High water levels drown geysers

By Beatrice Obwocha

Baringo County

Four main geysers that have been the centre of attraction for tourists visiting Lake Bogoria in Baringo County are no more.

Rains that have pounded the Central Rift region and the neighbouring Subukia Hills for the past one-month have raised the water level of the lake, submerging the scenic geysers.

According to the lake warden William Kimosop the water level has risen by at least three metres.

Two of the hot springs that were shooting one metre above the ground have been submerged leaving only small bubbles that cannot be seen from the shores.

Only a single geyser can be seen from a distance of about half a kilometre from the main road that leads to the lake.

Kimosop said the phenomenon occurs once every ten years and assured tourists that the geysers would be spewing hot water soon.

"We are not sure when the water levels will recede to allow visibility of the hot springs, but we hope it would be soon," said Kimosop, in an interview with The Standard.

He said the rains have destroyed one road that allows tourists to go near the lake.

However, Kimosop said the rising water levels have seen an increase in flamingos in the lake.

"It has attracted a huge number of the pink birds (flamingos) to the lake. We now have about 1.7 million birds from 100,000 that were previously here," he said.

Meanwhile, Kenya Wildlife Service has begun translocating 10 black rhinos from Lake Nakuru National Park to Tsavo West Park. The movement of the rhinos will be done along the ear notching exercise with both tasks estimated to cost Sh4 million.

Ease pressure

KWS Rhino Programme Co-ordinator Benson Okita said the exercise kicked off well.

He said the translocation of the rhinos was to ease the pressure at Lake Nakuru National Park that has about 80 black and white rhinos.

Elsewhere, a census of mammals in Lake Nakuru National Park will be done this Saturday.

Deputy Park Warden Joseph Dadacha said they intend to count all mammals within the park to know their actual numbers.