Bring it on at Lake Baringo: Meet and greet with the numerous Hippo and Crocodile and soak up some traditional Kenyan culture with the local Njemps people...
One of only two freshwater lakes in Kenya, Lake Baringo lies off the beaten track, in a hot and dusty setting. The northernmost of the Great Rift Valley Lakes, it covers an area of around 130kms2. A chance to get close up and personal with the Hippo and Crocodile (well not too close!), Lake Baringo features both in large numbers, the duo often greeting travellers lolling about on the river or on the shores of the lake in the early morning. The birdlife is also pretty hot in Baringo - the local "Baringo Club" claiming to spot 300 of the 500 species, which inhabit the region, within only one hour. Another regular is the Rock Hyrax - the small and rather endearing rodent-like mammal, preyed upon by the Vereaux's Eagle - frequently seen soaring over the basalt cliffs, near the west shore of the lake.
You can even grab a bit of culture on your stay as the local Njemps people, who inhabit the area, have a lifestyle that has changed little in over 200 years. Avid fishermen - their distant relations, the Maasai and the Samburu might see their occupation, as somewhat of a cultural faux pas. In fact, if there was a Hitchhikers guide to Kenya, it might well say, "So long, and we'll pass on the fish" - both of the Njemps related tribesmen refusing to touch, let alone eat the aquatic wildlife. A chance to experience wildlife and culture on the water, the beauty of Baringo and the surrounding area is also legendary - spectacular sunsets and the imposing Laikipia Escarpment, creating a magnificent backdrop.
Soak up life on the river at Lake Baringo and chill with the Hippo and Crocodile on Acacia Adventure Holidays' NEW 6-day Maasai Mara and Lakes small group safari.
