| Nakuru, Baringo, Bogoria and the Kerio Valley in | | | | that is now part of the Block Hotels' Lake Baringo |
| the Central Rift are packed with rich natural and | | | | Club. Betty still lives above the defunct fish |
| cultural attractions to thrill any holidaymaker. | | | | factory beside the popular Roberts' Camp. Lake |
| Nakuru is arguably the cheapest town among the | | | | Barinog Club is still one of the leading tourist hotels |
| six leading urban centers in Kenya in terms of | | | | in the region offering full board accommodation, |
| food and accommodation. The most prominent | | | | self-catering in attractive cottages and cheaper |
| feature there is the Lake Nakuru National Park, | | | | bandas or camping tent. The Thirsty Goat |
| 5km from the town centre to the south. Water | | | | Restaurant has fully stocked bar and reasonably |
| birds, especially the flamingo, congregate along the | | | | priced mouth-watering dishes. |
| shores in their thousands. Nakuru was described | | | | It is convenient to walk along the lake shore and |
| as the most fabulous ornithological site on earth in | | | | watch the birds. Hippos graze on the lawns at |
| the early 60s and it must still be holding on to this | | | | night, while crocodiles can also be spotted basking |
| prestigious title notwithstanding a few | | | | along the lake shore. Guests can swim at Baringo |
| conservation challenges that have seen a | | | | Club's pool for a small fee. For a slightly lower |
| reduction in flamingo population. The park also has | | | | budget, the Soy Safari Lodge within Kampi ya |
| an array of large mammals, including large herds | | | | Samaki is a safe alternative. It beautifully sits next |
| of buffalo, impala, zebra, and the rare white rhino | | | | to the lake. One can get a view of the lake ad its |
| and Baringo giraffe, which are easily seen during a | | | | island in the distant. The lodge has a swimming |
| game drive. The park also has lions and leopards | | | | pool and offers boat rides in the lake and the |
| but you require a lot of patience to see these. | | | | Njemps islands at a fee. |
| There are two lodges within the park - Lake | | | | For those with time and heavy pockets, the |
| Nakuru Lodge and Sarova's Lion Hill Lodge. | | | | Island Camp is worth the price. Advance booking |
| Advance booking to theses lodges is advisable, | | | | is always recommended, as it is a popular site and |
| especially during the holiday season, not to | | | | transport has to be arranged from the lake shore. |
| mention that they are slightly pricey. There are | | | | The visitor leaves the car on the mainland and |
| also public and special campsites. For special | | | | boards a hotel boat. The Island Camp is an |
| campsites, advance booking is necessary. Other | | | | exclusive luxurious spot, which has won several |
| interests in Nakuru include the Meneganai Crater, | | | | national awards. From Baringo, one can visit the |
| which is accessible by a murram track, 5km north | | | | neighboring Lake Bogoria, which is equally popular. |
| of the town. Menengai is billed as the second | | | | It is 15km from the main road and about 20km |
| biggest crater in the world and it offers a vintage | | | | from Baringo. Lake Bogoria is famous for rich bird |
| point to view of Nakuru town and the lake as well | | | | life. It is Kenya's second home of flamingos, |
| as Laikipia highlands and the agricultural | | | | sometimes recording up to a million birds. This is |
| settlements of Subukia and Dundori. The crater is | | | | besides numerous other water birds. |
| a perfect place for a picnic, photography and | | | | Another geographical feature to marvel at here |
| outdoor meals and drinks. | | | | are the hot springs. The hot springs have |
| There is the Hyrax prehistoric site just near the | | | | continued to fascinate visitors for generations. |
| town and the Lord Egerton Castle at Ngata, | | | | The Tugen myths surrounding the feature make |
| managed by the National Museums and Egerton | | | | it the visit worthwhile. It is fun to see how fast |
| University. Accommodation outside Nakuru Park is | | | | the hot water streaming from the ground can boil |
| abundant and varied to suit everyone's desire and | | | | eggs. There are camping sites where families on |
| budget. There are hotels, guesthouses and private | | | | picnics can spend the day basking in this well |
| campsite all with unique ambience and individual | | | | sheltered national park. If you are lucky, you |
| features to suit diverse tastes and interests. | | | | might see the rare antelope known as the |
| Travelers with little more time would find visting | | | | Greater Kudu. |
| Baringo a worthy experience. It is just about | | | | The Lake Bogoria Lodge, a three-star hotel in a |
| 100km from Nakuru and traffic is minimal although | | | | nice setting just outside the park, provides |
| goats and potholes on the road become | | | | accommodation. The hotel is a haven for bid |
| increasingly unpredictable, especially after the | | | | lovers and one can swim in the natural hot water |
| Equator. Important landmarks include the Lake | | | | tapped from the underground springs. At the gate |
| Bogoria entrance to the right and the Kabarnet | | | | of the park is the Papyrus Hotel, a slightly low |
| junction on the left, a few kilometres ahead. Drive | | | | budget outfit suitable for visitors who are just |
| towards Marigat and after passing the town look | | | | keen on a drink or nyama choma. Baringo has one |
| out for a road diversion after which you enter | | | | of the most successful irrigation projects |
| Kampi Ya Samaki shopping centre, the | | | | supported by Pekera River, one of the rivers that |
| commercial base of Lake Baringo. It is rather hot | | | | feed Lake Baringo. The Pekera Irrigation Scheme |
| and humid, but it is a beautiful place to be. There | | | | produces watermelons, onions and tomatoes. |
| is something for everyone here again, from bird | | | | Stop at Marigat, a township between lakes |
| watching, water sport, and cultural and historical | | | | Baringo and Bogoria, to buy these fruits and |
| sites. Over 450 species of birds have been | | | | vegetables.However, a visit to Baringo is |
| viewed around Lake Baringo, which is also famous | | | | incomplete without a circuit through the |
| for reptiles like crocodiles, tortoises and snakes. | | | | Kabarnet-Sacho loop. You branch off after Marigat |
| A story is told of how at the end of the 18th | | | | from Baringo on the right. While you are at it, you |
| century, the Maasai and Samburu who had lost | | | | find the tastiest goat meat popularly known as |
| their cattle in raids arrived to settle in this | | | | koriema, after a village Marigat and Kabarnet |
| once-fertile land. The Maasai named the residents | | | | where the goats come from local wisdom has it |
| I'I Chamus for their strange ability to anticipate | | | | that the area has special medicinal plants that |
| raids. Towards the end of the 19th century, they | | | | constitute the diet of the local goat. Koriema |
| stole and began to fish. The European then gave | | | | meat is available at Koriema shopping centre along |
| them the name 'Njemsi' and today's Njemps still | | | | the road or in Kabarnet town. |
| keep livestock, fish and cultivate crops. The | | | | Kabarnet is set on the slopes of Tugen Hills |
| Njemps are a key attraction and a visit to them | | | | overlooking the highly scenic Kerio Valley to the |
| is made more luxuriant by the boat ride through | | | | west and lakes Baringo and Bogoria to the East. |
| the lake. Hippos and crocodiles are numerous in | | | | The Kabarner Hotel is just 2km from the town to |
| this lake and swimming is therefore not advisable. | | | | the north and is a nice stopover with beautiful |
| The first European to see Lake Baringo was | | | | lawns that are perfect for relaxation and a bite or |
| Joseph Thomson in1883. He had to stand on a | | | | drink. To see the Kerio Valley properly, you drive |
| table to shoot an elephant because the grass was | | | | a few kilometres on the west towards Iten. |
| very tall! Permanent streams from the | | | | There are convenient viewpoints from where you |
| surrounding hills fed the lake and the area was rich | | | | can take pictures. If time allows, a drive to Kerio |
| in wildlife. Today, rivers have dried, and human | | | | River at the bottom of the Valley may enrich the |
| population grown with its corresponding agricultural | | | | experience. After Kabarnet, you follow the Sacho |
| activities and settlements. The place retains an | | | | route along Tugen Hills towards Eldama |
| aura of a wilderness, though. | | | | Ravine.This is one of the most scenic roads I |
| In the 1950s, David Roberts, a crocodile hunter | | | | have ever driven along. It is highly panoramic and |
| for the Dragon Tanning Company, set up home | | | | is made even more picturesque by the beautiful |
| on the lakeshore with his wife Betty and started | | | | natural vegetation. At Kiptangich, there is another |
| a fish factory before building Fish Eagle Camp for | | | | viewpoint and a campsite where a group can stop |
| tourists. In 1963, the lake rose 20 feet, | | | | to take pictures or eat. Not far from here is |
| submerging their house and destroying the fish | | | | Sacho, the home of retired President Daniel Moi. |
| factory. In 1966, the newly widowed Betty | | | | The road leads you to Eldama Ravine, which |
| stayed on with six children but sold the Fish Eagle | | | | brings you back to the Nakuru - Baringo highway |
| Camp to Mike Skinner who built the family lodge | | | | near Kabarak. |