Hidden gems - Lake Olbolosat

Lake Ol'bolosat



Thompson falls

In the chilly shadows of the Aberdare Ranges in central Kenya lies a tiny lake. Lake Ol Bolossat – the only lake in Kenya’s Central Province – is the source of the Ewaso Narok River which flows silently underground towards the Lorian Swamp before emerging and tumbling down the 75 metres (256 feet) Thomson Falls into the boulder strewn gorge below and eventually joining the Tana River and flowing east into the Indian Ocean.

It is located in Nyandarua county of Central Kenya, a beautiful unspoiled yet unexplored lake, and is home to several families of hippopotamus, and a temporary sanctuary for thousands of migrating birds.It has been recognized as a wetland that holds some of the threatened water bird species in Kenya Among these birds are several varieties of ducks, pelicans and the beautiful Ugandan Crested Crane and has been accepted as the 61st Important Bird Area (IBA) for Kenya. Framing this outstanding Lake is the ever imposing Aberdare Mountain Range, which provides an amazing back drop to the Rising Sun.
Lake Ol Bollosat is known for its peculiar habit of drying up and springing back to life in some ambiguous intermittent patterns

unknown facts

Lake Ol’ Bolossat,  is an internal drainage basin whose swamps have a high salt content possibly due to high evaporation rates and partly to the nature of sediments that constitute the area. The lake is situated in the valley between the northwestern slopes of Aberdares Mountains and Dundori Ridge which are the main catchments. The altitude ranges from 2,340 - 2,400 meters above sea level, receiving an average precipitation of 975 - 1,100 mm pa. The Lake covers an area of 43.3 sq.km. of which open water covers about 4 sq.km. This drainage basin, Ewaso Ngiro North Basin covering 210,226 sq.km., is Kenya’s largest. It offers a variety of habitats ranging from open water through fl oating marsh and swamps, open grasslands and riverine forests along rivers and springs that feed the lake.
Lake Ol'bolosat Forest
Ol Bolossat Forest is located in Oljororok division of Nyandarua North district in Kenya.It occupies an area of approximately 3, 326.9 hectares with a total forest boundary covering 34.1km. The forest is a source of various rivers all of them draining into Lake Ol Bolossat and the Ewaso Narok River.

Several wetlands are also found within the Forest and are important biodiversity conservation areas. There are also natural caves and water falls which could be exploited as tourist attraction sites.Other physical features found in the forest include dams, quarries and clay soil areas.

Indigenous tree species found in the forest include Juniperus procera, Olea africana and Podocarpus spp. Among the bushland and shrub vegetation in the forest, Tarchonanthus camphorates, Dodonea angustifolia and Trichocladus ellipticus are the dominant species. The forest also has scattered shrubs of sandalwood which is currently under presidential protection due to its over-exploitation for its economic value in the cosmetic industry.

Due to the forest’s proximity to Lake Ol Bolossat which is an Important Bird Area, the forest is a home to many migratory birds. Among the small game animals present in the forest include Columbus monkey, baboons, hedgehogs, ant eater, dik diks and other gnawing animals/rodents. However, the forest has a great potential for fish rearing through numerous springs and dam rehabilitation.

Ol Bolossat Forest is strategically located as it is on the gate way to the globally renowned tourism cluster of the Laikipia-Samburu ecosystem and the increasingly developing ecotourism activities dominating the Laikipia ecosystem. Other features and factors that have potential to promote tourism in the area include sports training camps, cultural tourism and historical importance.