Samatian Island is a small island with awesome views across the bronze waters of the Great Rift Valley’s Lake Baringo. The splendor of Baringo and her environs is renowned glorious sunsets, an amazing variety of surprising bird life, Njemps fishermen enduring a trade little changed for over 200 years despite globalization, and the striking Laikipia Escarpment creating a superb backdrop to the lake and her inhabitants. There are three different ethnic groups reside around Lake Baringo the Njemps who are related to the Masai, the Pokot tribe, and the Tugen who are part of the larger Kalenjin group of tribes.
The famous Scottish explorer Joseph Thompson became the first European to sight Lake Baringo in November 1883. Lake Baringo is situated in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya, north of the Equator, at an altitude of 1,050m (3,500 feet). The area of Lake Baringo is roughly 22km (13.7 miles) long by 11km (6.8 miles) wide at its widest point. It has a surface area of 168sq km (104 sq miles). Lake Baringo lies in a vast bowl flanked by spectacular mountains and rocky escarpments that rise to the east and west, with a height of over 1500m (4,920 ft) above the valley floor.
Laikipia escarpment lies on the eastern side of the lake. On the north of the lake is the Karosi volcano that rises to 1,449m (4,753 ft) high. The fascinating basalt cliffs 100m (328 ft) high are found on the western side. These cliffs are perfect for bird watching. You will have the benefit of the extraordinary sight of Bat Hawks that appears in the evening to prey on the many bats emerging from the cliffs at dusk. The grand Verreaux’s Eagle nestles in these cliffs These cliffs are a fascinating phenomenon of the most latest geographical changes in the rugged face of the rift valley. Further ahead lay the Tugen hills with the growing town of Kabarnet at the top, the government administrative headquarters. On the southern side lies the Njemps flat that stretches towards Lake Bogoria.
Lake Baringo is fed by six rivers though most of are seasonal. It is believed that an outflow must exist to keep the water fresh that prevents the lake from becoming more alkaline. Geologists’ hypothesis is that the water flows underground for 50 km (31.1 miles) at the northern end of the lake, emerging at Kadepo’s hot waterfalls having been heated en route by subterranean thermal activity.
There are thirteen permanent islands on Lake Baringo. The largest island is called Ol Kokwe, which means “meeting place” in Njemps. In times of drought several more rocky islands may also appear as the waters level decline.
Dr Richard Leakey a World-famous palaeontologist has discovered plenty of fossils in 1970’s during an excavation at Kipcherere at the foot of the Tugen hills in Baringo. The fossil remains of an elephant dating back two million years were found and are now on display at the Nairobi Museum. There is another fossil site nearby the basalt cliffs, where in the large dunes of sandy shale, fossil bones, hand-axes and flints have been excavated.
In recent time Dr. Martin Pickford and his team discovered Orrorin Tugenensis - a six million year old hominid skull in the late 1990. This very exciting find is significantly older than earlier finds, and is the second oldest hominid skull in the world.
Highlights
The serene atmosphere of Samatian provides a perfect holiday where guests can relax. Laze at Samatian to unwind and soak up the captivating splendor of Baringo and the dramatic scenery of the Rift Valley.
Activities
Boat rides to explore the lake and its inhabitants – hippo, crocodile, over 450 species of birds
Hot springs with steaming pools
Lakeside walks
Visits to the Njemps and Pokot to experience their cultures
An easy day boat trip to explore thousands of flamingo feeding in the soda lake, and if you are lucky spot Greater Kudu, that lives on the escarpment above the Lake Bogoria.
Samatian Accommodation
Climate
The temperature in this semi–arid, low-lying land range is 35 degrees Centigrade (100 degrees Fahrenheit). The average rainfall is 640 mm (3.9 inches) with most of the rain falling from May to August, with some in November.
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