In the southwestern corner of Narok County lies a little town called Lolgorien. It may not mean much to many, but this little place is a veritable goldmine. Literally! For just outside of Lolgorien is Kenya’s largest gold mining project. Established in 2013 the aptly named Kilimapesa is a site which yields the yellow ore that has been whipped, beaten and smelted into gold bricks the world over. This precious yellow metal has been fought over, desired and almost deified. Commute north from Lolgorien and you will encounter a different type of gold. This one grows out of the ground, is green for a while, but then in its ripeness manifests in fields of gold. You got it; we’re talking about the rich unending acres of wheat and barley that cover Transmara.
Narok has plenty of agricultural options; the latest being the development of bamboo forests. Sprouting in numbers over the last five years, bamboo provides an alternative option to charcoal, thus reducing the destruction of indigenous forests and is a much sought after material in building and product development. Best thing about it? You only plant once… the natural web like root systems means that new shoots develop on their own and don’t rely on seasonal planting. Bamboo is also great for restoration as it naturally helps degraded land to heal. Check out the hills of Olorropil and Entolol.
Hmm… what else can we tell you about Narok? That running greats like Billy Konchella and David Rudisha are proud sons of Kilgoris? Or that there are fantastic views of the Mau Escarpment in its northern belt?
Of course! There’s that whole seventh wonder of the natural world known as the annual wildebeest migration that takes place in the Mara. Thousands of tourists come to visit in hopes of witnessing the famous wildebeest crossing of the Mara River between June and August each year. Interestingly our most famous wildlife reserve is not a national treasure but a county one. It is run by the Narok County Government and the Mara Conservancy and not Kenya Wildlife Service as some might think! Monies from the Reserve make a significant contribution to the county coffers. As part of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem, Maasai Mara packs a powerful punch; it is a tenth of the size of the Serengeti but is just as famous. Gooooooo Narok!
