Once smoky Rimoi Reserve destined to be a tourist hub

An excavator constructing Tabar Dam. [PHOTOS: KIBIWOTT KOROSS/STANDARD]

By KIBIWOTT KOROSS

Rift Valley, Kenya: Until last year, billowing smoke welcomed you here. Stocked sacks of charcoal stood by the roadside as sounds of whacking axe ended the life of yet another tree.

Lorry loads of the black ‘gold’ could be seen climbing the winding Biretwo-Iten road that slowly turned the area into a bare ground. Even the smallest whirlwind could blow dust that took hours to settle.

Young men invaded the forest as more traders travelling from as far as Eldoret and Nakuru thronged the area as demand for the commodity intensified causing a price hike. A number of boys dropped out of school to make quick money through charcoal.

Charcoal burners in Kerio Valley have cleared over 400 acres of vegetation in the recent past. This has seen the rise of charcoal price from Sh150 to Sh500 per sack.

Charcoal burners obtained clearance from chiefs before getting logging permits from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS), purportedly allowing them to harvest trees they planted but unfortunately they ended up felling trees from the Reserve.

But not anymore, Rimoi Game Reserve in Elgeiyo Marakwet County is slowly turning into a tourist haven; thanks to the efforts by the county government and the Kenya Wildlife Service to revive it.

The Reserve, home to the rare white elephants and a number of birds was nearly choked by charcoal burners and herders who also poached antelopes.

Join hands

The Reserve is shared by Elgeiyo Marakwet and Baringo counties with River Kerio marking the boundary. “The local community almost cleared the Reserve while burning charcoal but that has come to an end,” says county warden Dominic Kilonzo. He says after various empowerment meetings on importance of conservation, the residents agreed to join hands with KWS in conserving the Reserve.

A visit to the park established that a 32-kilometre stretch of the Reserve, which is aimed at reducing human wildlife conflict has been completed.

Tourism sites and water dams were being constructed inside the Reserve, which Kilonzo says will open its doors to the public in May to rival other major Parks like Lake Nakuru and Amboseli.

Inside the Reserve is Tabar dam which residents view as a seasonal lake.

Kilonzo says a watchtower will be constructed near Tabar dam for tourists to get a closer view of animals during watering. “We want the Reserve to generate income like other Parks in the country. We have the best elephants here and as we talk, we have recorded a boom and this should interest any tourist coming to the region,” he adds.

Vantage points like Koisabul, Kipsok and Kaswoch hills where in the past, hunters gathered to survey the Valley and plan their strategies will be major tourist sites. Cultural centres to be established in Matany and Rimoi will serve as tourism attraction areas. Salt licking spots will be established in Kimwarer.

Visitors will also enjoy watching birds. The species include weavers, sun birds, pigeons, honey guides, hornbills, turacos and sometimes rare migrants.

Kilonzo says other animals including zebras, buffaloes and rhinos will be introduced into the Reserve once it is fenced.

He says seven large dams will be constructed to retain the elephants which currently wander in and out of the Reserve towards Nasolot Reserve in West Pokot County in search of water and pasture.

Corporal Kibet Rono who is in charge of Rimoi patrol camp is positive that the elephants will stay put in Rimoi once enough water is availed.

“We will manage to monitor them easily. Currently there is no water inside the Reserve and during dry season, the elephants migrate to Nasolot,” says Rono.

With Lake Kamnarok having been reduced to a grazing field, elephants are forced to move up into the Valley, which has always not been good news for farmers as the wild animals destroy their crops.

Making inroads

The lake that was home to 15,000 crocodiles; second largest concentration of crocodiles in Africa after Lake Chad has also been turned into an attraction site with tourists coming to view the once priced ox-bow lake.

The death of the lake can be traced to poor farming activities upstream which has caused heavy siltation while deforestation in Mau and Embobut water towers have also been blamed for the drying of a number of rivers.

Elgeiyo Marakwet County Executive for Trade and Tourism Ann Kibosia says the county has pumped in more than Sh20 million towards restoration of the Reserve which according to her, should be ploughed back through tourism earnings.

“This is the only wildlife habitat in the county and we will do everything to preserve it. We also plan to make it one of the best tourist destination in the region,” she says.

Deputy warden John Ngalia says already tourists are making inroads to the Reserve using motorcycles.

“I have been meeting a number of tourists riding on motor bikes and soon they will be able to get into the Reserve on tour vans,” he says.

Isaac Rotich; a resident says he is looking forward to the opening of the Reserve with the hope that he will be employed.

But this will be tricky for the Elgeyo Marakwet should her sister County Baringo delay in fencing its side owing to alleged claims by the locals that the Reserve had eaten into a portion of their land.

The opening could see competition for pasture from livestock make Rimoi unsustainable especially to elephants and buffaloes.

Keiyo North Deputy County Commissioner Moses Lilan says plans are in place to flush out all livestock inside the Reserve in the next two weeks.

He warns: “Plans are in place to remove all livestock and those living inside the Reserve. It will be a serious operation.”