Little-known Destinations in Isiolo
The Unknown and Untravelled Kora Wells
River Tana, Kenya’s longest, flows in Isiolo County from west to east, a few miles south of the southern boundary. It forms the natural boundary separating Isiolo County and Kora National Park, in Tana River County, to its immediate south. The eastern half of the Tana river’s drainage in this area lies in Garissa County, and the western half in Isiolo County, with the boundary coinciding at the Kora Wells.
The nearest line of communication to Kora Wells is the recently built C81 Road linking Garba Tula with Garissa, crossing the area diagonally about 40 km west of the site. Much of this circuit follows the main Tana watershed. There is a branch road to Kora Wells, linking with Skot on the west enroute Garba Tula, Kinna, and Balambala tn the east. Even so, Kora Wells are little-known and barely travelled.
Many of the earlier explorers working along the Tana river must have passed close to the area, but there are only two who actually entered it. One of these was J. Parkinson, who entered the area during his extensive pre-war travels in the then Northern Eastern Province, and mentioned the elusive Kora Wells in his detailed description of the calcareous deposits and unique formations found in the area.
Historically, over eons, many of the rivers in Kenya may have been naturally changed course. The drainage throughout the Kora Wells region, which today only of seasonal type, suggest this. Almost all the larger sand rivers on-site carry permanent sub-surface water, which is trapped in the series of unmarked wells up to 20 ft deep. There are occasional springs where rocks near the surface force up the water tables, and also where stream gradients cut them near Tana Valley.
A few small seasonal pockets of water in the narrow sand channels draining the north-eastern corner of the area are tapped by wells for short periods after rain. The larger valleys are all floored by alluvial flats, into which the seasonal floods have cut channels to depth of 6 ft, though this may vary between about 2 to 15 ft. In some of the larger channels the alluvium is banked against steep rock faces.
Kenya is blessed with several rivers, each playing a vital role in the country’s ecosystem, economy, and culture. The longest of these is the Tana, stretching approximately 1,000 kilometers from its source in the Aberdare Mountains to the Indian Ocean. Long, wide, short, seasonal, the rivers that crisscross Kenya each contributes to the natural beauty, biodiversity, and socio-economic success.
Index of The Longest Rivers in Kenya
River Tana - approx. 1,000 km: rising in Mount Kenya and Aberdare Ranges and draining into Indian Ocean; Ewaso Nyiro - approx. 700 km: rising in Mount Kenya and draining into the Lorian Swamp; Daua River - approx. 450 km; rising in the Sidamo Highland (through Ethiopia and Kenya) and draining into the Somali Sea; The Mara River - approx. 395 km, formed in Bomet County, after the Nyangores and Amala River merge, it drains into Lake Victoria, and is thus a tributary to the Nile River; Athi-Galana-Sabaki - approx. 390 km; rising in the Aberdare Ranges and draining into Indian Ocean; Mara River - approx. 380 km; rising in the Mau Escarpment and draining into Lake Victoria; Kerio River - approx. 350 km; rising in the Tugen Hills and draining into Lake Turkana; Turkwel River - approx. 340 km; rising in Mount Elgon and draining into Lake Turkana; River Nzoia - approx. 257 km: rising in the Cherangani Hills and draining into Lake Victoria; Southern Ewaso Nyiro - approx. 220 km; rising in the Mau Escarpment and drains into Lake Natron; River Yala - approx. 219 km; rising in the Nandi Escarpment and draining into Lake Victoria; Gucha River - approx. 190 kms: rising in the Kiabonyoru Hills in Nyamira County and draining into Lake Victoria; River Nyando - approx. 153 km: rising in the Mau Escarpment and draining into Lake Victoria
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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.
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Explore Destination Nearby Kora Wells
A Guide to Isiolo County
A Summa Digest of Isiolo
About Isiolo Way Back When
42 Destinations in Isiolo County, arranged as one would visit these - south, north, east then north - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Isiolo Town, St. Eusebius Cathedral, Isiolo Jamia Mosque, Isiolo Memorial, Kisimani Eco Resort, Isiolo Falls, Kaita and Degushi Hills, Nyambeni Range, Magado Crater, Cave Dwellings, Harr Girrissa, Mlima Tatu, Kubi Turkana, Garba Tula, Gotu Falls, Gotu Cultural Centre, Biliqo Bulesa Conservancy, Merti Plateau, Merti Catholic Church, Ewaso Nyiro River, Lorian Swamp, Malka Cultural Centre, Bisanadi National Reserve, Kora Wells, Leparua Conservancy, Ol Lentille Conservancy, The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille, Oldonyiro Conservancy, Nantudu Spire Rock, Nasuulu Conservancy, Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Buffalo Springs, Samburu National Reserve, Samburu Simba Lodge, Shaba National Reserve, Sarova Shaba Lodge, Joy’s Camp, Nakuprat Gotu Conservancy, Boji Dera Camp, Sera Conservancy, Isiolo Cultural Festival, Camping in the Great North
Know More About Isiolo County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - with the aid of strip maps, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
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. That is to also say, arid and semi-arid climate – of hot temperatures and low, bimodal rainfall.
Isiolo can be split into three ecological zones, semi-arid, arid and very near desert arid. The smallest, useful, semi-arid zone covers only 5% the county, around Kinna region.