Harr Girrissa

Unusual Attractions in Isiolo

Harr Girrissa: An Invaluable Lifeline

Harr Girrissa, midway between Camp Simpirre in the north and Kobi Turkana in the south, is the site of an impressive wadi. In this unending semi-arid block, where life is endless search for water, Harr Girrissa is an invaluable resource. The term Girrissa, or water station, is a commonly used by the pastoralists, both in Kenya and Ethiopia, to refer to these remarkable and life saving oasis, or wadis. Historically, wadis or girrissas, have been important for human settlement in this jerkwater region of Kenya. It lends credence to the perseverance of the locals.

Harr Girrissa is ideal for herding, and for many generations now, the communities living around it have adapted their lifestyle around this invaluable resource. One of the salient features at Harr Girrissa are the dry riverbeds that flow periodically after the rains. At most times of the year, these remains dry, covered with sand and gravel. Further back are an impressive series of hillocks. For the travellers who have driven past or stopped at this rare girrissa, its physiography and scenery is impressive and beautiful for its sheer scale, exuberance, magnitude, and aspect.


Around Kenya are a selection of natural landmarks, cultural shrines, architectural oddities, and technological installations that offer incredible, almost surreal experiences that can make you feel as if you’ve stepped into another world. Hauntingly beautiful to some, eerie sights for others, and still, for others, down right strange, these site provide unique experiences for adventurous travelers.


Isiolo County, with its strategic location, rich cultural heritage, and potential for development, is a unique region in Kenya. It features a mix of semi-arid and arid landscapes, with some areas of savannah and bushland, and home to several wildlife reserves and conservancies, including the Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Shaba National Reserve and the famed Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

You Are Here: Harr Girrissa

Where to Next?

Explore Destination Nearby Harr Girrissa


Isiolo is almost always hot and dry at most months of year, with a mean of 30oC, and two rainy seasons. The rainfall received is historically erratic, scarce and unreliable.

Know More About Isiolo County…