Thimlich Ohinga

Thimlich Ohinga literally refers to a “frightening dense forest” in Dholuo language, a Nilotic group who occupy the region. The ancient site of Thimlich Ohinga is one of the most important ‘dry stone walling’ settlements in East Africa. It is one of the oldest settlements of its kind of architecture in the Lake Victoria area and is believed to have been built by the Bantu people who lived there about 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 needs.

The stone structure enclosure has a height range of 1.0 to 4.2 meters and was built of loose stones and blocks without any dressing or mortar.  Archaeological record of materials found within the site dates it 500 years.

Subsequently communities that moved into this region in the period 15th to 19th centuries carried out repair 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.

The site was 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.

Thimlich Ohinga is managed under The National museums of Kenya

Ref: National Museums of Kenya