Lake Baringo

Wild and beautiful Lake Baringo is the most remote of the Rift Valley lakes. Steeped in stories, its harsh climate and rocky islets give it a faraway feel; on a hot day, this freshwater lake has more in common with northern Kenya than the rest of the Rift Valley.

Birdwatching in Kenya rarely gets better than this, with over 460 species including owls, nightjars, Goliath herons and rare Hemprich’s hornbills. Crocs and hippos are also present.

The lake is in a remote hot and dusty area with over 470 species of birds, occasionally including migrating flamingos. A Goliath heronry is located on a rocky islet in the lake known as Gibraltar.

Lake Baringo in remote west-central Kenya is a fascinating place for geologists and nature lovers’ alike, with outlandish landscapes and prolific birdlife.

Part of the East African Rift Valley, Lake Baringo is one of only two freshwater Rift Valley lakes, together with Lake Naivasha, in Kenya. It is in the remote west-central region of Kenya, with only Lake Turkana being further north.

Lake Baringo is fed by a number of rivers, but has no visible outlet. It is assumed that the water seeps away into the faults in the bedrock. The water level of Lake Baringo dropped to some of the lowest levels recorded due to drought and agricultural irrigation but the floods in Northern Kenya in recent years pushed the level up alarmingly.

This has caused the water levels to rise to up as much as four meters, putting locals at risk and damaging the limited tourism structure.

The high water levels are presumed to be a result of the large deposits of sediment brought in by the flooding. Most of the tourist structures were damaged by the rising waters.

Wildlife of Lake Baringo
Many of the Kenyan Rift Valley lakes are known for their birdlife, and in particular the concentrations of Flamingoes, but because of Baringo’s freshwater properties Flamingoes tend to stay away.

The lake is home to more than 470 species of birds however – many of which breed on and around the lake. It is an important stop for migratory birds – both inter-Africa and globally.
Lake Baringo has seven fish species with the Nile Tilapia been endemic. Fishing is an important part of the socio-economics of the region.

The numbers of Nile Perch have declined markedly in Lake Baringo over the years, but this may have to do with the proliferation of the African Lungfish which was introduced into the lake in the 1970’s. The Lungfish is now the most important food source from the lake.

The area is also home to a number of species such as Hippo, Crocodile, Zebra, Klipspringer, Grant’s gazelle, Chandler’s Mountain Reedbuck, and the rare Greater Kudu.