Kerio View, perched on the edge of the Kerio Valley escarpment - a branch of the Great Rift Valley of East Africa offers fine views of the Tugen hills and Tiati, a sacred mountain of the Pokot people.
Down in the valley, a central to the panoramic view, is Lake Kamnarok, set close to Rimoi Game Reserve and fed by waters flowing down the slopes of Tugen Hills. In the rainy season, when the level of water in the lake is high, there is an overflow from the lake into the nearby Kerio River. Unfortunately, Kamnarok is fast disappearing due to excessive siltation.
The Kerio River arises from numerous streams flowing down the steep slopes from the forested highlands of Kikabus at the head of the valley. It picks up more water from a few rivers flowing over the Keiyo escarpment, but more significantly from powerful rivers flowing down into the valley from the Cherengany Hills of Marakwet. The Kerio has enough power to force a meandering course through the northern desert country and finally discharge it's remaining waters into Lake Turkana- 300 km away and 2100 m lower than its origins.
Rimoi is a relatively new reserve and hardly exploited. It's particularly noted for very wild elephants. Visitors have to be accompanied by a Wildlife Department ranger.
There are also crocodiles in the river and lake but they are very wary and shy of people and not always easy to see. There are at least 26 species of snakes in the valley and bird life is abundant.
Kerio View is only 33km from Eldoret town and close to the township of Iten- The home of champions. Iten and Keiyo Marakwet Counties are known to many people, even overseas, as places associated with athletics, because many world class athletes have originated from or did their formative training in the area. Names such as Peter Rono, Charles and Kip Cheruiyot, Wilson Kipketer, Sally Barsosio, Mathew Birir, Wilson Boit among many others will be familiar to many. Indeed Keiyo is a fine place for athletes and prospective competitors to come for high- altitude training.
Kerio View is a good base for safaris down into Kerio Valley. In less than half an hour of driving, one can drop down 1000 m from the lush vegetation at the edge of the Keiyo escarpment to the semi arid thorn bush of the valley. It's also well placed for trips to lake Baringo, Bogoria and Nakuru as well as Cherengany Hills. All can be visited in one day or two-day safari ans Kerio view can provide or arrange your transport and bookings.
Kerio Valley is also an excellent point for visitors interested In Paragliding although equipment are yet to be made available at the place. Visitors however can freely participate if they bring along their personal equipment.
All in all, it's a place you would want to wake up in every morning to the heavenly view.
