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Climate Change: How it’ll Change your next trip to the Great Rift Valley Lakes

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Effects of climate change on lake nakuru

Kenya has seen a significant increase in local tourism over the last few years. The pandemic’s aftermath served as a wake-up call for everyone, and they were finally able to realize the importance of local tourism to the economy.

However, we are now facing a new pandemic: climate change.

The gorgeous Rift Valley is renowned for keeping Kenya’s coastal tourism sector up at night, with more Kenyans visiting many of the valley’s landmarks than ever before.

One could easily be led to believe that climate change has no bearing on their next adventure or holiday down the strip, but this is untrue. Changes in weather patterns affect not only what you see, but also how you move around as you try to have the time of your life with your loved ones.

Climate change has had the largest impact on the Great Rift Valley lakes, particularly Lake Nakuru and Baringo. Although the impact has been minimized, the tourism industry in the affected areas has been rocked.

The Rising Water Level and its Devastating Effect on Tourism

The alarming rise in water levels among the Rift Valley lakes has struck Lake Turkana, Lake Naivasha, Lake Elementaita, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, and Lake Nakuru the worst.

These lakes have been rising for years, with greater rainfall contributing to the rise in water levels.

Here’s how this will affect your next expedition in the Rift Valley

1.       Diminishing Wildlife

Lake Nakuru has long been regarded as a spectacular location for seeing Kenya’s diverse birdlife. The government has reaped billions of shillings from this alone.

Lake Nakuru is a saline lake which makes it a perfect ecological environment for algae which is the favourite food of flamingos. When the lake overflows, the salinity is reduced thus affecting the growth of algae. This forces the birds to flee to other places in search of food. Only a few flamingos remain on the lake now.

The number of flamingoes at The Lake Nakuru National Park has significantly reduced.

The once lush and colourful site of flamingoes across the lake has now remained a pale shadow of its former self.

2.       Accommodation

The swelling waters have left hotels, lodges, and camps on the brink of closure with most of them submerged or rendered non-operational due to water overflowing in and around their premises.

The most popular tourist attraction in Baringo is the lake, where tourists engage in boat tours, bird watching, and fishing. Around the lake are several facilities on the mainland, including multimillion-shilling tourist hotels, lodges, and tented camps that were the region’s principal tourism destinations.

Submerged Hotel at the shores of Lake Baringo. image: Courtesy

However, many of these facilities have been consumed and destroyed by Lake Baringo recently. The ever-encroaching waters have made it necessary for many of the facilities to move further and further away from the shoreline. Currently, the closest lodge and campsite is about a kilometre away from the shoreline.

3.       Navigation

The rains have been so heavy that even the great Rift Valley Lakes are filling to their capacity. Lakes Nakuru, Bogoria, and Baringo have also risen to their highest levels in decades, inundating roads and building infrastructure. The rising water levels have also submerged some access roads in adjacent areas.

A 4×4 should be high on your list of priorities if you plan to visit either of the locations.

The entrance points to several national parks, such as Lake Nakuru, which has been completely submerged, making it impassable.

Many types of tourism are affected by the weather, and consequently the climate. Even though lakes are confronting environmental issues, they have not lost their appeal as tourist destinations. There is still plenty that all parties can do to improve our environment and reduce the impact of climate change on our lakes.

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