Explore lake Baringo by Boat!!

Resting in the magnificent Great Rift Valley, Baringo is characterised with unique features, landscapes, birds, wildlife and unique cultural heritage of communities residing in the region.

Unique features include; lakes, Dams, Valleys, escarpments, rivers, caves, hot springs and geysers, waterfalls etc.

In this article we are going to dive deeper about boat riding in lake Baringo since it is a must to do activity for any traveller or tourist who want to explore!!

Lake Baringo is the 2nd largest lake in Rift Valley after Lake Turkana. Currently, lake Baringo covers an area of 220km2 and the area is expected to increase because of the flood experienced in the region and Kenya at large. The lake shared by three sub-counties in Baringo County; Baringo South, Baringo North and Tiaty (Baringo East).

Boat riding in lake Baringo is a must to do activity, whether you are a birder, traveller, honeymooner or an adventurist happen to visit or planning to visit lake Baringo. There is so much to explore while boating in the lake. Be it along the banks, to the Islands, to the giraffe conservancy or to the communities living around the lake.

There are two types of boat riding offered in lake Baringo by Baringo Tours, Boats and Excursions, the morning sunrise boat riding and the sun downer boat riding in the evening. The best time to start a boat riding is as early as 5:30 am or 6:00 am. While on a boat, you can vividly the great rift valley formation. On the west, the progressive formation process that resulted to formation of Tugen hills in a stair case manner. On the east, you will see Laikipia escarpment.

Lake Baringo has seven Islands, each with unique stories and myths. Lake Baringo Hotsprings is found in Ol-kokwe Island. The community living on the Island are the Ilchamus community. On the Island, there are two primary schools and a dispensary. You can enjoy a boat to the hot springs and the community village visits. Other activities on the Island include, egg boiling and natural steam bathing.

Lake Baringo being an Important bird area (IBA) and is referred to as the birder’s paradise for hosting more that 470 species of Birds. A significant number of birds are found along the shores and in the Islands. Starting from herons, Egrets, kingfishers, pelicans, Comorans, fish eagle, bee eaters, hamerkops etc all these and many other species can be seen only by boat riding while in lake Baringo.

Other birds species found on the mainland includes: African paradise flycatcher, violet wood hoopoe, Abyssinian scimitar bill, African wattled lapwing, Black-headed lapwing, Black-necked grebe, Black-tailed godwit, Cape teal, Darnauds barbet, Egyptian vulture, Golden-backed weaver, Greater painted-snipe, Grosbeak canary, Lesser Honeyguide, Narina trogon, Rufous chatterer, Rufous-crowned roller, Sombre nightjar, Southern Pochard, Steel-blue whydah, Temmincks stint, Verreauxs eagle, White-billed buffalo-weaver and many more

Talking about the endangered Rothschild giraffe species which are in Ruko community conservancy. To access the conservancy by two ways. By road, or by boat. Using a boat is the safest and most explorable way because along the shore you will see crocodiles, hippos, birds, fishermen, fishing methods used in the lake, community villages, hot springs and fish eagle feeding at the Samatian Island. Entrance fee to the conservancy is KES 1000 for both Residents and Non-Residents.

While in the Conservancy, you will enjoy giraffe walk and nature inside the conservancy. The giraffe population is now 18 in total and family of 2. You will also be able to Ostriches, Kudu, Warthogs and Waterbucks can be spotted very early in the morning.

For visitors who would like to explore different cultures, the best place for village visits for Ilchamus community is at the Ol-Kokwe Island which can be added on your bucket list. For the Pokot community, Komolion village is found on North-West side of the lake is easily accessible by boat .

All these boat riding activities can take up to 5 hours to 6 hours.

Baringo Tours offers best boat riding packages in lake Baringo. Boat Charges is USD 30/HOUR. Contact +254757644188. You search on google business or google maps “Baringo Tours, Boats and Excursions” website https://baringotours.com, you can also review Baringo Tours on Trip Advisor

Article By: Bashir Mohamed

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