The continual voicing of concerns by dog-shy walkers and runners has led FKF to devise a win-win solution in the northern sector of Karura Forest.
The ‘Shady Path’ parallel to Wangari Maathai Track was established in 2017 to help walkers/runners and dog-owners to co-exist. It has been extended to offer an improved off-leash loop that improves separation without compromising walking, running and biking experiences.
The stretch of Wangari Maathai Track between Gate-C (a.k.a. ‘Sharks’) on Kiambu Road and junction 33 is now a dogs ON-leash zone, as is the entirety of Wangari’s Corner, Muhugu Trail and the several link paths in-between.
Dog owners who wish to have their dogs off-leash as they start their walk from the Gate-C (Kiambu Road) parking area, are required to use the new Shady Path loop that now extends from the parking area all the way to to junctions 33b and 34b and back to the Ruaka Picnic Site along Tara Path (see map, highlighted line), a total of 6.5 off-leash kilometres. You are encouraged to follow the loop in a clockwise direction to minimise head-to-head encounters with other dog-walkers.
Note that the section between junction 34c and 37b is still quite dusty (and likely to get muddy when it rains) due to the disturbance attendant to the laying of a new municipal sewer line. We are endeavouring to stabilise the loose soil and shall soon be replanting with indigenous trees and shrubs. Please bear with us.
Dog owners, please continue to exercise voice control over your off-leash pets at all times in all places: keep them on the path, don’t let them run into the forest to chase wildlife or stray over onto on-leash tracks. And, remember, you may walk on any on-leash track if your pet is on-leash.
Even on the Shady Path Loop, if you do meet fellow visitors who seem nervous about dogs, put your pets back on-leash until you are all clear of one another. Click below for more Dog Guidelines.
