Homa Bay man turns passion into a forest attraction

Beehives at Munglu Echo Conservancy Forest Complex.

A hedgehog is a rare rodent protected by quills that give it the semblance of a tiny porcupine. Known as munglu in Dholuo, the rodent - which primarily feeds on insects but also devours everything from small snakes, baby mice, worms, frogs, fruits to eggs, has weaved its way into conservation parlance, thanks to nurse-turned nature enthusiast Omondi Omolo.

 “I considered munglu an appropriate name for my echo conservancy farm because my father owned a business by that name, but largely by dint of the fact that the animal from physical appearance resembles a miniature forest,” says Mr Omolo, 57, who hails from Homa Bay County.

And the place where long-forgotten trees and shrubs, many of them medicinal, literally embrace in what has become a haven for myriad species of plants and animals, inclusive of birds, insects and fish in ponds and rivulets, is a wonder in its own right, attracting tourists and nature lovers from far and wide.

“Increase in arrivals has prompted me to put up a few cottages for the convenience of those who prefer spending their nights in the bosom of nature,” says Omolo.

“I intend to increase the number of cottages when demand dictates,” he divulges as we amble around and sample the structures where everything from waste water to human dung is put into useful purpose.

“We recycle used water and convert all dung into fuel in the form of gas for cooking and heating,” he explains.

Not only does Omolo, a father of two, provide a haven to an unknown amount of fauna and flora among them munglu and other declining species in his 80 acres of pristine forest land, choking with nature on the outskirts of Homa Bay Town, he wears what looks like a forest on his head. His dreadlocks reflect a forest with mature vegetation, albeit minus animals.

“My dreadlocks are a depiction of my passion,” he says. “But I make sure lice and other living intruders are unwelcome there,” he jokes with a wry smile.

With giggles

We saunter through the forest drenched in curiosity interspersed with giggles, gurgles, chirps, hisses and occasional explosions that send visitors diving for cover, only to realise that no terror lurks around.

“No cause for alarm. The explosions are emanating from the seeds of ombasa plant known scientifically as tylosema fassoglense. The bomb-like sounds are from the pent-up energy in the pods released to send the small seeds as far from the parent plant as possible in a fascinating means of natural propagation,” Omolo explains mirthfully.

Seeing ombasa is captivation to the hilt. The bomb manufacturing plant is a creeping shrub that snakes itself around tall trees and is easily noticeable above other flora in the thick forest. That way, it captures the full reach of the sun to tap as much solar energy as possible to power the explosion necessary for its future survival.

“Ombasa in bloom has yellowish flowers that hang high in the air as though to proudly announce its presence to the world,” observes Omolo.

He has a word of caution for visitors to Munglu Echo Conservancy, “Do not carry unexploded ombasa pods while travelling in vehicles. “You may cause an accident by scaring unsuspecting drivers and passengers when the pods ‘detonate’,” he admonishes.

He says “the forbidden fruit in the biblical Garden of Eden” that earned Adam and Eve God’s wrath for defying Him grows wild at Munglu Echo Conservancy.

Boasts Omolo: “You do not have to travel to the region between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in modern day Iraq to see the forbidden fruit our ancestors ate. It is right here”.

What the Luo call olemo, the collective word for fruit is rare but traceable with patience in thick Munglu bush. Its succulent yellowish fruits that according to Omolo have detoxifying qualities are consumed by humans and animals alike. I could not help tasting “what Adam enjoyed” those many years ago with consequences seen on men’s throats to this day.

Replete in the forest and a detoxifier in Omolo’s words is the more common ochuoga (Carissa macrocarpa) said to clear severe food poisoning within minutes. The fruit bleeds white sap when raw.

Besides the explosive ombasa said to have been the main ingredient of Babu’s miracle cure potion that had people trooping to Loliondo in northern Tanzania, medicinal shrubs are plenty at Munglu conservancy. One known as obudo (Asparagus Flagellaris) has roots that resemble giant arrow roots, popularly known as nduma.

“The roots when boiled and drunk act like a broad spectrum antibiotic against bacterial infections,” explains Omolo.

Dry season

A member of the fern family, obudo has needle-like leaves that remain green even during the dry season.

Munglu Echo Conservancy is also home to rare species of acacia suitable for production of honey less in sugar content. 

I counted several species of birds among them falcons, pigeons, guinea fowls, quails, kites, red robins and owls, part of over 20 others we were told are found in the forest. There are also different species of insects and snakes in the conservancy.

Kenya Wildlife Service officials in Homa Bay said such conservancies were encouraged and KWS only comes in if wildlife face danger.