If you enjoy watching birds, Tugumoi is the place to be

These birds were spotted at Kapngetich in Nandi County on December 15, last year, as they flew towards Kesses in Uasin Gishu County. They were expected to pass through Tugumoi in Elgeyo-Marakwet County before heading to Tanzania. PHOTO| JARED NYATAYA| NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Baringo made Sh4.5 million from bird watchers last November.
  • The birds are mainly seen in the morning in November, December as they go to Tanzania.
  • Visitors stand at the panoramic view of Kerio Valley, at the base of the Rift Valley, to observe migration of the birds.

This first thing that comes to mind when Tugumoi Ridge is mentioned are birds.

The area on the border of Baringo and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties attracts a rare species of birds that have been attracting hundreds of tourists to the area.

Visitors stand at the panoramic view of Kerio Valley, at the base of the Rift Valley, to observe migration of the birds.

When the Nation visited the area, hundreds of tourists were waiting to observe the spectacular picturesque of the birds.

Mr Hillary Salbei, a resident, said Kerio Valley has over the years been a migratory route for the rare species of birds.

“The birds are mainly seen in the morning in November and  December each year. They are white and bigger than your normal birds,” he said.

SCENIC VIEW

The beautiful birds fly past the Kerio Valley but they don’t land. It is believed they pass through Turkana before migrating to Tanzania.

The area stands at 8000ft above sea level. The surrounding area forms the beginning of the scenic view of Kerio Valley, Tugen Hills and Elgeyo-Marakwet Escarpment.

 Baringo County Chief Warden William Kimosop says the birds make the area the best to watch them as they fly over.

Mr Kimospop says the two counties are rich tourists destinations. “They have many attraction sites which if well tapped can turn around their economies,” he added.

“The birds can be observed from vantage points identified across both counties as they leave the Kerio Valley.”

The counties are working together to market the area as a tourist destination.

Last year, they launched the Migratory Birds Flyway Observatory Site and the Bird Watching Awareness Week.

Bird watching has attracted among others Birding Destination Conservancies, National Museums of Kenya’s Ornithology Department, experts and enthusiasts, Conservation organizations, Nature Kenya and Bird Life International.

The recent move by Unesco to list Lake Bogoria as one of the world heritage sites has also boosted its status by opening the region to the  world.

Baringo Tourism executive Kipchumba Keitany said Lake Baringo  is home to over 470 bird species making it favourite site for bird watchers and researchers.

Mr Keitany said the  county received more than 5,000 tourists China, Japan, America, Russia, France and Germany  in November last year alone from which the county generated more than Sh4.5 million.

“The lake has 13 islands and other breathtaking views that provide magnificent scenery of the lake,” he added.

Also, visitors find Korosi volcano which rises 1,449m above sea level ideal for watching birds such as bats, hawks and majestic Verreaux’s eagle,” added Mr Keitany.

He said the tourism sector has been enjoying a boom for the last two months with some hotels having been fully booked until the end of January.