Marsabit District
The Marsabit district is located in the very north of Kenya, bordering with Ethiopia. To the east, the district border goes half way through the lake Turkana. Besides being the name of the district, it is also the name of Marsabit town and the 1707 m high 6300 km² basaltic shield volcano, located 170km east of the center of the East African Rift at 37°58' E, 2°19' N (37.97°E, 2.32 N).
Culture and Religion
The people of Marsabit are a colorful ethnic mix of Rendille, Samburu, Turkana, Boran and Gabra. There are other people from other parts of Kenya who are there working mostly for the government and business. About 40% of the people living in Marsabit are Christians, 32% Muslims and other 28% believe in traditional religions and others.
How to get there
Marsabit is approximately 550km or two days' drive from Nairobi via the towns of Isiolo and Archer's Post, either by matatu bus or private transport. There is an airstrip servicing charter aircraft.
Economy
Marsabit town is a trade and commercial center, boasting three petrol stations, a bank, post office, shops, restaurants, lodges and even a dry cleaner. The town facilitates the supply and movement of goods and services between Moyale (goods from Ethiopia) and Isiolo (goods from Nairobi). Agriculture also plays a role, as many grow millet and maize to be consumed locally and nomadic people supply beef by selling their cows.
Marsabit Town
The town of Marsabit is the last bit of civilization in the vast desert of northern Kenya. The town is situated on an isolated million year old extinct volcano which rises almost a kilometer above the sea of desert and is surrounded by the 2,090 km² Marsabit National Park and Reserve. The hills here are heavily forested unlike the desert beyond. From the summit the views are fantastic - the whole area is dotted with extinct volcanoes and craters, or gofs, which have bubbled up and left these monuments to themselves. In short, Marsabit is a small town surrounded by thick verdant forests, watered each morning by cool mists.
Attractions
Please take a look at the description on the Marsabit National Reserve linked below for details on this unique oasis in the else so extinct land.
