Murembe, tall magical tree that cured mumps among the Luhya

Kampi ya Lucki camp site resort in Kakamega. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

"Civet cats come out only at night. They are very secretive animals. They disappear when they sense a human presence," says Amutebi.

A civet is a small nocturnal animal whose body resembles a leopard and is native to Asia and Africa.

"In the bushes and among trees here, there are many snake species but you cannot see them during the day. Snakes normally come out in the morning to bask," Amutebi says.

The guide adds that they have planted 'king of the night', a plant that emits a smell which repels snakes.

That way, they do not come anywhere close to the grass-thatched structures in the trees.

There are many bird species in the forest, most of which are visible only in the morning and late evening.

According to Amutebi, the most interesting of the colourful birds is 'isimbishira' (Striking African Bird).

He reveals that males spends a better part of the day preening and trying to impress females. Despite its tiny size, the isimbishira is so fierce that even eagles are wary of it.

"Natives believe the bird's long tail is a potent love charm that men use to win women over," Amutebi says.

The narrow, loose-rock pathways near a traditional hut set among indigenous trees lead to an expansive rock on the Eastern side of Kampi ya Lucki.

The rock face is covered by algae due to long exposure to the elements.

Kampi ya Lucki is one of the few natural habitats in Western Kenya. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

One cannot miss noticing numerous straight, equidistant lines that mark symmetrical chunks of rock.

They have the appearance of building blocks held together by cement. Indeed, what looks like hardened tar forms the bond between the slabs of rock in some places.

Higher up the rock face, there is a pan with three tiny depressions above it, and another pan a few metres away.

"Men used to come and bathe at this secluded point in the evenings. These two rock pans hardly run dry. Even during the dry season, there is always water around. When the water overflows the pan, it flows down the river below," says the guide.

Makuva states that they are planting more indigenous trees to replace those that have been destroyed by human activity.

They have also placed beehives in strategic places to lure bees away from the rocks where they used to stay, so as to tame them after they became wild and a threat to visitors.

There are two log cabins, a grass thatched traditional hut, a spacious brick cabin and huts where people can relax under the shade of trees in the tranquillity of natural forest.