Education & Research
Education and research is a very important function of Geoparks as they provide lifelong opportunities for education, research and monitoring of ongoing geological, ecological and cultural processes taking place spatial and temporally.
The BGRV Geopark has various sites that foster education and research. These areas include:
- L. Bogoria (also designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Sit)
- Lake Baringo- bird watching guided tours in several local and international languages with educational component.
- University and colleges students field training/ schools for local and international universities–mapping geology, ecology, archaeological/paleontological, research techniques, field craft techniques, hospitality, field attachment, high altitude athletics training, traditional beehive making at Radat, traditional fishing, raft making techniques and trade fairs/ shows.
- Simoot area- educational cultural festival, annual traditional boat festivals at Kokwa Island, New Year cultural competition, and annual Easter caravan on L. Bogoria organized for tourists.
- Tenges Sites/Quarry
- Cheploch gorge/Bridge
- Bartabwa Ngenyin Kabarsero/Kaborion/ Toicho Archaeological Cave, Rondinin fossil site and Frog Rock
- Paka
- L Baringo boat Tour- Ruko Conservancy and Kokwa Islands, Island Camp and other Islands + Hot springs- the site has diverse biodiversity whose conservation is reliant on extensive research.
- Lake Bogoria National Reserve Sites and its Education Centre- ritual sites, mythical stories on lake formation, salt lick sites, extraction of trona, collection of flamingo feathers for traditional ceremonies by the Endorois community, legends of Sogomo and Saragi family history (people talking at night), and the legend of the lost tribe. The reserve is also a bird migration zone with extraordinary hot springs and geysers, great flamingo population, Greater kudu and other wildlife.
- Kapropita Rock unit – it is an important historical site as it was an early missionary settlement area thus contains history of the early missionary.
- Saos/ Tolmo Quarries- this area was an ancient migratory route.
- Kormoson View Point/ Irong Archaeological Fortress- the area was an archaeological, hideout during wars, a ritual site and traditional party at the base of the ridge. It is also a habitat for rock hyrax, stingless bees in rocks and dispersal site for Greater Kudu.
Currently there is no scientific research carried out by the aUGGp, however a number of active research projects are ongoing by different groups, both local and international groups of researchers in various disciplines as indicated below:
- Museum visits
- Lake Bogoria
- Lake Baringo
- Simoot - Educational cultural festival
- University educational/ field schools – university of Potsdam, University of Nairobi, Egerton
- Baringo reptile park educational activities
- Regular visits by KWSTI students, to Baringo
- Visits to the Egerton University Chemeron Nature Park