as inexpensive, clean and safe, with hot showers and good meals at modest prices — and our manager and guide Smith Likare is widely praised as an exceptional birding guide.
Whether you are a dedicated birder chasing Kakamega specials, a researcher, a backpacker or a family looking for a rainforest adventure, we will help you make the most of your time here.
Our storyWhy stay with us
Everything you need, nothing you don't
Simple, honest hospitality and the best possible location for exploring the forest.
Steps from the rainforest
Within easy walking distance of Isecheno and the trails of Kakamega Forest — be birding at first light.
Hot showers
Warm up after a misty morning in the forest. Simple comforts, done well.
Home-cooked meals
Hearty Kenyan meals at modest prices, plus early breakfasts and packed lunches for the trail.
Clean & safe
A quiet, secure and welcoming base that birders and travellers recommend.
Expert birding guide
Your host Smith Likare is a highly recommended Kakamega birding guide.
Budget friendly
Affordable rates that leave more of your budget for guiding and exploring.
Tours & experiences
Explore Kakamega with a local expert
From dawn birding walks to sunrise on Lirhanda Hill and torch-lit night walks — every tour starts close to your room.
Kakamega Forest Birding Tour
Walk the forest trails at first light with a specialist birding guide in search of Great Blue Turaco, Blue-headed Bee-eater and other Guineo-Congolian specials.
View tour →2 – 3 hoursGuided Rainforest Nature Walk
A relaxed introduction to the rainforest: giant indigenous trees, medicinal plants, primates, butterflies and the stories of the forest.
View tour →About 3 hoursLirhanda Hill Sunrise Walk
Climb to the viewpoint on Lirhanda Hill before dawn and watch the sun rise over a sea of rainforest canopy.
View tour →1.5 – 2 hoursNight Forest Walk
Discover the nocturnal rainforest by torchlight — bushbabies, potto, chameleons, frogs, owls and glowing insects.
View tour →2 – 4 hoursPrimate & Butterfly Walk
Track colobus, red-tailed and blue monkeys through the canopy and enjoy the forest's extraordinary diversity of butterflies.
View tour →Half dayIsiukhu & Yala River Waterfall Hike
Follow forest trails to the rivers that drain Kakamega Forest and the waterfalls that are at their most spectacular after the rains.
View tour →Birding in Kakamega
Central African birds — in Kenya
Kakamega Forest is the easternmost outpost of the Guineo-Congolian rainforest, so many of its birds are found nowhere else in Kenya.
- Great Blue Turaco, Blue-headed Bee-eater & Jameson's Wattle-eye
- Turner's Eremomela and Brown-eared Woodpecker
- The elusive Grey-chested Babbler — genus Kakamega
- Our namesake, the Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat
Location
Find us at Isecheno, Kakamega Forest
We are located just outside the forest in the Isecheno area of the southern Kakamega Forest, Shinyalu, Kakamega County. The forest lies roughly 418 km north-west of Nairobi and about 50 km north of Kisumu.
- Fly to Kisumu, then continue by road via Kakamega
- Or travel overland from Nairobi via Nakuru and Kisumu or Eldoret
- Message us for directions or help arranging a taxi
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly is Isecheno Blue Shouldered Guesthouse?
We are just outside Kakamega Forest, within easy walking distance of Isecheno Forest Station in the southern part of the forest, Kakamega County, western Kenya.
How do I book a room or a tour?
The quickest way is to message our manager Smith Likare on WhatsApp at +254 722 886 833 or email [email protected] with your dates, number of guests and the tours you are interested in.
Are meals available?
Yes. Home-cooked meals are available at modest prices. Let us know about dietary needs in advance and we can prepare packed breakfasts for early birding starts.
Is there hot water?
Yes, our rooms have access to hot showers — a welcome comfort after a morning on the forest trails.
Book your stay
Ready to wake up to the sound of the rainforest?
Message Smith Likare on WhatsApp (+254 722 886 833) or email ([email protected]) with your dates and plans — rooms, meals and guided tours can all be arranged in one chat.