In an effort to sensitize the world on picturesque gems out there in rural Nyanza Province in Kenya.... This gallery will feature pictures from the rural
areas of Nyanza Province. There are hidden corners, and undiscovered
places (best hidden secrets) that have toursim potential.... We will shoot
off with pictures from Nyang'oma Kogelo.... But you can also add pictures
from South Nyanza, Gem, Alego, Ugenya, Ugunja, Ndori Market, Bondo,
Papa Migwena, Awendo etc..... We can feature pictures of beauties like
Thimlich Ohinga, Kit Mikayi, Simbi Nyaima etc. Kindly keep Kisumu Town
out of this thread as it is well represented in its own thread.

ERO KAMANO

An "appetizer" from Google Earth
http://www.bygoogleearth.com/images/safari/obamatanzania1.jpg

From AprilRinne's Flickr Page
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/3131805008_7f1afa914d_b.jpg

From AprilRinne's Flickr Page

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From AprilRinne's Flickr Page

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/3130979331_05b80614ca_b.jpg

From AprilRinne's Flickr Page

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3141/3131805706_2898187e33_b.jpg

From AprilRinne's Flickr Page

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/3131809140_c501917c55_b.jpg

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/11/05/Kogelo_wideweb__470x340,0.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/3279165112_1e8ec3af5e_b.jpg

From Chris Murphy's Flickr Page

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/3267760333_5cb31fdf0f_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2991984133_b2e073c170_b.jpg:banana:

Believe it or not, the traditional tambourine from "Bottle tops" was originally called "Manyanga"
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3318/3278336395_d6186ed447_b.jpg

By Apropix Flickr Stream

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3288/2691528489_0a1976d9f9_b.jpg

The "GOOD OLD DAYS" before Whitehouse

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3081/3128117768_8d342f8aff_o.jpg

From Vreefick's Flickr stream
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3338/3278339769_6b645c6b9e_b.jpg

Believe it or not, the traditional tambourine from "Bottle tops" was originally called "Manyanga"


:lol::lol:

South Nyanza
http://www.nation.co.ke/image/view/-/549536/highRes/70561/-/maxw/600/-/blnp8i/-/PIX.jpg

Luo-land's own "LOST CITY OF ATLANTIS"

Simbi Nyaima means the village that sank. Simbi Nyaima is actually a crater lake a few kilometers from the shores of Lake Victoria. The Luo attach great importance to the site because of the legendary story. It is said that the people of Simbi were celebrating their success at the chief's home. An old woman appeared at the scene looking for shelter and food. But the chief threatened to beat her up if she stayed. She was forced to leave and one lady sympathized with her and gave her food and a warm bath. She advised the kind lady to leave the village with all her children and husband.

No sooner had they left than a heavy storm swept the whole village and it sank. The locals believe it happened in the olden days.

http://www.ramogitours.com/images/kit_mikayi.jpg



Kit Mikayi, a large rock with three rocks on top, and is located off Kisumu Bondo Road towards Bondo. Kit-mikayi means “Stones of the first wife” or “First Wife Rocks” in Dholuo, the Luo language. It is a weeping rock; it is believed that Mikayi (literally, "the first wife") went up the hill to the stones when her husband took a second wife, and has been weeping ever since.


A large rock formation on the Kisumu-Bondo road about 29 kilometers west of Kisumu — Kit-Mikayi — has become a popular local pilgrimage site for Legio Marians who come to the rock to pray and fast for several weeks at a time.

http://kogelovillagekenya.org/photos/DSC00883.jpg

Photo taken by the Daniell Family

The "Family Portrait"

http://kogelovillagekenya.org/photoskogelo/Portrait.jpg

http://www.enchanted-landscapes.com/images/t_ohinga.jpghttp://www.abasuba.museum/thimlich%20ohinga.jpg

http://photos.prm.ox.ac.uk/luo/photos/700/1998.349.220.2-O.jpg

http://www.museums.or.ke/content/blogcategory/6/38/

History of the Luo

http://photos.prm.ox.ac.uk/luo/page/exhibition-settlements/

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Kit-Mikayi.JPG/800px-Kit-Mikayi.JPG

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/Yoba.jpg

http://www.enchanted-landscapes.com/images/t_ohinga.jpghttp://www.abasuba.museum/thimlich%20ohinga.jpg

http://photos.prm.ox.ac.uk/luo/photos/700/1998.349.220.2-O.jpg

http://www.museums.or.ke/content/blogcategory/6/38/

Wow, Didn't know about this one. Thanx.

THIMLICH OHINGA

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Thimlich Ohinga Heritage Site
Thimlich Ohinga literally refers to a "frightening dense forest" in Dholuo language, a Nilotic group who occupy the region. The stone structure enclosure has walls ranging from 1.0 to 4.2 meters in height were built of loose stones and blocks without any dressing or mortar. Archaeological record of materials found within the site goes beyond 500 years ago. Since the present inhabitants of the area arrived probably some three centuries ago, it seems most likely that Bantus who initially occupied this region prior to the arrival of Luos first built the stone structures. Abundant rocks on the hilly areas provided them with building materials to meet their security requirements.

Subsequently communities that moved into this region in the period 15th to 19th centuries carried out repair work and modification on the structures. However, all these episodes of occupation and repair did not interfere with the architecture and preservation of the structures. During the first quarter of the twentieth century abandonment of Ohingnis started en mass. No more stone structures were constructed and consequently some stone structures were reduced to mere traces of circumferences or disappeared altogether. Thimlich Ohinga is one of the few stone structures that survived.

Records shows that the first written document on the site was done by Neville Chittick, former Director of
Thimlich Ohinga Site
the British Institute of History and Archaeology in East Africa in the sixties while National Museums of Kenya researchers began working at this site in 1980. By then the site was referred to as Liare Valley after the valley to the northeast of the hill. Continuing work led to the gazettement of the site as a National Monument in 1981 under its present name Thimlich Ohinga, since its previous name did not describe the exact location of the site. Thimlich strategic location forms a perfect stopover for those on their way to or from the nearby Ruma National Game Park, Gogo falls or the Macalder gold mines.


GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
Thimlich Ohinga a unique architectural stone structure situated in Nyanza province 181 km south of Kisumu in Migori district. The site lies on a gentle sloping hill some 46-km northwest of Migori town near Macalder's Mines. Its exact geographical location on map is at grid reference 019 474 on sheet number 129/4.


Another version
================

Thimlich Ohinga is 46 kilometres northwest of Migori town
Attractions
These striking stone wall enclosures nestled among the trees and shrubs of a gently sloping hill from a distance make the hill seem more like a forest, with Euphorbia candelabrum towering above all the other trees and shrubs. Skillfully constructed without mortar, the walls, which are 1.2 to 4.2 meters high and 1 to 3 meters thick, embrace a series of house pits and cattle enclosures.

Thimlich Ohinga is a rare early example of defensive savanna architecture that led to a tradition that remains unrivaled in East Africa. From here, one can see how the hill got its name: in the DhoLuo language spoken in Nyanza Province, 'Thimlich' means literally 'frightening dense forest'. As one moves closer to the hill, it seems less like a forest. Winding along a narrow car track, one comes to a small, traditional Luo homestead. Behind this compound, and on the rest of the hill, lie the enclosures whose architecture is not only captivating but is also unique. The homestead and its adjacent enclosures form the Thimlich Ohinga Prehistoric Site.

The site's name combines the description of the hill as seen from a distance of the hill ('Thimlich'), and the presence of stone enclosures (Ohinga-sing./Ohingni-pl.) on the hill. It is most likely that when researchers from the National Museums of Kenya began working at this site in 1980, the hill was much more forested than it is today.

In addition to its scenic location, the site is famous mainly for its stone wall enclosures which were built around 500 years ago. They are the results of the Late Iron Age (LIA) settlers in the Lake Victoria region. The first communities to settle here, mainly of Bantu origin, introduced this stone building tradition to meet their security requirements and also to exploit the environmental resources effectively: abundant rocks on the hilly areas were a ready resource to construct complex villages or cities. As a result, both early (Bantu) and later (Nilotic) settlers in the region constructed about 521 enclosures in 139 localities in the entire Lake Victoria region.

Thimlich is well placed in the south-western tourist circuit, and forms a perfect stop-over for those on their way to or from the nearby Ruma National Game Park, Gogo Falls, the Macalder gold mines, and even the distant but well-linked Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/fc/Yoba.jpg

My former high school.yeah:cheers:

My former high school.yeah:cheers:

I'll be damned, thats my former school too, class of '97

Thanks Papaf Mwenyewe for starting this thread.

I'll be damned, thats my former school too, class of '97

i'm class of 2002.it was a love hate relationship btwn me n yala.

i'm class of 2002.it was a love hate relationship btwn me n yala.

believe me, it was the same for most everyone that went through them gates

The following pictures were taken during the World Congress of Agroforestry Field Trip to Western Kenya, mainly to Kisumu and Kakamega

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Kiboko Buffet Table & Bandas (below)

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3452/3991713594_91995782fd_b.jpg

Beautiful Wagai Landscape (Gem Kende)

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Kogelo Yawa!!!! Kenya's Own "Graceland"

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3441/3991715190_a32b5f9556_b.jpg

And Guess who welcomes the Group????

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/3990960373_2faed8bd3b_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2624/3990952657_fb0daec014_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/3991714898_dac9ff87b6_b.jpg


Kogelo Yawa!!!! Kenya's Own "Graceland"

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3441/3991715190_a32b5f9556_b.jpg

And Guess who welcomes the Group????

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2544/3990960373_2faed8bd3b_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2624/3990952657_fb0daec014_o.jpg

Papaf those are great contributions..

Papa F., I see your point on Nyakatch.

Papa F., I see your point on Nyakatch.

UR Werokamu

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