Elmenteita Badlands

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The Elementeita Badlands , also known as Otutu Forest or Ututu Forest , is a lava flow in Kenya that covers about 9,000 acres (36 km ²). This area was previously covered with thick dry forest land marked by cedars, ( Juniperus spp.), And Leleshwa bush ( Tarchonanthus camphoratus ). In addition, Wild Jasmine and Boophone were also found.

The land belonged to Njenga Karume, who bought it from Arthur Cole in 1980. Cole bought it from Digby Tatham-Warter (famous for his role in the Battle of Arnhem) in 1968, as a low-potential shepherding land. The land is not suitable for small-scale cultivation or livestock because it is enclosed by thick bushes that grow from lava rock.

Video Elmenteita Badlands

Geography

The soil is punctuated by a pyritical cone of Holocene age. The highest peak has a height of 2126 meters. Located between Lake Elmenteita and Ol Doinyo Eburru volcano, on the southern border of Soysambu Conservancy. Some prominent peaks include "Horseshoe Crater" and "Scout Hat Hill". There are several caves of lava tubes that show evidence of prehistoric occupation as grinding plates and stone bowls have been found by local residents in unfinished excavations. These caves have been occupied by several refugees from post-election violence in 2008 in Kenya.

Maps Elmenteita Badlands

People at Badlands Elmenteita

The area was heavily relegated from the 1980s onwards, being a hideout for disgruntled and deprived people forced to burn charcoal, hunting, and brewing changaa. A trading center has been built in the northeast corner known as "Soko Mjinga" (Fool's Market) which is a place to trade in these items.

The living conditions in the Otutu forest have caused the outbreak of leishmaniasis or boiling Aleppo spreading by the expanse of sand and rock, which are numerous in number there. The only source of water is from several small steam ducts beside the old railway line along the eastern boundary of the forest (currently road), which stretches between Elmenteita and Gilgil before being reorganized in 1945. Eburru Station (now dead) is at the edge of Otutu and is famous for steam condensers made of oil drums and corrugated iron sheets that residents built for their water sources.

A luxury tourist cottage, called Mawe Mbili Lodge, is currently being built on the western border of the forest, on the slopes of "Scout Hat Hill", so called because of its shape resembling Baden Powell's hat. It is projected to open in March 2009. Water supply comes from rainwater captured from plastic sheeting and from deep and alkaline drill holes that provide water at more than 50 degrees Celsius and a pH of nearly 8.