Kenya’s Ewas Nyiro River Dries- photo from wikipedia
The Ewaso Nyiro (north) River, Kenya’s third longest, runs from two main tributaries up through laikipia, through to North Eastern Province, where it disperses into the desert. Its two key tributaries, the Ewaso Nyiro and Ewaso Narok, rise out of the Mount Kenya Forest and Nyandarua ranges respectively. They meet close to a town in Isiolo district called Archer’s post. Ewaso Narok runs from South to North along the outskirts of my home town so that is what i will focus my post on.
The main feature on the Ewaso Narok, is an 80m high waterfall ‘Discovered’ by explorer Joseph Thomson (of Dunfries, Scotland), and consequently named after him. There is a tourist lodge.Though accessing the waterfall itself is accessible ony through a tourist lodge and after a fee payable to the local council. This waterfall also has the dubious distinction of being the suicide capital of Kenya.
The river valley infront and after the waterfall are still easily accessible for free. Above the waterfall the river meanders through a swamp poulated by Hippos and several kinds of river dwelling birds. I have seen people attempt to fish in those waters. Though I have yet to see any fish caught. the name od the swamp (Manguo) is the Kikyuyu word for hippo. I find that the quietness of the place offers quite a good opportunity for rest and relaxation.
Down the river from the waterfall is a, once densely forrested valleys. Though security issues mean that it is safer to tour the valley in groups. These forests (much depleted due to to logging activites) is home to a large amount of bird life. Being largely off the beaten path
The Ewaso Narok also flows through the famous Lewa Conservancy in Laikipia District.
I love rivers and we are so lucky to have so many of them in Africa. As a young girl growing up in Uganda, I remember taking myself off to a river that run through our village, for quiet moments to listen out for different bird songs. But this peace was always disturbed by monkeys would come down the trees to drink some water and sometimes to feed from the near by maize and cassava crop. This used to anger the anger the farmers so much and you would see various farms doted with scare crows to scar off the monkeys it mostly didn’t work..LOL