KERIO VIEW
Marich Field Centre
| This is an educational centre is located on the banks of the Moruny river in West Pokot, a remote region of the Great Rift 150 km NW of Kitale. Accommodation is in simple, but clean, round, thatched bandas. Electricity and lighting from a generator are available from evening until everyone is in bed. Water in the showers and taps is nominally cold, but, in fact, because of heating by the strong sun, normally comfortably warm at all times of the day except dawn. Indeed, in this region of Pokot District the sun can be very fierce; but the Field Centre is a cool, shady microclimate created by the many and varied species of trees. The compound is very beautiful, particularly when the Flamboyant trees (Delonix regia) are in incandescent bloom. The Marich Field Centre is primarily an educational facility to provide students and teachers with basic needs and physical and human resources to study the ethnography, cultures, ecology, geography and geology of this very unique region of Kenya. The bandas are many, perhaps 50, but could be entirely occupied if an educational group is in residence. This is most likely in the period May to August. Therefore, intending visitors are advised to enquire / book in advance. Contact Paul on 0722139151 or Mrs. Roden on 0715854955. Room rates in non-self contained bandas are Ksh 900 for single occupation, Ksh 1240 for double occupation and Ksh 1850 for triple. The corresponding charges in self-contained units are: Ksh 1450, Ksh 1950 and Ksh 2900. Every bed has a mosquito net. There is a campsite available and camping is charged at the rate of Ksh 360 per person per night. Tents can be hired for Ksh 250. Food options are, for obvious reasons, limited. If you are able to preserve and bring special food items with you, you will be charged a fee for their preparation by the cook. Talk to Mrs Roden, the proprietor, first. The centre provides a range of activities, although not all are possible at any one period of the year. Both the Nasalot/Turkwell and South Turkana game reserves are within striking distance; the first by car and the latter only on foot. Besides the educational, there are pastimes such as hill-climbing, bird watching and panning for gold. There are many beautiful hills and mountains around Marich. Mt. Mtelo (3336m), in the Seker range to the North, is actually the 5th highest mountain in Kenya. It offers magnificent views from its top. Mt. Koh to the South has a fine distinct peak that no climber could resist. Each climbing safari has to be tailored to the needs and abilities of the climbers, but a guide will cost about Ksh 500 per day. The locals say that they can get gold worth as much as Ksh 400 in a day; additionaly, there is always the possibility of finding diamonds and other gem stones in the river sediments. A bird watching guide can be hired for Ksh 200 per person. |
| Mt. Koh Which means "hump of cow" |
| The late Mr. Paul Roden (founder of the Marich Field Centre) taking a meal with visitors from Kerio View |
| The round-cottage accommodation |
| The Moruny River A source of gold and gemstones |