BARINGO, Kenya – Have you always wished to visit a shrine initially used for rituals such as initiations and special prayers?
Would you like to view multi-spring volcanic rock formations? And see the Baringo Great Rift Valley (BGRV) Geopark?
You may have the opportunity if you go to the Mangar Geosite and Conservancy.
Baringo County Conservancies Association (BCCA), in collaboration with the local Tugen community, hopes that converting the shrine into a tourist attraction will attract tourists and raise revenue for the county.
Located in Marigat Ward, Baringo South Constituency, the Mangar Geosite and Conservancy was once considered sacred and appropriate for various ceremonies by the locals.
“About 100 years ago, Mangar Rock Falls and Water Springs acted as a shrine. It was a holy shrine where our forefathers converged to carry out different forms of tradition, and it is through its nature that, as a community, we have been able to preserve it to date,” said Jonathan Koech, chairman of Mangar Geosite and Conservancy.
What visitors can expect from Mangar Geosite and Conservancy
When Y News recently visited the site, we were welcomed by songs and dances by a local entertainment troupe from the native Tugen community donned in local attire.
“We hope that your excellence coverage will put us on the global map in marketing this tourism destination,” Koech, who appeared to be in high spirits, said while welcoming us to the newest conservancy in Baringo County.
The conservancy, which sits on a 239-hectare piece of land, is believed to always stay dry and is also said to be the home of thunder.
“Here, visitors can view volcanic rock formations with multiple springs. The location is linked to numerous rock types exhibiting varied magmatic phases, including phonolites, trachytes, and basalt,” said William Chelal Mangar Geosite and Conservancy committee member.
Chelal said the countless springs originating beneath the stones make the location unique.
“The locals imply that earth tremors caused large rocks. And due to its seclusion, tribes consider this place sacred and appropriate for various ceremonies,” Chelal added.
What are some of the wild animals found at Mangar Geosite and Conservancy
The neighbourhood keeps cattle for business purposes and is well-known for its Koriema goat eating, goat auctions, and natural honey.
“The area’s nearby settlements receive their water from springs. It is one of the few sites in Baringo that hosts a population of the Patas monkey, a rare, secretive, but charismatic species. We also have the Greater Kudu and leopards, not forgetting a variety of bird species,” Koech explained.
The first conservancies under BCCA, Ngenyin and Kaptuya, opened in 2002, and the most recent, Mangar and Tuiyarus, opened in 2023.
Y News understands that, individually, conservancies are designed to gather local people into communal organisations with recognised and fair leadership structures that can advocate for support and investment on behalf of their members, protecting their environment while earning them a better living and supporting activities, including health and schooling.
Most of the land in Baringo was either held under Trust by the government or under the Group Ranch Act. However, both these laws were replaced in 2016 by the Community Land Act. It empowers the community to own, manage, and benefit from their land as they wish by limiting the authority of the county governments in matters relating to land.
Today, a majority (80%) of the conservancies in Baringo are community-owned, and others are registering their land with the Kenya Wildlife Conservancies Association (KWCA). However, they can still access, use, and benefit from the land’s resources while awaiting the legal transfer of ownership.
How BCCA is supporting Baringo communities set up conservancies
By supporting communities in establishing conservancies, BCCA Chief Executive Officer and Advisor Susan Jepkemoi told Y News that the organisation, with the support of organisations such as The Nature Conservancy (TNC), helps safeguard their rights over the natural resources found on the land.
“The Baringo ecosystem has historically been a tourism hotspot. However, its iconic lakes and hot springs have been damaged by ever-increasing impacts of climate change, rising Rift Valley lake levels and human activities,” said Jepkemoi.
Jepkemoi, an experienced environmentalist and trainer, further revealed that local communities in the North Rift County are now looking for alternative ways to attract tourism investment to the landscape.
For example, Mangar is characterised by different rock units formed between 1.8-0.25 million years ago. It comprises large rock boulder deposits, which were formed by seismic activity. Springs flow along a river deeply incised draining to the main Perkerra River,” said Jepkemoi.
Baringo Chief Warden told Y News that the conservancy has melliferous riverine vegetation dominated by Ficus sycamores, Tamarindus indica, and Acacia.
“Mangar is also an important water source due to the springs in the riverbed. The site is along the slave trade trail, as evidenced by Tamarind trees,” added Kimosop.
To promote the conservancy, the committee has established a cultural trope that provides entertainment to visitors and also organised an annual hiking activity even as they invite visitors from all walks of life to discover the Great Rift Valley’s hidden treasures.
