Repackaging Tharaka Nithi Attractions

27/03/2024

Monitor lizards
Monitor lizards are lizards in Varanus, the only extant genus in the Varanidae family. They are native to Africa and Asia. The name may have been suggested by their occasional habit of standing on their two hind legs and appearing to "monitor." At least some species of monitors are known to be able to count. studies feeding rock monitors varying numbers of snails showed that they can distinguish numbers up to six. Nile monitors have been observed to cooperate when foraging; one animal lures the female crocodile away from her nest, while the other opens the nest to feed on the eggs. The decoy then returns to also feed on the eggs.
Monitor lizards are oviparous, laying from seven to 38 eggs, which they often cover with soil or protect in a hollow tree stump.

16/03/2024

Hartebeest {Kongoni}
It is a large antelope with an elongated forehand and peculiar-shaped horns. They have short and shiny coats, reddish to tawny in the upper parts. They have long legs, standing just over one metre at the shoulder. They weigh 100–200kg. Both sexes have horns, U-shaped from the front and Z-shaped from the sides, growing backwards at first and then forward, ending with a sharp backward turn.
They are mainly active during the daytime, they graze in the early morning and late afternoon and rest in shade around noon. Large numbers gather in places with abundant grass. While feeding, one individual stays on the lookout for danger, often standing on anthills to see farther.

10/03/2024

Over 130 years old church in Chogoria..more places to explore.

23/02/2024

Sites from Mt Kenya, Chogoria route.

22/02/2024

Much more to do in Mount Kenya.
Quench your outdoor wild dream. Dust your bike and helmet.

22/02/2024

Kenya is indeed a wildlife haven. A real experience in their natural habitat.

03/02/2024

Do you know Mt Kenya has the most unique plants...Robellias makes the mountain physique landscape vibrant.

31/01/2024

31/01/2024

Do you know we gave high altitude snakes. This endemic Mt Kenya viper lives in Mt Kenya and Aberdares. It is very secretive and most likely you won't see it. It hides under the rocks and will get out early in the morning to sun itself then as the day gets colder it retreat back. Feeds on rats and lizards. No bites have been reported.

31/01/2024

Along the Gorgeous Gorges valley we have a silent waterfall. The Vivien falls. It boasts to be number 117 highest in term of altitude waterfall in the world. Tharaka Nithi got it.

31/01/2024

Kandakame falls along River Maara.

29/01/2024

Ancient Stories Of Our People

Inanduru cave (Inanduru is located in Tharaka Nithi County)

In the old days, the salt licks in Inanduru were accessed by goats.
The goats spend the night there, and no predator went into the cave.
Due to the terrain however, the cows could not make it to the cave. So they had to be brought the salt lick dug from the cave floor/walls.

The people held these provision in awe and certain words and expressions in regards to the caves were taboo;

"Nenkeria kiondo nthi Inanduru kwinja munyu ndetere ng'ombe ....."
That would be fatal. How?
Story continues......

The specific words expressed were:

"Nenkeria karae nthi kwa juju nkarauke ...."
and one would make it safely in and out of the cave.

Karae = kiondo
Kwa juju = Inanduru cave
Nkarauke = nkenje munyu

The story goes that on one ocassion a woman from the village defied the clan's courtesy and out of rebellion used the forbiden expressions

"Ndathi Inanduru kwinja munyu ndetere ng'ombe ....."

She went in, and as she was digging the salt lick, a rock fall ensued and she was buried in the pile. Dead.

The legend has it that uttering the words "Ndathi Inanduru kwinja mwonyo ndetere ng'ombe ....." would lead to a rockfall which would kill the person defying the rule.

As told by Mzee Gikona, ( The owner of the Land housing Inanduru entrance)

You cannot miss out on this venture, come along and let us walk the ancient path of our people, let us claim back our inheritance and preserve our stories for the generations!!

28/01/2024

Let's talk about this old building. It holds a history from 1920s. Commonly known as Gwa Keeru or Mutindwa Dispensary. It is the oldest permanent administirial building in Eastern. It was a colonial DC's office and later it became a PCEA health center with the first care taker Keeru Micheni who is now retired. Children dreaded this place and Nurse Keeru was known with injections. Therefore during it's era as a dispensary it gained the name Gwa Keeru. That was in 80s..later it housed the area Chief. It's now vacated and maybe waiting for the next occupant. Note it's in it's original form save for the iron sheets and the waiting area extension. Stay tuned for more

28/01/2024

Apart from Lake Ellis and Lake Michaelson, what other Lake or tarn can you name at Mt Kenya National Park?

28/01/2024

History follow up by the grandson of the Author of No picnic on Mt Kenya.
Follow this page for more.

18/01/2024

The hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)
The wading bird known as the hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) is of medium size. Its nearest relatives are believed to be shoebills and pelicans. This species got its name from the Afrikaans word for hammerhead because of the resemblance of its head shape, which has a large beak and crest at the back, like a hammer. It is a brown-plumed, medium-sized aquatic bird. It inhabits a wide range of wetlands, including estuaries, lakesides, fish ponds, riverbanks, and rocky beaches, and is found in Africa, Madagascar, and Arabia. The hamerkop is a sedentary (not migratory) bird that frequently moves locally. The hamerkop consumes a variety of food items, primarily fish and amphibians, but it also occasionally consumes prawns, insects, and rodents. The species is adaptive and will eat any kind of prey, however, it mostly hunts in shallow water by touch or sight. The species is well known for its massive nests, many of which are constructed during the mating season. The nest features an inside nesting chamber where the eggs are laid, which is unusual for a wading bird. The eggs are incubated by both parents, who also rear the chicks.

14/01/2024

-Repackaging Tharaka Nithi Attractions

Gaketha Elephant Maternity.
Gaketha could be a major tourist location in Tharaka-Nithi, as locals and worldwide travellers would visit the place in large numbers during the two wet seasons to witness this astonishing exercise. During the year, the area is like any other standard part of the forest. It is during July and December that the largest land mammals gather for one of nature’s rarest spectacles. The pregnant jumbos from the entire Mt. Kenya forest and the neighbouring Laikipia plains converge to give birth, hence the name “Elephant maternity”.
The choice of this location is not wholly understood, but we can sum up some observations. It is on the windward side, receiving enough rainfall. The vegetation is evergreen, with plenty of undergrowth foliage for the babies. There are pockets of clear open fields for assembly. The area is relatively levelled and the ground is soft and tender with clay-like soil, which can be smeared over the babies to keep away parasites like tsetse flies and crawling insects.
From the myths, it is said that the elephants used to have their maternity at Kajogu Cliff, which is translated to “a small elephant”. It is believed that a mother in labour pains slipped and fell off the cliff. The wailing, groaning, and moaning set the others on the run. Given that the elephants keep memories for a long time, they pass the information on to later generations. They have avoided Kajogu till today.
Within the vicinity are the Maumau caves at the edge of the forest, which were used as the arsenal for Mau Mau war veterans during the struggle for independence. The sacred Urumandi natural footbridge on the Maara River, which the locals believe is a ‘holy place’ and ‘ritually unclean people’ fear to utilise.

13/01/2024

The Jewish/ Ethiopian connection.
The narrative goes back to the reign of King Solomon of the Jewish empire. King Solomon had constructed the temple to house the covenant box forever. But he married foreign wives who introduced the worship of foreign gods in the temple he had dedicated to the God of his father David. Queen Makenda of Sheba “Ethiopia” visited King Solomon’s court after hearing about his great wisdom. She stayed and learned from him for six months. She became pregnant before she returned to her kingdom, where she bore Solomon a son, Menelik. After the death of the Queen, Menelik 1 was made king by his father, thus founding the royal Solomonic dynasty of Ethiopia, which ruled until the deposition of Haile Selassie I in 1974. His entourage with the consent of Levites, carried the covenant box (managi) to Sheba (Ethiopia). Finally, after years of temporary location in Ethiopia, the covenant box was put to rest in Axum.
The proto-Gikuyu (Kabiru/Hebrew) are Levites. They had come from “Baci” (Ethiopia) at a place called Axum. They had to leave Axum because “Nguo ndune” (people of red costumes) or “Tunyaga” (the people of the cross - Knight Templers) had conspired to steal “Managi”-

11/01/2024

Kibuuka Grand Falls!

07/01/2024

The history of Kikuyu and Mt Kenya can be fetched from far and wide. In the mythology they mingled and integrated with Egyptians, Ethiopian and Jews. The Egyptians refers Mt Kenya as Ta-Neteru the abode of their gods – “hapi or lotus” the gods of Nile floods. It should be noted that the farming communities who settled in Egypt around 7000 BC had already realized the inundation of Nile River corresponded with heliacal rising of the star Isis (Sirus). When the waters receded, a fresh deposit of rich dark silt collected from Ethiopian highlands and Central African countries and was deposited, on the soaked earth 'ready for planting. This led the early Egyptians to name their land "Kemet" or black as opposed to the desert, "Deshret" or red. The deposited black silt renewed' the fertility of the land before the planting in autumn.
Such predictable natural phenomenon and the rising and setting of the sun on daily basis, the complete moon cycle consisting of four phases, precession etc. created a sense of order of both land and the sky. This order was central in development of their religion. Egyptians took Nile and every aspect of nature to manifest gods in anthropomorphic. The Kikuyu thought light was a manifestation of their God’s power, “Utheri” which coincides with Egyptian god Osiris. In that line of argument, this the place goddess Isis hid his son/husband- Horus after raising him back to life. The Pharaohs had to pay homage in the south to the gods of the waters of Nile in Ta – Neteru. They also received a cosmic generative force.

27/12/2023

Let talk about Mt. Kenya lakes and tarns.
How many do you know?
Follow this link to learn and feel free to engage.
Research and findings by : Kaburu Stellah Njeri


County Government of Tharaka Nithi Kenya Wildlife Service

MagicalKenya

26/12/2023

Places you have to visit

Do you know the first Swimming pool in Eastern Province in Kenya and probably among the oldest was in Chogoria hospital? Constructed at around 2030s.

24/12/2023

Kibuuka falls.
It was shortly known as Owen Falls after a white explorer named it. Thanks to the community for embracing the original name and history behind it.
Kibuuka is believed to have been a spiritual leader, seer, medicine man, and rainmaker. His existence was as mysterious as his departure. It is said that he was picked from the cattle shed by his foster parents, Karikundi and Ciakinene. They had tried all means to get a child, and a seer had promised them that one day it would rain heavily with thunder and lightning. Amid the downpour, they would hear a boy crying and rumbling like thunder. They were to nurture him and he became a miracle baby to comfort them. They gave him the name “Kibuuka” meaning the thunderous cry of a baby.
He grew up to be a strong boy but during the circumcision period, he disappeared only to reappear after. Amazingly, he had gone through the ritual. He became a brave and strong warrior, he would perform rituals and give charms to the warriors before going to war. He conquered many onslaughts.
After marrying, he bore many sons whereby his eldest son led the Atharaka warriors in battles. He had embossed a protective charm “Rugoci” on his son’s abdomen. There were instances when his son would be killed on a battlefield but would be resurrected through his powers. Traitors and spies have always lived. At some point, the word went around that his power was the charm. He was killed, and the “rugoci” was removed. He died completely.
The death of the son infuriated Kibuuka, and decided to migrate. He cursed the Atharaka never to have another leader. He summoned all his family with their belongings and followed the river Kathambangiri. At Kianjege Hill, his footprints are still visible to date. At the confluence of Kathita and Tana River, they disappeared into River Tana.

23/12/2023

Apprehension of riuki came from God’s {Ngai} abode. Gikuyu seers put pebbles of riuki in their defining gourds together with white chalk. In spiritual context riuki represented the throne of God {Ngai}. The white chalk or ira representing snow hence purity. Gikuyu medicine men regard riuki as the path finder.
The Kikuyu believe that Ngai gave the sign that created the form. He gave the word that made event. When the physical entity was complete, Ngai approached a floating spirit in the spiritual world and gave instructions.
“I am removing your presence in this dimension, where you live life of an angel, to a physical dimension that you are at liberty to do good or evil. I am taking you there to bring forth your own offspring’s who will fill the earth and when they die, I will call them to this spiritual world because they have a share of my soul through you”. “Whenever you have a problem, just face the mountain and talk to me, I will hear”.

22/12/2023

Mount Kenya was formed about 3.5 million years ago by successive volcanic eruptions. It stood higher than today’s height of 5,199m with a diameter of about 120km at the base. It was formed as a result of successive eruptions of volcano. Traces of this theory is evident it the lakes and tarns a result of terminal moraines extending as low as 3,000m asl. Kikuyu oral version of the creation of the mountain states that a star {Riuki – direct translation denote foreign object came} fell from the universe to the ground with a huge bang. This shook the land to the core oozing magma {gicurucuru} and volcanic ashes {uumbi}. Geologists have named the rock Kenyte, to their astonishment the Kenyte is only found on two locations – Mt Kenya and the Antarctic in South Pole.

22/12/2023

Do you know the first Swimming pool in Eastern Province in Kenya and probably among the oldest was in Chogoria hospital? Constructed at around 2030s.

21/12/2023

Have you visited the Main swamp where River Mara originates?

MPAKU POND!!