KONGREGASI FRATER-FRATER BUNDA HATI KUDUS KONGREGASI FRATER-FRATER BUNDA HATI KUDUS
Turkana County
Turkana County is a county in the former Rift Valley Province of Kenya. Turkana is the second largest, by land area, (after Marsabit County) and also the northwestern most county in Kenya. It is bordered by the countries of Uganda to the west, South Sudan and Ethiopia, including the disputed Ilemi Triangle, to the north and northeast, and Lake Turkana to the east. To the south and east, neighboring counties in Kenya are West Pokot, Baringo, and Samburu Counties, while Marsabit County is located on the opposite (i.e. eastern) shore of Lake Turkana. Its capital and largest town is Lodwar and Turkana county has a population of 855,399 (2009 census).
Turkana Lake
Lake Turkana also known as the Jade Sea, was originally named Lake Rudolph in 1888 and was renamed Lake Turkana in 1975. Lake Turkana is famous for its greenish-blue colors, hence the nickname is the Jade Sea. It is the largest alkaline lake in the world. Lake Turkana is 300 kilometers long and 50 kilometers wide, which also makes it the largest lake in Kenya (although, Lake Victoria which is shared with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda is larger). It is also the world’s largest permanent desert lake. The water is potable, but not very palatable.
The tremendous Lake Turkana fed by three rivers, river Omo, Tukwel, and Kerio, but there is no out flow, all water loss is via evaporation.
DOL Eliye Spring Camp
Eliye spring is a remote village on the western shore of Lake Turkana in Kenya. It is located 64 kilometers east of Lodwar and 40 kilometers south of Kalokol. It takes one and a half hours driving from Lodwar on the off-road setup, which makes the journey more prestigious to whoever love adventures. Along the beach of Eliye spring there are several camps site for relaxation and holyday destination for both local and none local tourists.
DOL eliye spring camp is among the camp sites along the beach of Eliye which always deliver a great view towards the lake and becomes the most preferable site to visit. It has long and tall palms against a backdrop of white sand and clear tropical waters make its beaches one of the most popular in the area and widely considered is the best in Turkana.
Eliye spring Diocese of Lodwar Camp was started in 2014. It was given by the Community of Eliye to the St. Augustine Parish. However, at the same time the Diocese of Lodwar takes the responsibility to run the camp as an income generating activity in order to uplift Eliye as a parish in the future. The Diocese also has its long term plan to build the retreat centre for the community of Eliye and other visitors from within and outside the county.
In 2016, the Bishop of Lodwar requested the BHK Brother by the name Bro Donatus to oversee and run the place as a camp that can letter on benefit the Diocese and the local people. Since 2016, there has been lots of activities in the camp, like:
- Hotel and accommodation services
- Workshops
- Festive session activities
- Youth trainings and outdoors exercise, and many others.
The camp is considered as a business entity hence making the management to develop the site to the standard required in order to compete with other camps. In the beginning of 2017, the Diocese donated some funds which helped to build a sitting room, a kitchen and a standard toilet which is required by the Ministry of Health in Kenya. The management still have plenty of plans, like:
- Building a permanent accommodation
- Sport site in the camp
- Camel or donkey riding along the beaches
- Fishing tournaments
- Boat riding along the lake, etc.
The mention strategies above is believed can uplift the camp as the preferable site for the visitors and in the end of the day can meet its primary objective which is to act as an income generating projects to the Diocese of Lodwar and teach people about quality management.
Bro. M. Donatus, BHK
