Just south of the equator lies a lake of wonders. Lake Bogoria is one of the lakes of the Great Rift Valley, and at certain times in the year it is home to over a million flamingos, the largest population of flamingos in the world. With a length of over 30 kilometres the lake has a special feature – hot geysers that spew scalding hot water metres high. Yet this is not the only natural wonder that County 030 is known for. There is also the lake that shares the name with the county. Lake Baringo, one of two freshwater lakes in the valley of the rift, is a permanent lake fed by the waters from the Mau Escarpment and the jaw dropping Tugen Hills.
The county seat is Kabarnet… or perhaps more aptly, Ka-Barnett. The area is said to have been named after a missionary with the Africa Inland Mission all the way back at the turn of the 20th century. For over half a century the town served as the administrative centre of Baringo District, so it has a long history as a decision-making centre. Today, the former District Commissioner’s house serves as the Kabarnet Museum, a regional unit of the National Museums of Kenya that hosts historical artefacts, and attributes of the communities around these two lakes.
Other urban centres of the county each have a name with a story to tell – Eldama Ravine, named for the Maa word meaning narrow gorge, Marigat, named for the thin part of the River Perkarra in Njemps, while Kabartonjo used to be called Kameshen. Truly there are stories everywhere!
Baringo is a county of distinct differences – parts have flowing farms, while other stretches are dry and sparsely populated. Crossing the county one experiences contrasting geography in a relatively small distance. Should you want to find some adventure though – check out those lakes, and if the thought of encountering a hippo in the lake waters overwhelms you, there’s always the Tiaty or Tugen Hills!
Furthermore, we’ve got the Cheploch Gorge in the county, known for the famous Cheploch Gorge Divers! Divers here jump off a 70-metre-high cliff, but it is unclear how deep the plunge into the murky Kerio River waters is. Some divers have died, but those who remain are unflinchingly carried away by the thrill. In 2014, one of the divers was enlisted to the Kenya Navy. The goal of the group members is to become professional divers. They have neither special gear nor training, and they charge 50 shillings each for the show, though visitors pay varied amounts. The divers also double as the unofficial search and rescue team in the area.
A land of nature and adventure – behold Baringo County!
