Just north-west of Shimba Hills lies Mwalunganje, watered by the Manolo River, a favourite haunt of big tusker male Elephants, and where they take their entertaining mud baths.
The area with its surrounding thick forest became a reserve to open up a connecting corridor for the elephant trek south en-route to Shimba Hills.
The conservation area is recognised for its role in the development of young independent male Elephants in their demanding life ahead. The terrain is diverse, riverine forest gives way to deciduous woodlands and dry baobab bushland, here the rare Sokoke Scops Owl can be sighted.
