Kenya’s Rift Valley is the dominant
geological feature of our daily lives near Naivasha. It is home to several lakes,some
more saline than others: Naivasha is the southernmost lake, Nakuru is the
central one and the northernmost is the freshwater Lake Baringo, about 3 and half hours drive north of Naivasha.
Having been recommended a particular lodge
on an island in Lake Baringo, being ensured peace and quiet, great food and the
odd bird or two,we treated ourselves to a late anniversary weekend away last
weekend and headed north …
Astonishingly Lake Baringo is 5-7 metres
higher than 3 years ago and several of the villages and lodge resorts on its
shores are now partially submerged! Why such a dramatic water level rise? Partially
climate change but also a cycle of rainfall that had the village grandfathers warning
against building too low down to the shore as the levels were also this high 60
years ago!
Even our island lodge may have to sacrifice a few bandas to mother nature...
Our room and surroundings were happily not submerged! We had a brand new room, half walled and half canvas with
champagne to welcome us (someone must have given an anniversary hint!) and a wonderful
sunrise over the water.
Returning to our car parked on the
mainland on Sunday our boatman bartered with local boys fishing on their day
off from school. The rising waters also mean more fish and greater catches for
the locals. Their reed boats lie very low in the water and they paddle with
home-made paddles such as milk cartons and tyre sections.
Roadside views on the way home:
Beehives : half logs, half barrels in the trees (great honey: we bought some
in a whisky bottle from a roadside stall)
A pair of tortoises
The equator…
A sisal plantation
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