RIMOI RESERVE
Rimoi National Reserve is a small reserve of 66 kilometers squared opened in March 2016 and adjacent to the Lake Kamnarok within the Rift Valley. Under the guidance of a ranger, you will covers part of the reserve and probably see big groups of elephants and various birds species. On the way back, you pass through Cheploch where local divers show you their talent.
The National Reserve of Rimoi is one of the 18 reserves of the country. It is located below the Rift Valley, in the vicinity of Lake Kamnarok and hosts more than 450 elephants in a small area. Rimoi's herds of elephants are the largest in East Africa: it is not uncommon to see more than 100 individuals gathered together. Since they hide in the bushes, you might not see them at first sight.
To increase your chances of spotting pachyderms, we recommend starting your tour from Iten around 5:00 AM. You will reach the entrance to the reserve at approximately 6:30 AM. Accompanied by a ranger, you spend a few hours observing the surrounding flora and fauna.
When the sun rises, the chances of seeing elephants decrease. This is then the opportunity to see other animals of the reserve, including small mammals such as impalas, warthogs and monkeys, reptiles such as turtles, crocodiles and lizards. The government of Elgeyo-Marakwet has launched a repopulation program for the reserve, in order to increase its tourist appeal. New species have thus been introduced, such as several Rothschild's giraffes, which joined the park in October 2022.
Finally, the reserve is home to many species of birds (more than 450 in total!), which make it a real paradise for photographers. Among the visible species, weavers, Madagascan sunbirds, hornbills and turacos.
After leaving Rimoi, you are taken to Cheploch, a natural gorge where natives provide a unique spectacle by diving from the top of the rocks. An activity that has developed with the rise of tourism in recent years.
Return to Iten in the second part of the day.
