Manengai crater, standing on the rim of the crater the view extends a panorama of the northern Rift Valley and the many mounts such as the Aberdares Ranges, Mau , the Tugen hills, the Elgeyo-Marakwet escarpment, the Matthews range, and the Cherengani.These is one of the most splendid and most excellent scenery in Kenya.Menengai Crater is an extinct volcano with terrific views of Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria and the crater itself.
Menengai Crater, Kenyas largest Caldera is an extinct volcano, 8km north of Nakuru. The summit is 2,300 m above sea level; the Rotary Club of Nakuru has erected a signpost that shows various directions and distances to places in the world that including Mt. Kilimanjaro, Cape Town, London, Cairo and Mecca.
Menengai crater has been volcanically active until relatively recently as fresh lava flow could be observed in 1991. The crater, covers an area of 90 sq. km, is 12 km in diameter and 485 m deep and its lavas are trachytes and obsidian. It is a legended that the Menengai Crater is home to many demons and ghosts and so the crater is referred to by the kikuyu of central Kenya as Kirima Kia Ngoma, "the mountain of devils".
The Awesome sounds and sights of Menengai Crater is most frightening which makes the crater most mysterious. These unexplained mysteries could have been contributed to the legend by the many folklore and songs on the topic have not enlightened the communities living around the mysterious Menengai Crater
In the 19th Century, it has been the zone for battles between different Maasai clans for the pastures and supremacy at Naivasha and the Rift slopes. Nevertheless the Maasai and the Kikuyu share very many cultural and traditional practices. During this war the Njama (Gikuyu warriors) and the Masai Morans fought the battles. During these wars women and children were not harmed. The Maasai morans would try their level best to capture Gikuyu girls and vise versa
Activities Highlights:Walking Safari, Hiking opportunity; Natural area; Scenic site Volcanoes.
|
