Anyone who has been to Rimoi National Reserve in Elgeyo Marakwet County and got lucky to have Philemon Kibet as his tour guide usually has so much to take home.
Those who have interacted with him say he is a tour guide like no other. He usually has something special for tourists – be it local or international – who seeks his services to maneuver around the beautiful reserve.
“Philemon is such a warm personality and a highly motivated guide,” says one of the tourists who have had an opportunity to get, in first hand, his services.
But who is this Philemon Kibet? What inspired him into being a tour guide?
Uasin Gishu News caught up with him in his line of duty to find out more.
“My love for nature started a long time ago when I was in standard four when my teacher for a subject called social studies introduced the topic – Tourism and Wildlife,” Kibet narrates.
In addition, the teacher used to take them out as local tourists where they would visit forests – to spot different wild animals like monkeys, bush hares and birds, rivers hills and caves.
Interest in nature
It is from these visits that Kibet would start developing an interest in nature.
He later started constructing small houses for hare within his parents’ home.
“During my free time especially over the weekend, while looking after cows with my father in the forest, I would keep asking him the names of the birds in our local language,” he tells Uasin Gishu News.
While in High School, he joined 4K Club as well as Wildlife Club; where he served as the chairman.
Later he would enroll for Diploma in Tourism Management at Egerton University and within a year, he had secured a job with the County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet.
“I went for the training and immediately after started the tour guide job at Rimoi National Reserve,” Kibet says.
It is while at Rimoi that he started mastering the behavior of wild animals, learning more about different bird species and plants with the help of his good friend Edwin Korinyang – a graduate in Wildlife Management.
He has since been working as a tour guide for 8 years – handling both local and international tourists.
In case you’re planning to visit Rimoi National Reserve any time soon – give Philemon Kibet Kiptoo a call and you won’t regret him being your tour guide.
His mobile phone number is +254701726448.
