Located on top of a hill, with a backdrop of the picturesque Lake Turkana, also known as the “Jade Sea”,the Desert Museum, Loiyangalani was opened in June 2008.The museum is dedicated to educating tourists about the unique cultures of the indigenous tribes of the Turkana region.Loiyangalani is a small town located on the southeastern coast of the lake. The name Loiyangalani, means “a place of many trees” in the native Samburu Language and is also home to the El Molos, an almost extinct community.
THE DESERT MUSEUMTHE SOUTHERN TIP OF LAKE TURKANA
The town was formed from a freshwater spring and can be termed as an Oasis in the desert. It is fast becoming a tourist attraction due to the unique desert environment coupled with the rich cultural lifestyle of the peoples of Lake Turkana. Some of the amenities in the town include:
Airstrip
Post Office
Fishing Station
Campsites
Lodges
The communities living in this area include the; El Molo, Turkana, Pokot, Rendile, Samburu, Gabbra, Watta and Dassanach.Activities and attractions:
Desert Museum
Rock Art
El Molo Village Tours
El Molo Shrines
Lake Turkana
Beach
Local Market
ROCK ART
The National Museums of Kenya in realizing the unique cultures in this region and following its mandate to preserve and promote Kenya’s rich cultural and natural heritage, presents you with rich heritage of the eight communities living around Lake Turkana. The museum serves as more than just a place to educate visitors on the area’s rich history and culture. For the local people it serves as a meeting place where elders come together to settle disputes between their communities.
Last week was about different sites in Nairobi but I discovered that there are other museums in Kenya. Lets explore different museums within our country such as the Hyrax Hills museum. Hyrax hill is a small rocky lava ridge situated on the edges of Nakuru Town off the Nakuru Nairobi highway in the great rift valley of Kenya. The area measures about 500m in length and rises to about 50m above sea level. Hyrax Hill Museum depicts the lifestyle of seasonal settlement by prehistoric people at least 3,000 years old. The Museum is a former farmhouse ceded to the monument in 1965, by the Late Mr. A. Selfe. A small museum was opened here where artifacts from the Hyrax Hill site and other sites in the Central Rift Valley.
THE HYRAX HILL MUSEUM
Numerous sites around the hill belong to different time periods with the earliest finds dating back to the Neolithic period. There is evidence in the form beach sands that a fresh water Lake once extended right to the base of the hill; turning the hill into a peninsular or even an island. The mighty prehistoric lake is believed to have covered the valley from Nakuru to Lake Elementaita about 8,500 years ago. Traces of it have been found at Hyrax Hill, the Wakumi Burial Site, Gambles cave and amongst other places.The hill was given its name during the early part of the 20th century, reflecting the abundance of hyraxes in the rocky fissures of the hill.
As a region of archaeological interest, the East African Archaeological Expedition of 1926, led by L.S.B. Leakey, first noted Hyrax Hill. In 1937, Mary Leakey undertook some archaeological surveys on the hill. Since then, research has been intermittent with major undertakings in 1965 by Ron Clarke.
A PRE-HISTORIC SITEEXCAVATION SITE AT HYRAX HILL
The northeast village has some enclosures where the digging was carried out although only one is not overgrown. It dates back about 400 years and the finds have been pieced together and are exhibited in the museum. There is no evidence of human dwelling suggesting this may have been used for livestock.
The gallery at the museum displays ethnographic materials of the different Rift Valley peoples; Neolithic cultures in the area are represented by excavated materials from the Hyrax Hill site, and include various types of obsidian tools and a stone platter recovered from a burial site. Artefacts from the Hyrax Hill and other sites in the central Rift Valley are displayed.
This information indicates that the people who occupied the site as a settlement area were pastoralists, hunters and gatherers who can be traced to the modern Maasai and Kalenjin ethnic groups normally described by historians as Sirikwa people.Archaeological materials like grinding stones, skeletons, skulls, iron bungles, pottery, among others have been used to draw archaeological decisions.The hill occupants probably settled here as an ideal site to watch over advancing enemies and a strategic grazing, hunting ground and water source at the Lake Nakuru.The Hyrax pre-historic site comprises of a natural environment of indigenous trees, grass, rocks, shrub and herbs. The habitat attracts a variety of bird species and other wild life species like Hyena, Snake, Hyrax, and Tortoise. Visitors at the museum can be fascinated by a tortoise pit and nature trails up the hill.
The museum gallery contains cast fossil collections art artifact collections. A magnificent view of the Lake Nakuru, Town and the Great Rift Valley is clear at the hill top.
The Kenya Government gazetted Hyrax hill as a National Monument in 1943, four years after the first archeological excavation on the hill. Since then Hyrax hill has been a renowned archaeological research area and a reference point for investigations of the prehistory of East Africa. Some sites have been excavated and left open for public viewing.
The Karen Blixen Museum was built by swedish engineer Ake Sjogren in 1912. The house was originally a farm house whose owner was Karen Blixen. Karen and her Swedish Husband, Baron Bror von Blixen Fincke bought the Museum house in 1917 and it become the farm house for their 4500 acre farm, of which 600 acres was used for coffee farming. Their marriage failed after eight years and in 1921 the Baron moved on and left the running of the farm to Karen.
Karen Blixen lived in the farm house till 1931 when she also left and went back to her native homeland Denmark.The farm house was bought by Remy Marin, who broke the land into 20 acre parcels for development. Subsequent development created the present suburb of Karen. Records indicate that a Lt. Col.G. Lloyd, an officer of the British Army bought the house in 1935 and lived there until his death in 1954, when it passed to his daughters, Mrs. G. Robersts and Lavender Llyod. A transfer of title to Mrs. J.P Robson and Mrs L.B. Hyde is in City Hall records in 1956. The house was sporadically occupied until purchased in 1964 by the Danish government and given to the Kenyan government as an independence gift.
KAREN BLIXEN MUSEUM
The government set up a college of nutrition and the Museum was initially used as the principal’s house. In 1985 the shooting of a movie based on Karen’s autobiography began and the National Museums of Kenya expressed acquired the house for the purpose of establishing a Museum. The Museum was opened in 1986.The movie Out Africa was filmed in Kenya and is based on the life of Karen Blixen, the movie Out of Africa won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, and Best Cinematography.
KAREN BLIXEN
Today, visitors can tour the well-preserved colonial farmhouse, a kitchen in a separate building, a coffee-drying plant in the woodland, and an agricultural college on the grounds. Furniture that belonged to Karen Blixen and her husband is on display, as well as photographs.
This photo of Karen Blixen Museum is courtesy of TripAdvisor
The Kenya National Archives is located along Moi avenue with the Hilton hotel the right across. It was initially a bank, First the Bank of India then Kenya Commercial Bank. The National Archives spotlights Kenyan tribal culture as well as the country’s art, history, and politics. The main floor gallery displays historical documents and a collection of photographs. Paintings and artifacts from the collection of Joseph Murumbi, one of Africa’s most famous collectors, dominate the exhibits. The second floor houses more art, a display of postage stamps, and the National Archives reading room, which is used for personal and professional projects.
It highlights key figures in Kenya’s struggle for independence, and various events and personalities who played a role in shaping this country. The late Murumbi’s large collection of rare African books is also available for review at the library in Kenya National Archives. There so much to learn, so the next time you pass by this building take some time and explore the unknown history of our country.
Kenya National Archives is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm on weekdays
Charges for entry are 3 US Dollars for non-resident adults and 100 Kenya shillings for Residents
HAPPY EXPLORING.
The city is usually full of activity and most people leave the city to get away and explore, however within the city there are unexplored gems which I will share such as the railway museum in Nairobi and the only one in East and Central africa.This museum is run by the Kenya Railway Corporation and opened its doors in 1971 and holds great historic significance.
The Railway Museum in Nairobi celebrates the rich history of the railroad in Kenya and its impact on the nation’s development. Among the museum’s fascinating collections are train and ship models, photographs from the original construction of the Uganda Railway, railway magazines, maps and drawings, and a silver service set used on overnight trains to Mombasa.Have you ever wondered how Nairobi came into existence? Why was it established at its present location? How did it look like then and at various stages in its history? The best place to get answers to these questions is the Nairobi Railway Museum.
The story of the construction of the railway linking the East African coastal town of Mombasa to the town of Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria at the beginning of the 20th century has been told in books and film. The rich history contained in the museum gives as insight on how the railway came about and gave rise to Nairobi as Sir Charles Eliot, a senior British Official at the time, described this surprising outcome with the words It is not uncommon for a country to create a railway, but it is uncommon for a railway to create a country.
Even Queen Elizabeth, who travelled on the Royal train in 1959, remarked how pleasant the journey was and rated it “the most beautiful in the world.” Her journey is depicted on an image at the railways museum where she sits by the window looking out her coach.
The queen mother meets railway staff in 1959.
So next time you want to explore the gem is within the city and located along Uhuru highway.
The British government lifted the the travel advisory against Kenya and things seem to be looking up for Kenya.
Barely a week after the UK lifted the non-essential travel ban, the country’s tourism facilities dominated the World Travel Award gala ceremony in Seychelles at the weekend, scooping nine awards in various categories.
Kenya Tourism Board led the pack by retaining the Africa’s leading tourism board for the fourth time in a row.
Maasai Mara
Maasai Mara Game Reserve was voted Africa’s leading National Park with Diani Beach clinching Africa’s leading beach destination.
Diani Beach
Twiga Tours was ranked Africa’s leading luxury safari destination as well as Africa’s responsible tourism company. Carlson Wagonlit topped as Kenya’s leading travel management company as well as Kenya’s leading travel company.
Naivaisha-based Enashipai won as Kenya’s leading spa while Nairobi’s Serena triumphed as Kenya’s leading business hotel. Serena was also crowned Kenya’s green hotel.
Courtesy of The Standard.
The queen mother meets railway staff in 1959.
navigatekenya 