The seven beautiful Islands of Lake Baringo
The seven beautiful Islands of Lake Baringo
Lake Baringo is located in Baringo County, Rift Valley – Kenya, approximately 277 kilometers by road from Nairobi. It is one of the two freshwater lakes in the Great Rift Valley, the other being Lake Naivasha. The lake covers an estimated area of 168km² with an elevation of 970 meters. Lake Baringo primary inflow rivers are Molo, Perkerra and Ol Arabel, with no visible outlet. It is believed that the water flows from under the lake.
The lake is in a hot, dusty, dry area; it is home to over 470 species of birds, making it one of the most pristine birding destinations in Kenya together with Naivasha, it is an important birding areas making is the best hub for birds watchers. The lake has the breathtaking views of the Tugen Hills to its west and the vast Laikipia Plateau to the east. Lake Baringo is part of the East African Rift system. The water flowing into the lake arises from the Mau hills and Tugen Hills.
It is a critical habitat, and it is home to more than 500 species of birds and fauna, including some of the migratory and waterbird species found within the lake. The lake, being a freshwater lake, is a habitat to seven freshwater fish species.
Nile tilapia is the endemic species of the lake, with fishing being the most important social and economic activity for the locals who depend on the lake. The lake is also a habitat for a large population of hippopotamuses and Nile crocodiles, which one is guaranteed to see during your visit to the lake, especially during the boat ride tours. The region is also home to various other mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates.
Lake Baringo is a famous tourist attraction in Rift valley because of its rich biodiversity which comprises crocodiles, hippos, and birds among other.
Birds of Lake Baringo
Lake Baringo, apart from its beautiful scenery, is also a very important Birding Area. It is home to over 500 species of birds; both migratory birds and water birds can be easily spotted during a safari tour to Lake Baringo. Some of the birds common in the area include ; Knob-billed duck, Egyptian Goose, Spur winged Goose, Blue Tailed Teal, common quail, crested Francolin, Lesser flamingos, Little grebe, Great Crested grebe, Rock pigeon, Speckled pigeon, laughing dove, Red-eyed dove, kori Bustard, Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, African Green-pigeon, White-Crested Turaco, White -bellies Go-away-bird, African Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Pied Cuckoo, Nubian Nightjar, Sombre Nightjar, Common Swift, Nyanza swift, African swift, African Crake, Eurasian Moorhen, African Rail, Grey Crowned -Crane, Pied Avocet, Black-Winged Stilt, Long-toed Lapwing, Blacksmith lapwing, Spur-winged Lapwing, Crowned Lapwing, Lesser Sand-Plover, Greater Sand-Plover, African jacana, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew Sandpiper, African Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Three-banded Courser, Black-winged Pratincole, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, African Skimmer, African Openbill, Black Stork, Long-tailed Cormorant, Hamerkop, Goliath Heron, Great Egret, Secretary Bird, Bateleur, White-headed Vulture, Egyptian vulture, Common Buzzard, Greyish Eagle, Barn Owl, Giant kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Black-throated Barbet, Silverbird, Familiar Chat, and Little Weaver, and Red-headed weaver among others.
The lake has several small but beautiful islands, the largest of them being the Ol kokwe island . The island is an extinct volcano, which is related to the Korosi volcano located North of the lake. It has several hot springs and fumaroles, some of which emit sulfur deposits, at Soro on the northeastern shores of the island, there are hot springs.
On the Tugen hills there are several important archaeological and paleontological sites with hominids and hominid fossils, which are present in the Miocene to Pleistocene sedimentary sequence.
The main town near the lake is Marigat, with Kampi ya Samaki and Loruk settlements close to it. Many of the inhabitants of the region are pastoralists, the ethnic groups being II Chamus or Njemps, Rendille, Turkana and Kalenjin. The area is one of the main tourist attractions of the region, together with the nearby lake Bogoria. There are several Accommodation facilities with high-class hotels, lodges, self-catering cottages and campsites available on both the mainland and on the islands in the middle of the lake.
Ol kokwe island
The island is the biggest among the lake Baringo islands, located in the middle of the lake. It is the smallest volcano in the northern Rift Valley. There is Geothermal activity present along the northeastern peninsula. The latest eruptive activity at Ol kokwe was estimated to have occurred 1,000 years ago. Hot springs, boiling mud pools, and fumaroles are present along the faults of the Northeast peninsula of the island, which are the main tourist attractions frequently visited by tourists.
The island hosts one of the best tourist camps, which is among the top options in Lake Baringo. Island Camp offers a perfect opportunity to escape the city life; it also experiences less traffic than the national parks in Kenya, which are highly visited by both the locals and foreign tourists. The Island offers a chance to relax, recuperate and enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the beautiful Ol Kokwe Island. The Island is highly inhabited, and it has a primary school, Ol kokwe primary school.
Devil’s Island
This island has an interesting myth: the locals, the Ii chamus also known as the Njemps, who are the inhabitants of the region, including the islands, believe that the island is home to the devil. This explains the reason for the name of the island. The island is said to feature howling sounds and blue flames that can be seen especially during the night. The locals consider the island as forbidden.
Gibraltar island
The small island located in lake Baringo is known to be a prolific birding area. It is home to the largest population of Goliath heron ever recorded in East Africa. Other birds that can be seen here include fish eagles, while the Goliath heron, the largest member of the heron family, is found around the water sources.
Samatian island
This is one of the beautiful islands of Lake Baringo; it is a small green island. The island hosts the Samatian Island Camp, which provides accommodations for tourists visiting the lake who wish to enjoy the afternoon breeze and spectacular sunset views known as sundowners.
Parmolok
Parmolok, approximately 40 acres, is under the ownership of the Lempakany family. Lempakany was the father of the late Lepilian, who died in September 2020 at the age of 105, leaving behind five wives, twenty-five children, and over two hundred grandchildren.
This island was nicknamed the island of love for a man who had married 7 wives. The family depends on fish and animal products, as the island is less productive for farming.
Rongena island
Rongena island in lake Baringo has an estimated terrain elevation of 980 meters above sea level. It is situated near the town of Loruk, which is approximately 2½ kilometers north of Rongena island.
Lokoros island & Lengai island
These are the smallest among the lake Baringo islands. These islands tend to disappear or get submerged when the lake water levels are high and appear when they have subsided. The islands, just like the others, can only be accessed by boats; they also add up to the beaten sceneries of Lake Baringo.
