The haunting truth about the impact of climate change on Oloiden Lake
I’m no scientist but the lake water level rise is worrisome
Oloiden Lake is beautiful.
Till you get closer. Then, it gets eerie.
Numerous leafless, skeleton ‘Yellow Fever’ acacia trees tower hauntingly above the now merged Oloiden Lake and Lake Naivasha. The water is a bluish green, smelly and besides the sounds of hippos grunting, a ghostly silence prevails in the surrounding.
Flooding and displacement of people, businesses and natural habitat
The water level has risen so high that it has literally submerged numerous hotels, campsites, holiday home properties around the area.
One of the sites that has been spared is a tower-like 8-roomed cottage called Dodo Tower at Hippo Point. The building precariously stands a meter or two away from the edge of the lake. I bet that in 5 to 10 years time, this tower too, may be submerged in the lake.
Other hotels haven’t been spared either, the colonial style house I recently visited could not use their massage room that’s on the shores of the lake.
Apparently, the water moved half a kilometer in, creeping forward and enveloping the massage room. Even though the water level has since retreated a little, and the room appears intact, no one dares use the room again. Unstable, rotten wooden floorboards and the feisty hippos laying bait🦛 underneath, are good enough reasons to stay away. Now, the massage room stands idle. A charming but unusable piece of architecture.
According to a Quartz Africa article the rise in water levels could be attributed to human degradation activities around catchment areas and land surrounding the lakes.
For instance, forests are being converted into agricultural land, there is increasing urbanization and people are encroaching onto riparian and wetland zones.
Overfishing
Another troubling issue is that, though there is a general awareness amongst the locals that humans are causing the climate change phenomenon, fishermen are still overfishing at the lakeside. Permanently bobbing up and down along the entire shore line are plastic styrofoam floaters holding vertical nets; evidence that fish are being trapped — day in and day out.
Water-boats carry tourists are known to pass over these fish lines and the strings get caught and twist in the engine propellers. At times the waterboat may even cut the fish lines, or worse, jam the boats engine.
Oblivious to the boat owners plights, the fishermen on noticing cut nets, are always quick to restring the nets so as to continue with their unsustainable fishing habits.
Dwindling numbers of flamingos
A guide told me that once upon a time, there were so many flamingoes on the Oloiden Lake. Sadly, now, not any more.
There are various theories that have been floated about the low flamingo population, none of which are conclusive. My hunch is that if we are not careful, the pink flamingoes that we take pride in as being a part of this ecosystem may go extinct.
A must see destination
All in all, this location has the best of 4 worlds.
The Longonot hills close by, for the avid hiker.
A lovely volcanic crater lake with dramatic views welcomes you when you climb to the top of the hills within the Mundui conservancy. As you climb, collect a few obsidian stones which make for perfect souvenirs. Or enjoy the lake views where one can catch a water boat and circumvent most of the lakes shore in one lazy hour.
Or perhaps consider a leisurely daytime or nighttime game drive to see a plethora of wildlife: buffaloes, giraffes, warthogs, monkeys, antelopes, hippos, hyenas, leopards, wildebeest and hundreds of bird species e.g. flamingos, egrets and stork marabou that live in this rich, savannah scrublands-meets-lake ecosystem. While you are at it, in the evening, catch a sundowner drink as you watch a glorious sunset unfold before your eyes.
This picturesque lake ecosystem is slowly fading. If the community and the general public don’t do more to preserve the environment, these natural treasures may no longer be enjoyed by future generations.