In the earlier days, Lake Kamnarok Reserve had more than 10,000 crocodiles which meant, it was the second biggest holding capacity in Africa following Lake Chad. This lake was the main watering point for most of the wild animals including more than 500 elephants from the Kamnarok game reserve and the neighboring Rimoi Game Reserve in Keiyo District. And this place attracted thousands of tourists innorthern Kenya circuit.
Fortunately, this lake died at the end of 2007 in-spite of all the rains that fell, it did not fill up. The good news is that Baringo county government has finally managed to resuscitate the lake and it has regained the good, old splendor of the 1970s, when the lake thrived, teeming with plenty of fish, flamingoes and other marine life.
More than 300 residents of Baringo started efforts to reclaim the lake early this year. The community used 9,000 sand bags to jam the yawning Kitilit gulley, which was below the lake water level and had drained all the water to Kerio River, leaving the lake parched, with withered plants and few animals.
Wesley Keitany who is the county executive in charge of Tourism said there are now over 400 elephants, which had migrated in search of water that have returned to their habitat making it a great place for tourism business. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the county’s government are working together in support this project since there are so many people that are interested in watching crocodiles.
