Travel Guide

Place to Visit: Lake Baringo

Beautiful Rift Valley Lake

Northern Kenya, Kenya

Lake Baringo is at the threshold of Northern Kenya, and its freshwaters are an oasis in the arid plains. The 129 sq km lake is well stocked with fish, and attracts many pelicans, cormorants and fish eagles.

The lake itself is truly beautiful, surrounded by volcanic ranges that stretch as far as the eye can see. Lake Baringo is well known for two of its waters’ residents - hippo and crocodile. There is plenty of both here, and visitors have no trouble seeing either. Baringo is an ideal stopover on a safari to Northern Kenya.

Great Reasons To Visit

  • Lake Baringo is well known for its resident population of hippo and crocodile.
  • Explore Ol Kokwe Island in the middle of the lake.
  • Baringo makes an ideal stop over on a safari to Northern Kenya.

Background

At the lakes heart is Ol Kokwe Island, a stark rocky island that is home to Njemps villages and a well appointed camp. This is an excellent base for exploring the lake, with boat trips ideal for bird and hippo spotting. 

The lake is an important bird area, species of interest recorded here include Jackson's and Hemprich's Hornbills, Bristle Crowned Starling, and waterbirds including Goliath Heron, White backed Duck, and African Skimmers and Darters.

Relaxing

Relax on a leisurely boat cruise around the lake.

Lake Baringo

Crocodiles are often seen lying on the shores or swimming through the shallows hunting waterfowl. Hippos are seen in the lake on boat trips, and at lakeside lodges and camps, they are seen at night grazing the lawns - a memorable sight for overnight guests. Most visitors are amazed when they see just how large a hippo is when it emerges from the water. It is an awe-inspiring vision, even more so when they are grazing a few feet from the door of your tent. Hippos are a common cause of sleepless nights for lakeside campers.

The lake has an abundance of fish, and as a direct result, an abundance of Fish Eagles, cormorants and pelicans. The lake is a well known birding destination, with a local record set at 300 species recorded in a single hour at the Baringo Club.

Baringo Community Museum & Snake Park

African Python

Northern Kenya, Kenya

The Baringo Community Museum and Reptile Park was opened at Lake Baringo on April 15th. The Museum has been established to educate local people and visitors about reptile species. Baringo is well know...

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Njemps Tribe

Local boy carrying wood

Northern Kenya, Kenya

Baringo is the traditional home of the Njemps tribe, a unique people who are the only pastoral, cattle herding, tribe who also fish. Among other pastoral tribes such as the Maasai, eating fish is a ta...

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