The amazing, un-known sand dunes

of Rongai

By Eric Sindabi

Rongai is a legendary area of the vast Nakuru region having evolved as a key Kenya ’s colonial white highlands settlement area. It has been recommended as a cheap access point for tourism within Nakuru that provides ample camping, nature trails, adventure and cultural facilities.

The untold story of the towering sand dunes in the region however is a disturbing phenomenon to those who have ever experienced these wonderful geological formations in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya .

A drive from Nakuru town to Rongai centre off the main Nakuru/Eldoret highway leads to moricho village where the amazing sand dunes of are natured, along the Molo river basin. Here one comes face-to-face with the wonders of Mother Nature that make memories live forever.

Known locally as “Matweku” a Kikuyu ethnic word for a forest or bushy area, these mighty land forms are a site to behold and would confuse one with the renowned Egyptian Piramits,but alas! This is Kenya ! To an architect, the sand dunes can be a great inspiration. Yet to a nature lover, the sandy hills fused in savannah vegetation are a source of endless memories. To the natives it is the beginning and end of life, as they treat the site with sacred thoughts, and greatly value its socio-economic attributes.

Geologically, sand dunes are external geographical landforms that are as a result of weathering, mass wasting or wind erosion. Always the detailed configuration of peaks, slopes, valleys and plains is as a result of external land formations in a process referred to as denudation. Sand dunes are also a result of an accumulation of wind eroded sand. The direction of wind and sand supply determine the shape and size of dunes.

“Sand dunes are very complex geological features that occur every where in the world” says a source on the internet. Nevertheless through out history, towering formations-the awesome sand dunes against golden horizons, blue skies or full moons have always been favorites for nature lovers, explorers, naturalists, photographers and film makers.

The seemingly lonely dune land of Rongai is however far from the well known attractive sites of Kenya but ideally very meaningful to the local communities, who dearly value the 5km square mass of weathered land. The sand hills are ideal grazing, hunting, fruit and firewood gathering destiny. On the other hand the jungles have been historically and to date viewed with sacred thought. Our sources said that circumcision and cleansing rituals are performed from this site by the local native Kipsigis community.

A village opinion elder Mr.Francis Maina says that the poor state of roads in Rongai has greatly contributed to the little that is known of this potential key tourist destination site. As a result, says the opinion elder, possible economic manipulations that can be derived from the site by the locals are hindered. Mr. Maina is of opinion that the government should gazette “Matweku” as a protected area to prevent over exploration by locals and eventually conserve the site as a national heritage and tourist attraction site.

The opinion elder observes that locals can benefit by offering tour guide, camping and accommodation, cultural education and artifacts services to tourists. “If the government considers constructing roads in this remote area of Rongai, can open gates to tourism venturing that can benefit both the local community and the government” He says

According to the opinion leader, a few of the tourists who visit the site are foreigners who get connected by locals who live and work in urban areas while others are local tourists within and out Rift valley. “People out there are yet to know more of the wonders of Kenya ” He notes.

As we trail through the endless sand hills jungle, young boys and girls grazing sheep, goat and cattle accompanied with dogs keep as company and eagerly answer some of our questions while willingly posing for photographs. As the jingles tied around their livestock necks sing, they sing along traditional songs, harvest wild fruits from shrubs and trees, tease each other, play hide and seek as they climb up and down the sandy hills.

To the youngsters “Matweku”is just a normal site in the village where their every day’s livelihood is centered. It is part of them and they part of it. However to a visitor, it is a site to behold- the wonders of Mother Nature that can make one pose for some minutes to give thanks to the creator, for nature is so good.