Uncover the wonders of Matthews mountain range in Samburu County, Kenya. Encounter elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos in this protected wildlife conservancy.
Matthew’s Mountain Range: christened “a sky island,” is located in Samburu County in the northern frontier plains between the plains of Laikipia to the south and the desolate desert towards Lake Turkana. The range stretches over 150km from the south to the north axis. This is marked by the flat-topped Ololokwe in the south and the Ndotto Mountains in the north. Locally, it is referred to as Oldoinyo Lenkiyo.
Numerous river valleys, springs, and several peaks exist, with Warges being the highest at 2,688 metres above sea level, located at the southern end of the range, separated by a valley from the rest of the range. Oldoinyo Lenkiyo stands at 1,809 metres, Mathew’s Peak at 1,890 metres, Ilpisyon at 1,491 metres, Lolgek at 1,184 metres, Lomolok at 1,472 metres, Tipito at 1,861 metres, and Ilmara Muroi at 1,289 metres, all located in the middle of the range. There is also a breast-shaped hill locally known as Sweet Sixteen in the range. Others include Oldoinyo Sabache at 1,963 metres, Lekat at 1,625 metres, and Namanyaraboo at 1,216 metres.
Matthews Mountain Range is in the Namunyak Wildlife Conservancy, operated by the Samburu community to protect its natural forest and the resident wildlife, which includes elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos, among others. Aside from the local wildlife, the Matthews range, due to its remote location, is home to some endemic plant species in its natural forest and the magnificent rock pools that fill up with crystal clear water in the months following the rainy season.