Narok County

Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads, Airports, Climate & National Monuments in Narok County

Geography of Narok County

To the northeast, Narok County is bound by the densely forested Mau Highland that also extends to parts of Trans Mara. For the most other parts, the County is swept by the open grasslands of Loita Plains and the Masai Mara Ecosystem. Its flat eastern frontier, which is roughly demarcated by the Mau Highland and the Nguruman Escarpment, falls within the Rift Valley, sloping southbound from about 6,000 feet to 2000 feet at Lake Natron. Narok County is the 11th largest County of Kenya, covering an area of 17,933 km2 that represents 3.1% of Kenya.

Land Use in Narok County

The arable land where most the agricultural activity take place is approximately 8,495 km2. The farmlands are mainly around Mau Highland in Narok North, Nairege Enkare in Narok East, Emurrua Dikirr Sub-county and Narok South. Acreage under subsistence farmland covers about 2,528 km2 whilst that of cash crop farming occupies an area of about 6,933 km2. Narok experiences a poverty index of 41% and almost 344,000 people are living in poverty (GoK 2013). It reflects the state of illiteracy, low per capita income, unemployment, gender-based role issues and environmental development. Such factors determine the communities’ perception of environmental utility and risks. Poverty is therefore the greatest threat to its environment as the Maa Tribe depend on pastrolalism.

Highlights in Narok County

Narok County relies heavily on tourism, with the much-acclaimed Masai Mara Game Reserve, featuring the Great Wildebeest Migration, being one of its major highlights. The wildlife in the Reserve tends to be concentrated on the western escarpment. With rising human encroachment activities in the Mara Reserve, the cases of human wildlife conflict have been on the rise and thus threatening sustainability of the reserve and the tourism sector at large. Its rich Maa culture is also a unique and rare attraction. Despite education, civilization and western cultural influences, the Maasai Tribe have sustained their traditional way of life.

View in Masai Mara National Reserve. Photo Courtesy of Kevin Arnold — Masai Mara National Reserve. Image Courtesy of Kevin Arnold

Population in Narok County

The 2018 projected population in Narok County was 1,130,703 consisting of 570,963 males and 559,740 females. This is an increase from 850,920 persons from 2009. Population density in 2018 was 63 persons / km2, an increase from about 47 persons / km2 recorded at the 2009 annual census, translating to a growth rate of 4.7% vis-a-viz the 2.7% national rate. Narok County has reported high external migration from the neighboring counties, such as, Bomet, Kisii, Nyamira and Nairobi. The population is cosmopolitan with the Maasai and the Kalenjin being the dominant ethnic groups. Narok County is also home to some minority and marginalized communities including the Ogiek and Oromo ethnic groups. There are two main urban areas in Narok County: Kiligoris and Narok.

Airports in Narok County

Narok County has four operational air strips found within Masai Mara National Reserve – Serena, Keekorok, Olkiombo and Musiara. They play a crucial role in tourism by increasing mobility of trippers visiting the Maasai Mara Ecosystem.

Roads in Narok County

Narok County has an extensive road network of about 4,602 kms of which the National Government is mandated with 1,348 kms and the County Government oversees 3,254 kms. From the network, approximately 185 kms are tarmacked, 1,510 kms are graveled and 2,907 kms are earthen roads. The main challenge, during the rainy season, is that several of these roads are rendered impassable.

Climate in Narok County

The climate of Narok County is strongly influenced by the altitude and physical features. It has four main agro-climatic zones categorized into; the humid, sub-humid, semi-humid to arid and semi-arid zones. 2/3 of the County is classified as semi-arid. Temperatures range from about 28^o Celsius between January and March, to 20^o C between June to September, with an average of 24^o C. Rainfall is influenced by the passage of inter tropical convergence zones giving rise to bi-modal rainfall pattern. Long rains are experienced between February and June, while the short rain season is experienced between mid August and November.