Lake Baringo is named after the local word “Mparingo”, meaning lake. The lake is located in the Eastern Rift Valley in Kenya and is one of the seven inland drainage lakes within the Rift Valley drainage basin. The lake has a surface area of about 130km2 (50 square mile) and drains a total area of 6,820 km 2
Lake Baringo is named after the local word “Mparingo”, meaning lake. The lake is located in the Eastern Rift Valley in Kenya and is one of the seven inland drainage lakes within the Rift Valley drainage basin. The lake has a surface area of about 130km2 (50sq mile) and drains a total area of 6,820 km2. The lake is located in the county of Baringo at an altitude of 1,000 m above sea level, while its basin extends to the neighboring districts of Koibatek, Laikipia and Nakuru
Lake Baringo has seven islands, namely Lokoros, Rongena, Lengai, Samatian, Olkokwa, Parmolos and the Devil’s Island, the largest of them is called Olkokwe. In the Ilchamus language, Olkokwe means a meeting place. To the east of the Lake is the Laikipia escarpment and to the west rises the dramatic Tugen Hills
Several seasonal rivers drain into the lake, including Ol Arabel, Makutan, Tangulbei, Endao and Chemeron. Perkerra and Molo are perennial rivers which originate from Mau Escarpment and Tugen hills; although with significantly reduced water discharges during dry seasons. Lake Baringo experiences very high annual evaporation rates of 1,650-2,300 mm, compared to an annual rainfall of 450-900 mm. Thus, its survival depends on the inflows from rivers originating from the humid hill slopes of the drainage basin, where the annual rainfall varies between 1,100 mm and 2,700 mm
Word has it that the abundance of fish has supported the crocodile population in such a way that the reptiles have shown no interest in humans and other mammals. The lake also provides an invaluable habitat for seven fresh water fish species, with the Nile Tilapia being endemic to the Lake Baringo
More than 400 bird species have been recorded in Lake Baringo, on a good day it’s possible to see over 200 species
Birdwatching in Lake Baringo is done early morning and late afternoon due to the high temperatures experienced in the area