Tag Archives: rift valley

A dream come true and a long journey to World Heritage

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I must admit this past week I’ve been holding my breath while waiting to hear if the Kenya Lakes System  (Elmentieta, Nakuru and Bogoria) World Heritage Site would be inscribed. Then late last night while I was sitting in the dark because there was a power cut, I suppose due to the heavy storm,  I turned on my computer, hoping there was a little battery power to check my mail. There in my inbox was a brief note ” You are now part of a World Heritage Site, Congratulations!” At first I was a bit stunned having prepared myself for disappointment.

I couldn’t wait for dawn to rush down to the lake and experience a World Heritage Site. It was like  seeing everything for the very first time…my first World Heritage flamingo, my first world heritage giraffe, eland, tommie, impala, leopard tracks. I wanted to tell those little pelican babies that they would have a safe home. Magical!

It was a hard choice to just soak it in or snap a few photos as I had to rush back to Elmenteita town for a MOGTEKA meeting.

I guess you will need to Blog William Kimosop at Bogoria to hear how long a journey this has been for him, many many years…but for me, I was asked to a meeting back in 2006 when it was decided to try for WH status once again. The last attempt failed due to the unprotected status of Lake Elmenteita. Now began the long process of gazetting Lake Elmenteita Wildlife Sanctuary.

While this was in the process our Greater Lake Elmenteita Conservaton Area Committee and Stakeholders  worked with National Museums of Kenya and Kenya Wildlife Service for years in developing  Management Plan for the Conservation Area which includes the Core zone of the Lake and Riparian Land, The Buffer Zone , Riverine Zone and Controlled Development Zone.

We will be posting more information and links and photos to inform you of our progress.

Here is a link to the UNESCO Site.

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1060

We will be looking for help to ensure the World Heritage Status.

Yours in Conserving our World Heritage,

Kat Combes

Soysambu Conservancy included as part of the Kenya Lakes System World Heritage Site as the buffer zone for Lake Elmenteita

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Dawn on Lake Elmenteita a new World Heritage Site in Kenya

Dawn on Lake Elmenteita a new World Heritage Site in Kenya

GAZETTE NOTICE

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LakeElmGazette

In exercise of the Wildlife Act the Minister for Wildlife and Forestry has declared Soysambu to be a wildlife sanctuary. Our director, Kat Combes, has worked on this for the last five years so that we can get UNESCO nomination for a World Heritage Site.

We would also like to ask ask those residents and stakeholders on and around Lake Elmenteita to support GLECA (Greater Lake Elmenteita Conservation Area). There will be a meeting soon to discuss the management of the Lake with the Kenya Wildlife Service. There is a draft management plan.

The declaration of Lake Elmenteita Wildlife Sanctuary is a step forward in the nomination of the Kenya Rift Valley Lakes World Heritage Site. It will provide national protection to this incredibly fragile lake. Soysambu borders the Lake on the west. We look forward to working with our neighbors in protecting this valuable part of Kenya’s heritage.

Egyptian Geese at Soysambu

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Today, I set out with only one mission in mind, to take a photo of the Egyptian Geese I had spotted a few days ago. Even though my photographic skills are not sharp, I managed to take a few photos of the pair of Egyptian Geese.

The Egyptian Geese were browner in colour, with chestnut patches on the feathers and around each eye, what a spectacular appearance! Its Conservation Status is of Least Concern (LC), that is, ICUN 3.1

As I approached, the female goose (the smaller one) started making cackling noises and stayed hidden for a while, with the male curiously eyeing me. I am suspecting there are eggs somewhere and I can’t wait to see the Goslings as am intrigued by nature.

My curiosity couldn’t help as I wanted a nice shot, but they got scared and flew off a few metres from the water to dry land. Phew!!

Soysambu Conservancy is rich in bird life!

Soysambu Conservancy’s fight to supply water during drought

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Written by Zurijanne Kelley, Soysambu Volunteer

Perhaps you didn’t know that Kenya has been experiencing a drought for the past two years, and that key ecosystems have begun to feel the effects of this prolonged condition especially at Soysambu Conservancy. Surrounded by communities and roads on almost every side, Soysambu has become a safe haven for many wildlife species who have been driven inward by human development. However, with the species has come the need to supply ample drinking water in lieu of their numbers.

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The largest water tank at Soysambu is over 30 years old and was created just for this purpose: to supply water to various troughs throughout the property for thirsty wildlife. Unfortunately, this life sustaining source is running on empty. The enduring lack of rains has resulted in the drying up of two rivers since April 2009, Mereroni and Mbaruk, which originally supplied our dam and then utilized gravity to bring the water to our tank. This tank is the only reservoir for the Conservancy to store water for wildlife.
Water trough
Empty water troughs litter the Conservancy land, and for many who work and visit here it is an unbearable sight. Even Lake Elementaita has receded several hundred meters from the shoreline and is only a fraction of her former self. To combat this particular issue it has been decided (rather much needed) that the current and broken 25 year old submersible pump at Melia borehole needs to be replaced. This pump would utilize this particular borehole located on Soysambu Conservancy property to supply water to the troughs in the Melia area.

Broken pipeLake ElementaitaWater tank

Left Picture: Two Soysambu employees display the broken water pump of more than 25 years. Middle Picture: Standing at the shoreline a view of Lake Elementaita twinkles in the distance. Right Picture: A view of the inside of the water tank supplying wildlife across Soysambu Conservancy.

Due to the unpredictability of rains associated with climate change we have to pursue other measures of providing for the wildlife here whose numbers extend over 10, 000 within 188 square km. The cost of this new pump is $4500USD in order for the Conservancy to break even(see post Soysambu: A reason for Celebrating). If you would like to make a donation towards the replacement of this water pump so that we may continue in our endeavors to provide a water resource for the wildlife please follow the associated links for donating on our website. With Soysambu being just over a year old (established May 2008) and the only conservancy within the Central Rift Valley measures to ensure the success of this Conservancy as a leading conservation organization is made possible by donor support.