The Taita Hills Wildlife Conservancy derives its name from the surrounding clusters of hills and is an integral part of the Eastern Arc forests classified as an biodiversity hotspot. The conservancy covers an area of 28,000 acres of mosaic habitat where the plant physiognomy is riverine forest, savanna wood and grassland. The vegetation formation is usually dense, stratified and always dominated by Acacia / Commiphora trees and may appear to be evergreen in wet areas such as in the central lowlands of the sanctuary.