Cultural Centers in Bomet
Kipsigis Oasis Sanctuary and Culture
At Chebunyo village, in southern Bomet along Bomet-Narok border, is a cultural center deserving a visit by all and sundry. It is not only in beautiful surrounding at the wildlife rich savanna plains contiguous with the Mara, but it is a cultural center per excellence. On account of its proximity to Masai Mara, the community around the Kipsigis Oasis Sanctuary and Culture took it upon themselves to conserve this corridor area, where wildlife has been freely roaming from time immemorial.
Like many cultures in Kenya living near wildlife reserves, the Kipsigis have a deep connection to both the fauna and flora. And while the culture and lifestyle has undergone changes over time, with the lucid flow of modernization, there is a tangible effort to preserve life as it had existed for centuries. At the Kipsigis Oasis Sanctuary and Culture, you can truly appreciate the unwavering dedication to conserve and celebrate traditional practices and customs amidst these changes.
Since their arrival in the region, the Kipsigis have been rather content with their homeland – of today’s Bomet and Kericho counties. Like their kin, the Suk in West Pokot, the Kipsigis people do not travel much, and are by nature self-centered and satisfied with their mode of life. Rather charmingly, they are very amiable, and their attitude to visitors is cordial. In any case, the Kipsigis are the southernmost of the Kalenjin community, sharing tribal boundaries with several divergent tribes.
As we now know, the Kipsigis community are a sub-group of the Kalenjin people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Kenya. Their native lingua is Kipsigis, a heavily tonal language, although English and Swahili are also widely spoken especially in urban areas. Historically, the Kipsigis people practiced traditional African religions that revolved around the worship of a supreme being, simply known as Asis. They also revered ancestors and natural phenomena like mountains, rivers and forests
Despite the omens of the northern region being hilly and rugged, the blessings are its elevation and fertile lands. So that the northerners have always been primarily agrarian. The hilly terrain levels southerly, and as you reach the southern limits of Bomet, bordering with Narok County, the countryside is more or less a grassland savanna. Livestock farming, particularly cattle, is significant here, where Kipsigis Oasis Sanctuary and Culture is found. And so is the prolific display of wildlife.
Among the highlights at Kipsigis Oasis Sanctuary and Culture is an intimate interation with the Kipsigis culture. Here, you get centuries old stories about their relation with the land, farming, herding and co-exiting with wildlife. You get to learn about their old deities and ancestors. Music and dance are integral parts of Kipsigis culture. You’ll get to listen and interact with their traditional instruments like drums, flutes, and unique stringed instruments like the lesos, a type of lyre.
From Narok town it is 88 km to Kipsigis Oasis Sanctuary and Culture. You drive out for 60 km from Narok town via B3 Kaplong-Narok-Bomet Road to the small transit town of Mulot. From the turnoff it is 28 km to the site. It is well advised to have 4×4 car for this section that’s an all-weather road. From Mulot it is a dusty, jerky ride, with a lot of bumping on the windows, which can last up to 2 hours, assuming it doesn’t rain. An effort well rewarded with a memorable experience.
That Kenya has a rich cultural diversity needs no introduction. It is an invaluable blessing to the nation. To foster an understanding of this heritage, there are cultural centers around Kenya that provide insights into the tapestry of cultures and traditions in their regions. These centers preserve and celebrate traditional practices and customs amidst the shift towards modernization and globalization.
Index of Cultural Centres in Kenya
Baringo County - Mogotio Equator Center, Bomet County - Kipsigis Oasis Sanctuary Culture, Kaplelach Cultural Centre, Busia County - Kakapel Cultural Centre, Garissa County - Garissa Cultural Centre, Isiolo County - Gotu Cultural Centre, Malka Cultural Centre, Kakamega County - The Nabongo Mumia Centre, Kericho County - Kipsigis Cultural Museum, Kiambu County - Gikuyu Cultural Museum, Kirinyaga County - Thingira Cultural Centre, Lamu County - Swahili House Centre, Mosque College Lamu, House of Habib Swaleh, Machakos County - The Syokimau Cultural Centre, Makueni County - Makueni Cultural Center, Meru County - Murithi Mpuri Cultural Centre, Thiiri Centre, Mombasa County - Swahili Cultural Centre, Little Theatre Club, Bombolulu Cultural Centre, Ngomongo Villages, Muranga County - Mukurwe Wa Nyagathanga, Nairobi County - Bomas of Kenya, Kenya Cultural Centre, The Goethe Institut, Alliance Française, Nakuru County - Bomas of Nakuru, Nandi County - Cheruiyot Ecosystem, Nyamira County - Otenyo Cultural Centre, Samburu County - Umoja Women Village, Tana River County - Tana Delta Cultural Center, Tharaka Nithi County - Ura Gate Meru
Touring Bomet County offers a chance to explore the lush landscapes, cultural heritage, and natural attractions of Kenya’s Rift Valley region. Whether you’re interested in nature, culture, or adventure, Bomet offers a diverse range of attractions and activities to explore. It is also a jumping-off place to Masai Mara.
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Explore Destinations Near Kipsigis Oasis Sanctuary
A Guide to Bomet County
A Summa Digest of Bomet
About Bomet Way Back When
20 Destinations in Bomet County, arranged as one would visit these - east, north, south then west - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Kipsigis Oasis Sanctuary and Culture, Chepalungu Forest, Nogirwet Irrigation Scheme, Chebara Irrigation Scheme, Kaplelach Cultural Centre, Masese Nyangores Ecotourism, Nyangores River, Masai Mara National Reserve, Fair Hills Hotel, Sahara Gardens Hotel, The Willis Hotel, Tenwek Falls, Motigo Hill, Kipsegon Ecosystem, Tirgaga Tea Factory, Trans Mara Forest, South Western Mau Forest, Iria Maina Falls, Changoi Tea Factory
Know More About Bomet County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Rainfall is evenly distributed in Bomet, except for the short dryer season in January and February. Temperature levels range from 16oC to 24oC with the coldest months between February and April; and July.
Bomet has an undulating topography that gives way to a flatter terrain in the south. The overall slope is towards the south, except the north eastern region – which rises eastwards towards the 3,000 ms Mau Mountain Complex.