Bomet: Market History and Nature in the County

The market connection belongs in the context of the town; forests, wildlife and river landscapes are themes of the wider county. Frame your trip according to whether local history or a nature theme is your main focus. This will help you keep the different scales in mind when choosing your search destination.

Bomet Town and its market history

The Bomet Town Market was operating in Bomet Town in July 2022. Another historical reference dates to 2018: a savings cooperative for traders was opened at the market that year. This links the market to a specific economic initiative for traders and gives the town’s history a precise historical note. If your travel plans are focused on the town, this market history offers a different emphasis from the county’s nature themes.

Forest landscapes in the wider Bomet area

Nature experiences in the wider Bomet destination are found at county level. Part of Bomet County lies within the extensive Mau Forest, home to various tree species, wildlife and birds. Transmara Forest is part of the Mau Forest Complex within the county and is also the only national reserve in Bomet County. It provides habitat for bongos, giant forest hogs, cooper-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, elephants, leopards and buffalo; there are also numerous bird species there. Species presence may vary. The wider Bomet area brings together two distinct natural features: the Mau Forest, with its diversity of tree species, wildlife and birds, and Transmara Forest, the county’s only national reserve.

Caves, waterfalls and other attractions

The region’s natural landscape also includes caves and waterfalls. They are located in the sub-counties of Konoin, Bomet Central, Bomet East and Chepalungu, along the Itare, Nyongores, Amalo and Chepkulo rivers. In the wider Bomet area, Chepalungu Forest and the Bosto Ecotourism Site are also among the county’s attractions. These natural features vary in scale: Transmara Forest provides a named forest complex as a point of reference, while the caves and waterfalls are spread across several sub-counties and river courses. If you plan to visit a specific natural site, check its visiting conditions in advance. The Bomet County Government completed the development of Iria Maina as a tourist attraction; an area of Chepalungu Forest was fenced off for ecotourism activities. These examples add two different development approaches to the natural sites: a completed, developed destination with a name, and a measure limited to one part of the forest. This means that, in the wider county context, tourism development is visible alongside the landscape.

Guidance for your hotel search

If you are mainly interested in the market, focus your search on Bomet Town. If your stay is focused on a specific natural site, it is advisable to check its visiting conditions before booking.

Discover more destinations: Siongiroi

For the wider travel overview: Bomet.