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Garissa County, Kenya

Ngamia

Ngamia means camel.

Garissa County

Garissa is the gateway and market town of the north-east.

Capital
Garissa
People
841k
Area
44,753 km²
Altitude
150 m
Plan a tripTravel the road

Garissa lies on the hot, low plains of the north-east. The Tana River runs through it and turns the desert green along its banks. Most residents are Somali, and Garissa town is the region's busiest trading hub.

Travel note: The UK government advises against travel to most of Garissa County. Check current advice before planning a trip.

Why it matters

Garissa is the gateway and market town of the north-east. It is the last stronghold of the critically endangered hirola antelope.

The economy

Herding of Boran cattle, goats, sheep and camels drives the economy. Irrigated farms along the Tana grow maize, green grams, bananas, mangoes and onions.

Must-see in Garissa

  • Bour-Algi Giraffe Sanctuary

    About 125 km² of community land 5 km from town, home to close to 1,000 giraffes and gerenuks.

  • Ishaqbini Hirola Conservancy

    The main refuge for the hirola, on the east bank of the Tana.

  • Arawale National Reserve

    A 533 km² reserve protecting hirola, Grevy's zebra, wild dogs and cheetahs.

  • Ishaqbini's white giraffes

    Rare white reticulated giraffes that drew attention around the world.

  • Tana River at Garissa

    A palm-fringed river that contrasts sharply with the desert around it.

  • Garissa livestock market

    A lively cross-border trading centre.

Parks and wildlife in Garissa

Peoples of Garissa

Communities with a historic home in Garissa. Today people from every part of Kenya live and work here.

Music, food and culture

Somali culture and Islam shape daily life, and Eid is the biggest celebration of the year. Try canjeero pancake bread, bariis spiced rice, goat meat and spiced camel-milk tea.

Best time to go

June to September is cooler and drier. Avoid April–May and October–December, when the rains can make roads impassable.

On the map

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Garissa and its neighbours. Tap a county or a place to read about it.

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Your questions

When is the best time to visit Garissa?

June to September is cooler and drier. Avoid April–May and October–December, when the rains can make roads impassable.

What is Garissa County known for?

Garissa is the gateway and market town of the north-east. It is the last stronghold of the critically endangered hirola antelope.

Where is Garissa and what is its capital?

Garissa lies on the hot, low plains of the north-east. The Tana River runs through it and turns the desert green along its banks. Most residents are Somali, and Garissa town is the region's busiest trading hub. The county capital is Garissa, and the 2019 census counted 841,353 people across about 44,753 square kilometres.

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A giraffe and acacia tree silhouetted against a Kenyan sunset

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