Sacred Caves in Menengai Volcano
Sacred Caves in Menengai Volcano : Menengai volcano is the massive shield volcano with one of the biggest calderas in the world, in the Great Rift Valley Kenya it is 10 km (6 mi) north of Nakuru, the fourth biggest city in Kenya. It is the largest volcano caldera in Kenya and the second largest volcano caldera in Africa, the volcano is a rather inconspicuous feature, consisting mainly of its prominent caldera and many lava flows inside and out, it has an almost rectangular shape, measure 12×8 km (77 km2, 2,227 m.a.s.l) and was formed about 8000 years ago, the bottom of the caldera is covered by over 70 successive lava flows, and some of them may not be much older than 100 years or so, volcanic formed rich loam soils enrich the adjacent farmland around its flanks, the Menengai Volcano is the tourism safari destination that attracts various tourists.
The Menengai volcano is considered as one of the best preserved Krakatau-style calderas in the world, Menengai has very little sediment in the caldera which is a thick mass of the lava boulders and inaccessible ridges, and a current project under the GDC is at an advanced stage towards geothermal power generation.
Sacred caves in Menengai Volcano Kenya.
The sacred caves are situated deep in the forest and the way leading you to the place is bushy with a silence that fills the atmosphere, at the entrance at the top before you go down to the main door is a big post that says you are on holy ground. Then using the stairs you have carefully step down to the cave that looks hollow and dark. The caves are such the biggest in that they can accommodate up to 1000 people. Inside the caves, it is evident that the visitors spend nights here are there are beddings and travel bags at several corners. Then next to the entrance of the cave there is the kitchen, where the visitors cook only tea and warm water
Menengai Volcanic crater is one of the major attractions in Nakuru Kenya, from the top the volcano offers the most amazing views of nature at its best and the new geothermal development adds to a more eye pleasing and relaxing views. The sacred caves in the Menengai Volcano are the main safari attraction as the place is full of solitude and peace that is a way from every other thing.
Sacred caves in Menengai volcano are however known as protected areas used as places of worship, various tourists visit the destination to praise and pray from the sacred caves, inside the caves you experience the darkness like never before, and its cold and the only sound is that of drops of water coming down from the ceiling of the cave.
The Menengai crater caves are attached to many strange myths with many people believing that they are homes to the ghosts and demons, others believe strange things happen there, but despite these Dominic Rading has called this place for the last 13 years. The caves were initially used by the Kikuyu’s as circumcision site before they were converted by the community into a shrine. The caves are believed that it is sacred place and people travel from far to come and pray. During a Kenya safari to the sacred caves, for those who have spent time there say they feel the presence of God but it is thought by some to be haunted by the evil spirits that take people captive.
Many people are said to have disappeared after exploring the area, and others return totally confused, there are reports of spirit beings cultivating the land on the crater floor with eyewitnesses saying that the plowing with tractors, planting and harvesting all happens in an hour, there are even witnesses who speak of a flying umbrella rising from the crater floor when it rains. Then there are also reports from the locals in the area that they have witnessed the devil riding a motorbike on Kirima kia ngoma or Devil’s Hill which is next to the crater.
Menengai crater has got many caves and on the western side of the crater are the Mau- Mau caves, though some people in their safari to the place to pray and to perform other religious matters. The name Menengai is a Kikuyu name that means a place of many gods, there are many myths that the locals hold about the area. The Menengai crater is believed to be home to many demons and haunted by the ghosts and the strange spirits. There is a word that there is ‘’Kirima kia Ngoma’’ which means a place of devils and is that ride around it. Then the steam rising is believed to be the souls of the Maasai warriors who were defeated in a war and thrown down the cliff.
