Waking up at Baringo’s isolated cocoon of comfort

By Austine Okande

Located approximately 125 kilometers from Nakuru Town in the vast Baringo County is one of Kenyans’ oldest luxurious hotels — Lake Bogoria Spa Resort. It is adjacent to Lake Bogoria National Reserve, which is popularly known for its numerous geysers and hot springs.

Nestling at the floor of the great and magnificent Great Rift Valley and against the backdrop of the eastern slope of the Tugen Hills, Lake Bogoria Spa Resorts’ prime locale offers a stunning view of the valley. It is this stunning scenery that makes the place a bird watcher’s paradise.  Being here reminds one of the words of Bishop Hannington when he first saw Lake Bogoria. He said it was the most beautiful view in Africa.

Though not a spa in the technical sense of the word, the resort is a spa in the true sense of the word in so far as its pool and water gardens are naturally heated by the boiling springs and geysers of the national park.

Once here the choices for where to go are many. You can decide to enjoy the cool and refreshing ambience at the resorts lively garden or for bird lovers it might be the time to try your avian knowledge. Some of the birds that are often seen here are: Ostriches, marabou storks, flamingos and bee-eaters just to mention but a few  of the 350 different birds’ species  in the region.  Strolling around the precincts of the resort, visitors get to catch a glimpse of the friendly monkeys that are often seen pulling acrobatic stunts on the hanging tree branches.

Lake Baringo National Reserve situated a walking distance from the resort allows visitors to appreciate the wild with animals such as the shy kudu an antelope with spiraling horns, impalas, gazelles, cheetahs and waterbucks often seen roaming the park.

Upon entering the premise of the resort, visitors are accorded a warm reception by the friendly staffs. They are quite good at what they do coupled with the air of confidence and serenity — the gem of hospitality industry. Lovers of nature need look no further for the resort is covered in a luscious green garden with a beautiful canopy of acacia trees creating a natural ambience in its surrounding.

Healing place

One of the most treasured location at the resort is the ‘healing place’. The warm sulphur waters gushing out of the rocky ground a few metres away from the swimming pool is said to have medicinal powers. This, probably, explains the numbers of foreign and local visitors here. Lydia Yator, the managing director of the resort confirms that most clients from Asia, Europe and a good number from other parts of the country. As to whether they feel any relief after a day at the ‘healing place’ I cannot tell.

With food served on a buffet basis the fine dining arrangement gives the visitors a world-class culinary experience. A special delicacy at the resort is the hango busta, mwarubaini plant leaves cooked in a goats’ soup to produce a tantalising tasty soup. This is also believed to have medicinal value.  At the Bogoria Choma Ranch just opposite the main restaurant, visitors have a chance to enjoy succulent roasted goat meat from Mogotio, a small town few kilometers from the resort. Many will recall the place, which was popularised by the late Wahome Mutahi also popularly known as Whispers because of its tasty goat’s meat. Also in the special menu is mursik, fermented milk popular among the Kalenjin community.

Warrior’s drink

Known as the warrior’s drink, it is served in a special gourd and is preferred by many foreign tourists who associate it with the prowess of Kenyan athletes.

Lake Bogoria Spa Resort not only stands out as a recreational facility but also as an cultural centre where diverse rich cultural heritage of the Nilotic people — Njemps, Tugen, Turkana and the Pokot habiting the area are show-cased in curio shops. Visitors also have a chance to taste the different cultural foodstuffs of the different communities and be entertained by their dances.

The resort offers a spectacular accommodation facility in the form private cozy cottages, camping tents for those who love camping and executive rooms for individuals who are looking for something more than the ordinary status. With fine artistic finishes on the rooms’ interior décors, all the rooms are fitted with air conditioned, hot shower, wireless Internet connection plus cable television.

The tranquilising conference rooms and the spacious ground make the resort most ideal for groups tours, corporate team building exercises and family get together. The garden is also poses as humble grounds for weddings and private parties.