In this article, we focus on the Best Places to visit in Baringo County. Baringo County is located in the former Rift Valley province of Kenya. Because of the breathtaking scenery, the county is known as the “Land of a Thousand Views.”
Baringo County has six constituencies: Baringo Central, Baringo South, Baringo North, Eldama Ravine, Mogotio, and Tiaty. The county’s largest town and headquarters are Kabarnet. A trip to this county will give you a peek into the lives of minority ethnic groups such as the Pokot, Tugen, Njemps and Nubians. Here is a list of the best places to visit in Baringo County.
Best Places To Visit In Baringo County On A Budget
1. Lake Baringo
Lake Baringo is a 130-square-kilometre freshwater lake on the northern rim of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Baringo is part of the East African Rift System, which includes the Tugen Hills in the west and the Laikipia Escarpments in the east. Lake Baringo is fed by three rivers, the Molo, Perkerra, and Ol Arabel, and has no outlet.
Lake Baringo is the only freshwater lake in the Rift Valley, together with Lake Naivasha. Along with over 470 different bird species, including flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, and fish eagles, the lake is home to hippos, crocodiles, various species of bats, and amphibians. The lake also has islands that can be visited by boat, the most notable one is Ol Kokwe Island. Other activities that one can engage in here include fishing, water skiing, windsurfing, swimming, camping and nature walks.
2. Lake Bogoria
Lake Bogoria is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by a sea of pink and hot spitting geysers. It is best seen as a day trip from nearby Lake Baringo. Over 2 million flamingos are known to occupy Lake Bogoria at any one time. They can be found here at any time of year, making the lake one of the best spots to see flamingos.
Acres of lush, green bushland and forest line the shores of Lake Bogoria, providing habitat for a wide variety of animals and plants. Striped zebras can frequently be seen grazing on the emerald green grass among the shrubbery, followed closely by lions and packs of hyenas. The lake’s hot springs and geysers, where you can boil eggs and even roast corn, are its main attractions.
3. Lake Bogoria National Reserve
Lake Bogoria National Reserve spans 107 square kilometres, with water covering 34 square kilometres. The reserve has an abundance of birdlife, with 135 bird species recorded. They include the little grebe, the black-necked grebe, the pratincole, the swift, the little bee-eater, the cape wigeon, the yellow-billed stork, the water dikkop, the great tit, the starling, the hornbill, and the crombec.
The reserve is a also conservation area for the shy Greater Kudu. Other wild animals include buffalo, zebra, cheetah, Olive baboons, warthogs, velvet monkeys, spotted hyenas, impalas and Dik Dik. The reserve provides an ideal setting for camping, bird watching, game viewing, nature walks, and boat rides.
4. Kabarnet Museum
The Kabarnet Museum opened its doors to the public in 1996. The museum is located in the former District Commissioner Residence and has two main public galleries featuring the Rift Valley people, their culture, its environment, indigenous knowledge and science for education.
The main attractions of the Museum include;
- Cultural exhibits of the Tugen, Ilchamus, Pokot, and Keiyo communities
- Live exhibits of reptiles such as Nile crocodiles, tortoises and snakes
- Children’s playground with swings and slides where children can have fun, spend free time and help them develop important skills.
- Education Hall with educational materials where visitors watch films and shows of themed exhibits about culture, environment, wildlife and many more.
In addition, the Museum has indigenous tree species with a lifespan of over 100 years. The trees are habitats for different bird species and provide visitors with natural attractive outdoor scenes.
5. Lake Baringo Reptile Park
This park was established in 2003 to inform the public about the various species of reptiles that are present. The Museum Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris collaborated on its creation. The museum is open every day and showcases a variety of reptile species, including the Black Mamba, Puff Adder, Boomslang (tree snake), Spitting Cobra, Monitor Lizards, Crocodiles, and a central pit shared by endangered tortoises and harmless Stripe-bellied Sand Snakes. There are trained staff available to take you around and answer your questions.
6. Kerubo Swamp
It is located at the northern end of Lake Bogoria, just before the entrance to the national reserve. It’s a quiet, peaceful area punctuated with shrills and calls from various birds. The lush green of the papyrus forms a picturesque contrast to the patched brown starkness of the surrounding place. The major attraction of the swamp is its birdlife, of which there are over 200 species. According to the Lonely Planet guide to East Africa, the swamp has the Kenyan record for the most bird species recorded in a single hour (96 species).
7. Ruko Conservancy
The Ruko Conservancy, another little-known gem, is primarily run by residents of two once-rival groups, the Rugus and Komolion. The community disputes endangered wildlife, which was killed as collateral damage, resulting in the giraffe’s extinction. However, 8 Rothschild giraffes were relocated to this conservancy and are now being reared in the hopes of increasing the population. Apart from being a Giraffe Haven, this conservancy is a true example of human-wildlife coexistence, with visitors permitted to freely walk among the animals.
8. Lake Kamnarok Game Reserve
Lake Kamnarok Game Reserve, also known as “Amboseli of Baringo,” is an oxbow lake with adjoining land at the Kerio Valley’s base; Rivers Ketipborok, Cheplogoi, Oiwo, and Lelabei are its tributaries. An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water that forms when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off, creating a free-standing body of water. It is the second-largest oxbow lake in Africa.
It has the second largest crocodile population after Lake Chad, but the population has steadily declined, and there are now fewer than 5000, down from 15,000 five years ago. This is due to human encroachment and siltation caused by activities around the lake. Dik Dik, bush pigs, waterbuck, elephants, buffalo, warthogs, and Rothschild’s giraffe can all be found here. Lake Kamnarok National Reserve is also home to a plethora of bird species, most notably grebes and pelicans.
