After an approximately twenty minutes boda boda ride from the tranquil fishing village of Shimoni skirting my way through the snaky murram roads, I arrive at Fikirini village in Tswaka. A village of the hidden gem of the Three Sisters Giant Caves, the second largest cave system in East Africa.

I meet my guide Ali Toya who takes me through my odyssey at the magnificent caves complex comprising of the Mdenyenye, Pangani and Kisimani caves. The environment here is cool and secure, and the lovely vegetation makes the area a unique haven for photograph lovers. 

Wooden staircase leading into the Mdenyenye cave in Fikirini.

We first descend into the largest of the three caves, the Mdenyenye Cave using a wooden staircase well crafted by the locals. Toya takes his moment to first explain the meaning of the word ‘Mdenyenye’ to me.

“Mdenyenye is a word used by the Tswaka community to mean the act of ascending or descending using a rope or a hanging root. This is the largest coral cave in Kenya.” He elaborates.

As we get down into the caves we are welcomed by thousands of bats flocking around after sensing our presence in their domain. A unique encounter indeed as at some angles you have to duck to avoid the bats that were swooping and darting around the cave chambers. The atmosphere down here is thick and humid as we walk inwards on the soft cave floor covered with bats’ poo.

“Don’t be afraid. Some bats can even cling on your body.” Toya explains after seeing me getting petrified.

It is a unique adventure not for the faint heartened! But how was this hidden treasure used by the local Tswaka community in the past?

According to my guide, during the times of slave trade, the local community used to hide inside the Mdenyenye cave to evade those who came to their village looking for slaves. Today this cave is home to seven bat species including the Egyptian fruit bats, common bent-wing bats, long-fingered bat, tomb bats and the angle-faced bat. More than 40,000 bats live inside these caves a number that is believed to be the highest in Africa.

Though not well established, the Three Sisters Caves are a potential attraction of Kwale County. Most of the people who visit these caves are either tourists or researchers and scientists who come here to study bats, the stalactites and stalagmites formation in the caves or even the plant life in and around the caves. Today these caves are used as a spiritual site (Kaya) of the local Tswaka community.

While at the Fikirini caves site one can also have an unforgettable memory of viewing various bird species and also tour the Fikirini village for a taste of the natural refreshing coconut drink known as the madafu as you are entertained by traditional Digo dancers.

Getting to Fikirini:

Fikirini is located at the south eastern part of Kwale County near the fishing village of Shimoni, an approximately 45 minutes drive from the Beach resort of Diani. You can get to this place using a cab or use a public means of transport to Mwambao along Shimoni road and hire a boda boda to Fikirini village.

Have you ever visited the Three Sisters Caves of Fikirini? Drop us a comment on how your experience was like.

Set in a cool and refreshing environment in the Shimba Hills Ecosystem, the Shifoga Eco Lodge offers a perfect feel of nature within the limits of Kwale. This Eco Lodge is located just about 200 meters from Kwale main town towards the Shimba Hills National Reserve which is home to the only sable antelope population in Kenya. On arriving at Shifoga Eco Lodge, one gets a unique introduction to wild from the sounds of singing birds and chatters of excited colobous and sykes monkeys jumping from one tree to another. This secret getaway features two self contained bandas with reliable water and power supplies. An overnight stay at Shifoga Eco Lodge is exceptionally a unique experience as one interacts with wildlife.

Photo: Shifoga 

While at this Eco Lodge there is never a boring moment. During the day, Shifoga guides will take you out for a walk a nature trail inside the Coastal Rainforest just outside Shimba Hills National Reserve. Here you get a chance to come close to the endangered black and white colobous monkeys, sykes monkeys, baboons and various birds and reptile species. Also in the nature trail walk which normally takes around 45 minutes, a visitor learns about different indigenous tree species.  

Shifoga Nature Trail walk. / Photo: Ali Kipapuro.

Amidst the forest is also a set up of a sample traditional Digo homestead (mudzi). As you enter the compound (muhala) at this sample Digo community homestead the first thing you see is a small structure decorated with red, black and white pieces of clothes. Traditionally the Digos called it the fingo which they believed that it offered family member protection from evil spirits. Here one also gets a detailed explanation on various types of traditional houses built by the Digo community in past, and places within their compounds where they used to pray for spiritual assistance from their ancestors. If you are lucky enough you will be entertained by traditional music from the Digo community while at this point in the forest. Later you are taken to a place called ‘ndala’ where the Kaya elders used to pray and offer sacrifices during times of calamities.

Mwakutunza from Shifoga explains about Digo traditions during the nature trail walk. / Photo: Ali Kipapuro.

Inside the Shifoga Nature Trail is a unique picnic site and also several camping grounds where visitors can opt to put up their tents for adventurous nights. It is in this forest also where Shifoga members have their butterfly farm, a livelihood project initiated to encourage Kwale community to conserve environment.

Shifoga picnic site inside the nature trail. / Photo Ali Kipapuro.

Apart from the Nature Trail, Shifoga Eco Lodge organizes village tours for visitors to mingle with local community member in various villages of Kwale where they learn about the lifestyle of the Digo and Duruma communities, and at times have a taste of traditional delicacies from the two communities. Shifoga also has day-long walking safari of about 25 kilometers where their visitors are treated to a unique odyssey in and around the Shimba Hills ecosystem. These tours normally start at their offices through Kwale town to Golini Resort where one takes refreshments and a chance to have an expansive view from the Golini cliff, and later proceed to Chitsanze waterfalls overlooking the magnificent Mwaluganje valley and back to Golini cliff for a sun-downer as you catch a far glimpse of the African Bush Elephants of the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary.  

The Shofoga Eco Lodge is owned by the Shimba Hills Forest Guides Association (SHIFOGA), a group formed in 2004. Below are their rates.

Tour Guiding - Shimba Hills Reserve

Non - Residents & Residents:                       Ksh. 1,500/= per group

Citizens:                                                             Ksh. 1,000/= per group

Institutions:                                                      Ksh. 2,000/= per group

Tour Guiding - NATURE TRAIL:

Non - Residents & Residents:                       Ksh. 500/= per person

Citizens:                                                             Ksh. 100/= per person

Tour Guiding - VILLAGE TOURS:

Non - Residents & Residents:                       Ksh. 500/= per

Citizens:                                                             Ksh. 200/= per person

Institutions:                                                      Ksh 2,000/= per group

Have you ever visited Shifoga Eco Lodge? You can drop us a comment below on how your experience was like.

The welcoming aura of Mombasa town tells you how things are normally done at this coastal town.  There is no hurry here as the natives say ‘Mombasa Raha’ two Swahili words meaning Mombasa is enjoyment. 

Many people know the coastal town of Mombasa as the second largest town in Kenya after the capital city Nairobi, or just a tourist hub and a gateway to Eastern and Central Africa. Mombasa town has rich history dating back to centuries, and it is believed to among the oldest towns in the world. Its history has been recorded in chronicles dating back to the first and second centuries. The original inhabitants of Mombasa town who are the Swahili people were in the past known as the Wangozi. These people used a different name to call Mombasa town. According to Stambuli Abdullahi Nassir a famous historian at the Kenyan coast, Mombasa was first known as Gongwa La Mwana Mkisi meaning a territory of the Queen of Sheba.

Panoramic ocean view at a Nyali hotel in Mombasa.

It was later named Kongowea, Mvita and then Mambasa, and not Mombasa as it is referred to as today. According to Stambuli, the name Mambasa comes from an Arabic word ‘Man-baasa’ meaning people who refused to be colonized or ruled by outsiders, a case that was evident from their resistance during the colonial eras. However among all the names of Mombasa town, the name Mvita was most famous among the native Swahili people. Mvita meant people who fought back or resisted as it was seen when the Portuguese who were led by Vasco da Gamma came to Mombasa, though very few people know about this history because many things are believed to have been changed in the history recorded about Mombasa town. 

Stambuli narrates that the generosity and kindness of the native Swahili people of Mombasa town also led to the evident change of different Swahili names by visitors. “Many people have come up with their names. But the name Mvita was the most famous name of this town.” He explains.

Gongwa La Mwana Mkisi, meant the monarchy of queen Mwana Mkisi, a powerful ruler who reigned during the period of Prophet Suleiman (King Solomon) ruling to as far as the Shungwaya region. Her Arabic name was Balqis though many call her as the Queen of Sheba in English. Mombasa town is among the oldest towns of the East African coast alongside Lamu, Zanzibar (Unguja) and Kilwa.

Today Mombasa town is one of the major tourist destinations at the Kenyan coast. Among the key features that make this port town unique is the presence of its historic Fort Jesus built by the Portuguese between 1593 and 1596 to protect it from invaders during the Portuguese reign at the Kenyan coast. Also the famous Old Town (Mji wa Kale) overlooking the Indian ocean, Kilindini waterfront and the Moi Avenue tusks are other distinct features of the picturesque town of Mombasa.

Welcome to Mombasa ‘Hakuna Matana!’ An ancient town worth a visit!

Are you planning a days excursion away from the pearl sandy beaches of the Kenyan coast? Then Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is the place to visit.

The Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary which forms part of the larger Shimba Hills Ecosystem is a major tourists attraction in Kwale County. This scenic sanctuary that lies approximately 45 km southwest of the coastal town of Mombasa, is home to the famous African Bush Elephant, the Loxodonta Africana. Formed in the early 1990s as a community ecotourism project to reduce human wildlife conflicts, Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is mainly characterized by magnificent features including rolling hills, steep ridges, raised cliffs,  and winding water shades.

Courtesy: Shimba Lodge

Set in a serene environment that is surrounded by spectacular landscapes and abundant vegetation, the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is a must visit destination. Elephants are the main attraction here. When you visit this 36 km² sanctuary, elephant groups or families are easily spotted as they move between feeding and water areas or maybe crossing to the adjacent Shimba Hills National Reserve.

Apart from being home to elephants which are among the big five game animals of Africa, the Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary is also habitat to several other wild mammal species including the warthogs, baboons, bushbucks and monkeys. It is also a unique bird sighting area, as it is home to various birds species including the crowned eagles, African hawks, honey guide and sunbirds. 

This sanctuary also has distinct botanic importance as it is home to the endangered native African cycad plant genus biologically known as the encephalartos.
  

There are six species of cycads in Kenya, all of which are found in the expansive Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary. These beautiful evergreen plants can grow and survive to around 150 years if not disturbed.

Touring the magnificent Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary offers a memorable lifetime experience as one gets a chance to take beautiful photos of the calm surrounding, and at the tented Mwaluganje camp.

Located in the heart of the Shimba Hills National Reserve in Kwale County, the Shimba Hills Lodge lies about 30 km south of the coastal town of Mombasa, and is the only tree lodge at the Kenyan coast nestled in a diverse ecosystem. This elegant lodge is accessible by local safari cabs, and its approximately a 30 minutes drive from the beach resort of Diani.

Accommodation here is exceptionally superb. The Shimba Hills Lodge has two equipped suites each with a spacious living room, a bedroom, an en-suite bathroom and a wooden balcony overlooking a waterhole from where one gets a close view of game animals as they come in to drink water. The Shimba Hills Lodge also has three triple rooms, and 13 twin rooms all with small balconies overlooking the waterhole too. 

Courtesy: Shimba Hills Lodge

This award winning lodge has an open veranda restaurant with a sitting capacity of 80-90 seats, and a bar attended to by qualified staff. During lunch hours, curious resident squirrels normally frequent the restaurant probably to have a bite of mouth-watering cuisine too.    

While at the lodge a visitor enjoys various activities including game drives to the expansive Shimba Hills National Reserve exploring magnificent scenery like the Sheldrick water falls, as well as tracking wildlife living in this national game reserve including the African bush elephant, sable antelopes, giraffes, leopards, buffaloes, colobus monkeys, baboons and warthogs. The Shimba Hills National Reserve famously known as ‘Home of the Sable Antelope’ is also a unique bird viewing place as it is a habitat to various bird species such as the fish eagles, hornbills, African hawks, Guinea fowls, uluguru and the blue sun birds.

A visitor can also opt to take a walk into the thick Shimba rain forest on a long wooden tree top walk way to a platform at the end where he can enjoy a sun downer drink or a romantic candle light dinner while observing wild animals like waterbucks and bushbucks, and also some common reptiles like the monitor lizards in their natural environment. At this platform, bush babies also come craving for a bite of the delicious Shimba Lodge meals.

Courtesy: Shimba Hills Lodge

After dinner one relaxes as he unwinds and gradually drift off to the sounds of the rain forest’s nocturnal choir awaiting the wake up calls by resident fish eagles.

The peacefulness at the Shimba Hills Lodge gives one a unique lifetime opportunity to reconnect with mother nature whilst enjoying breathtaking views of the surrounding coastal rain forest that is home to over 1,300 tree species and over 295 butterflies species.

For adventure holidays, the Shimba Hills Lodge is absolutelty the place to visit!

Voted Africa’s best beach destination for four consecutive years, Kwale County’s Diani Beach Resort is a picturesque setting of pearl white sand blending into the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. This beautiful beach that stretches 10 km from Kongo Mosque to the north to Galu beach to the south, is located 19 miles south of the coastal town of Mombasa. Its unblemished white sand expanse combined with the tranquility and hospitality here brings out an exclusive African beach holiday experience.   

Sky Diving at Diani /Photo: Susan Nyamawi

This unique and diverse resort is a beehive of activities from dawn to dusk, with local and foreign tourists flocking to Diani making this beach a lively place to visit. The Diani beach curio businesses are a unique feature here, as visitor buy themselves sculpture souvenirs or even beautiful African attire ranging from kikois, to batik shirts, Maasai shukas, safari chapeaus, t-shirts, bracelets among other artifacts. Many sporting events take place in Diani beach including sky diving, kite surfing, jet skis, beach volleyball, swimming, camel riding among others. With the famous sky diving, one gets a memorable chance to experience the thrills of free fall and a magnificent canopy flight over the coastline of Diani at a  height of 12,000 feet or 3,600 meters.

Apart from these activities, one can take a trip to see the protected colobus monkeys of Diani, tour the nearby sacred Kaya forests or opt to visit the historical Kongo Mosque. You can even organize a day trip to the neighboring Shimba Hills National Reserve to view a variety of wildlife including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, sable antelopes, and water bucks. At the same time you can decide to go further south to the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve for snorkeling, dolphin and turtle sighting, and dhow tours to Wasini and Funzi islands.

Accommodation in Diani is best with most of the hotels and lodges spread along the Diani beach road, beautifully hidden behind a line of forest. In these beach hotels visitors enjoy well cooked African cuisine as they get entertained by live band performances especially during lunch hours and dinner times.

Travelling to Diani is either by plane from Nairobi Wilson Airport directly to Ukunda airstrip. One can also take a plane from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi to Moi Airport in Mombasa and from there hire a cab from various tour companies, or even board public means of transport (matatu) to Diani. However when you set your foot on the pearl sand of Diani Beach keep in mind one very important thing! High standards of environmental management and conservation are observed here, hence littering is a taboo.

Litter bins along Diani Beach

Located 30 km southwest of Mombasa town and 15 kms inland from Kombani junction off the Mombasa - Lunga Lunga highway, Kwale town that borders the Shimba Hills National Reserve is famously known for its unique public garden, The Baraza Park.

Travelling uphill from Kombani, one is accorded a warm welcome to this town by the serene environment characterized by long coconut palm trees that sway swiftly, whilst enjoying a panoramic view of the India Ocean at the Matuga, Vuga and Kwale hill tops.

People relaxing at the precious Kwale Baraza Park.

On reaching Kwale town, a few meteres from the Kwale County Headquaters is the magnificent Kwale Baraza Park, which has its uniqueness from the presence of tall, old indigenous trees that offer a cooling effect to the town and its environs.

The Kwale Baraza Park is a haven well conserved and protected by the local authorities and the larger community. Its tranquility and ease to access has made this garden a frequently visited spot where people from the milieu come to relax. For years now the Kwale Baraza Park has also been a main venue for national, county, community and other important functions.

The indigenous trees present here are also a feeding spot and a habitat to several bird, reptile and insect species. The Kwale Baraza Park is also a remarkable place for sighting the brave and fearless Shimba Hills baboons and monkeys which come out of National Reserve to take a walk in town.

Talking of the Kwale Baraza Park one has to commend the County Government of Kwale under the leadership of Governor Salim Mvurya for successfully rehabilitating this gem,  which was untended to in the past.

Today, the podium in the park where meeting are done is in good condition. Additionally there are adequate relaxing benches, toilets, a restaurant block, unique galana walk ways and ample parking space in this public facility. The rehabilitation project also encompassed flowers planting in the garden. From time to time the Kwale Baraza Park is cleaned by youth from the National Youth Service (NYS), making it a clean place to visit.

Shifoga Gardens Cafe in the heart of Kwale Baraza Park

Apart from being a recreational site and an ideal venue for hosting national, county and community functions, the presence of indigenous trees in this garden has a significance to the Kaya elders who to them the trees are sacred.

Near the Baraza Park are important facilities including the Kwale Hospital, Equity and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) bank branches and ATM points, several mosques and churches, government institutions such as the Kwale Huduma Centre, and some safari lodges and guest houses.

Transport to this park is either the use of public means where one takes a matatu from Likoni Ferry or from Kombani, or even one can use a private car or a taxi. 

From Likoni it is approximately a 40 minutes drive to Kwale town.

Kwale Baraza Park is a unique enchantment, and its inherent features give you a feel of nature and a memorable lifetime experience. Don’t be left out! Take your time to visit this magnificent recreational park.

Situated on the southern coast of Kenya near Shimoni and south of Wasini Island of Kwale County, the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park and Reserve is a key tourist attraction. Made up of four scenic coral islands namely Kisite, Mpunguti Ya Juu, Mpunguti Ya Chini and Jiwe Jahazi, the park covers an area of 39 square kilometers (Kisite Park 28km² and Mpunguti Reserve 11km²). It is home to a wide range of endemic marine animals and also a breeding zone for migratory birds.

Tourists at Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park / Photo: Juma Chigodi.

Nicknamed the ‘Home of The Dolphin’ Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve is a unique diving and snorkeling location at the Kenyan coast. Its pristine coral reefs comprising of 56 coral genera are a habitat to over 250 fish species among them the whale sharks, moray eels, groupers, rays, snappers, angel fish and the scorpion fish. Two species of sea grass and numerous sponges are also found in this park. Many tourists visit this park for dolphin and turtle sighting. Three species of dolphins spinner, humpback and bottle-nosed dolphins  are found in Kisite Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve alongside two species of sea turtles, the green turtle and the hawksbill. Though the park is open all year round, diving and snorkeling is best between the months of October and March when visibility is good. Apart from diving and snorkeling, visitors can also enjoy sunbathing and bird watching.

Kisite Mpunguti Marine park is accessible by dhow or private boat hired in Shimoni, which is the starting and ending point of the park excursion. Tours to the park normally start at around 0800 hours at Shimoni and later tourists are taken to various hotels in Wasini Island or even Shimoni where they enjoy well cooked Swahili sea food lunch comprising of mangrove crabs, fresh fish, coconut rice and fresh drinks. 

Shimoni dhows / Photo: Susan Nyamawi.

Back in Shimoni, visitors can tour the Shimoni Slave Caves, a historical site which is a primary attraction in the area. The Shimoni caves were used by slave merchants during the times of the Indian Ocean trade centuries back as a holding pen for slaves who were on transit to the Zanzibar slave market where they were sold and shipped to the Middle and Far East. The cave which is home to bats has also been used as a shrine by the local community.

Also the Shimoni Forest which is one of the smallest East African Coastal Rain Forests is home to the famous Angolan black and white colobous monkeys, and over 117 birds species. A local group Friends of Shimoni Forest can organise forest visits for interested tourist.

Among the hotels and lodges of Shimoni are the Pilli Pippa, the famous Betty's Camp, Shimoni Reef Lodge, Shimoni Gardens Resort, and the nearby Mwazaro Mangrove Lodge in the neighboring Mwazaro village. 

Situated in Kwale County, Shimba Hills National Reserve famously known as ‘The Paradise of Sable Antelope’ sits on the second largest East African Coastal Rain Forests in Kenya, about 33 kilometers south of the coastal town of Mombasa. 

The National Reserve which has an area of 250 square kilometers is among the major tourist destinations not only in Kwale County, but Kenya as a whole.

Eastern sable antelopes. Photo courtesy Shimba Lodge

Shimba Hills National Reserve is the home to the only sable antelope population in the country.

The name Shimba Hills comes from the words ‘Vilima vya Shambi’ which to the local communities living around the park meant the hilly terrain they referred to as the hills of the shambi, a Mijikenda name for the sable antelopes.

There are four subspecies of sable antelopes which inhabit the East African woodland savannah south of Kenya, and in the Southern African region. The Kenyan subspecies found in Shimba Hills National Reserve is known as the eastern sable (hippotragus niger roosevelti).

Apart from the sable antelopes, Shimba Hills National Reserve has different species of other animals, birds, snakes, over 295 species of butterflies and more than 1,300 identified species of trees. Some of the tree species are endemic to Shimba Hills National Reserve and are not found anywhere else in the world, such as the vangueriopsis shimbaensis.

Local tourists enjoying at the Sheldrick Falls.

Shimba Hills is a scenic and a special interest reserve. Inside this reserve is the unique Sheldrick Falls, and the highest hill top of Pengo where visitors can have a panoramic view of the surrounding environment.

The reserve is also a key water catchment area, and a source of the Marere Springs which provide house hold water to many areas of Kwale and Mombasa counties.

Also this area has rich history dating back to the East African slave trade and colonial eras. Here there are ancient graves and also trenches used during the times of the world war. Inside the Shimba Hills National Reserve is the Kaya Kwale, a sacred forest to the Digo community.

Shimba Hills National Reserve is a unique camping area with several camping and picnic sites. Also there is the Shimba Hills Lodge which is privately owned.

Shimba Hills Wildlife:

Sable antelopes, elephants, colobus monkies, giraffes, leopards, civet cat, hyenas, waterbucks, bush pigs, buffaloes, African bush babies, bushbucks among others.

Birds of Shimba Hills:

Ostrich Eagle, African Hawk; Falcon, Cuckoo; Guinea-fowl, Kenya Crested; Honey guide, Greater; Hornbill, Crowned; Quail, Blue; Sunbird, Uluguru.

Reptiles of Shimba: Python, Cobra, Lizard, and Gecko.

Situated at the southeastern part of Kenya in Kwale County, Wasini Island is the only place in Kenya which is home to the largest land-living arthropod in the world, the coconut crab (birgus iatro), a species of terrestrial hermit crab.

These amazing land-dwelling creatures are found in Bogoa area and the Mpunguti Marine Reserve, and here the local inhabitants from the Kifundi community call them mabopo.

A section of Wasini Island. / Photo Susan Nyamawi.

At Mkwiro village in Wasini Island, a community based organization called the Mkwiro Eco Friendly Conservation Group is conserving these endangered creatures. In Bogoa area, the giant coconut crabs mainly feed on coconuts as their name suggests, and also feed on different kinds of fruits found at the Mpunguti Marine Reserve area. However, according to Mkwiro Eco Friendly Conservation Group, during dry seasons, coconut crabs reach the village in search for food, and sometimes they can easily make away with food from peoples’ houses if not properly stored.

But when they get to the village, coconut crabs face the dangers of being killed by people, though the local conservation group is in the forefront to sensitize the Mkwiro community on the importance of conserving these rare creatures. Mkwiro Eco Friendly Conservation Group collaborates with the local Beach Management Unit members, and the Kenya Wildlife Services in its conservation endeavors.

On average, an adult coconut crab weighs up to four (4) kilograms, and measures up to three (3) feet long when their legs are extended. During the day, coconut crabs hide in burrows and crevices, or climb trees to avoid their predators. Even though these creatures are terrestrial, female coconut crabs release their eggs at the sea shore where they are hatched in the ocean and later juvenile coconut crabs return to the dry land in gastropod shells. Their lifespan is believed to be around 60 years.

If visiting Wasini Island, be ware not to fall on the way of these creatures unknowingly because they use their powerful claws for self-defense. Researchers indicate that a pinch of a mature coconut crab can exert a force equaling 742 pounds.

Outside the Mpunguti Marine Reserve area, coconut crabs are only found in Chumbe Island, in the Zanzibar archipelago in the East African region, and in the Island of Madagascar.

Though listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as an endangered or vulnerable spices, lack of relevant data make it hard to know the exact number of coconut crabs. In areas where they are found, the population of these creature which is a distinct tourists attraction is believed to decline due to habitat loss caused by human development projects.