ABSTRACT

Ariaal lives in a semi-desert environment of very sparse resources. Low and variable rainfall, marked seasonality in vegetation growth, and few watering areas make Marsabit District too dry to support agriculture on a wide scale, and nearly all the area's residents depend on domestic livestock to survive. Ariaal settlements are clustered near permanent water along the base of the Ndoto Mountains and Mt. Marsabit, due to their ties to Samburu and Rendille, Ariaal have access to a herding environment of approximately 10,000 square kilometers. During wet periods, Ariaal have sufficient use of surface water in rain pools, semi-permanent rivers, and temporary flood plains, the most important surface water being the river runoffs from the ?doto and Mathews Range mountains along the Ngurunit, Milgis, Merille, and Uaso Nyiru rivers. Ariaal own large numbers of livestock, averaging 1-3 camels, 3-5 cattle, and 8-13 small stock per person.