The amazing Thomson falls

By Eric Sindabi

IN 1880, Joseph Thomson, a romantic adventurer from Scotland was on an exploratory journey across East Africa.It was at the Nyahururu wonder falls site, he was later to name after himself that fascinated him so much.

A visit to Nyahururu town on your way to the interior of the Mt.Kenya region off the edges of the Great Rift Valley ,one of the is the world’s most famous waterfalls.

The waterfall site rises about 7800feet above sea level and is among the largest in the world.

Adjacent the picturesque waterfalls vicinity is the Thomson falls Lodge where majority of visitors here come to experience the wonders of Thomson falls.

Never the less the Thomson falls mysteries, attracts apart from foreign visitors, also thousands of local tourists and nature lovers annually.

The area around the falls lies at the basement of the renown Aberdare ranges that forms one of the pillars of the Great Rift Valley, other than the Mau Ranges in the west of Nakuru.

The Falls are located southeast of Nyahururu town overlooking the Ole-Ngare Naro River .

The breath taking vaporized waters of the falls enclosed in a riparian vegetation on the slopes of the ranges is a wonder to watch, and a great source of memories.

Stip man made meandering stare cases down to the floor of the jungle where the falls get in full view can fascinate a visitor.

Friendly Baboons that grace the jungle can be a great company to an adventurer.

The fancy Maasai Traditional models and the curious curio sellers who keep vigil at the banks of the falls can also be a good company and a source of information.

According to them, the area receives many classes of visitors ranging from local school children, environmental and history students, local tourists and artistes. Tourists include visitors and residents at the Thomson falls Lodge.

A few years after his first encounter with the mystic falls, Joseph Thomson got sponsorship to come back to East Africa to cover Adventure and Geographical series for the Royal Geographic Society.

It was here, according to historical texts, that the adventurer and his crew put camp.

The source goes ahead to indicate that the white adventurers at some point were forced to apply extra moral and empathic tricks to be- friend the local hostile Samburu tribesmen. Thomson could for example hint that his Cameras were supernatural and that could cause damage to an intruder’s sexual and mental organs.

Never the less Thomson and his crew had successfully accomplished their mission and were ready to continue with the rest of the journey in East Africa .

The adventurer apart from naming the site after his name,

Gave the local ranges the name Aberdare, after the president of the Royal Geographic Society. He also named a popular Gazelle in the region-Thomson Gazelle.

Blazing log fires lit in rooms and lounge of the lodge at night is a memory to behold.

Camping and excursion services are available here and are organized by the resident Thomson falls Lodge staff or other tour Companies. An expert Safari cook over woodfires prepares meals.

To lovers of nature and adventure, those who crave for an un- predictable wilderness, Thomson falls can provide an answer. As one mingles in and wonders in the shady jungle, gazing at the mighty waters and watching over the tricky primates, one indeed gives thanks to the creator for nature is too good to let one go!