Second in Africa, third in the globe, the Menengai Crater is a Krakatau-style caldera and the biggest one in Kenya. Believed to have created 8000 years ago, the Menangai crater located in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley rests on a sizable solid volcano said to have originated around 200,000 years ago. On Kenya Safaris Tours, the dormant or extinct Menengai crater sits on the rift valley floor covered in caldera lava flows.
Because of its features of both the collapse of cauldron block and magma eruption generation, the Menengai crater is sometimes referred to be extinct or dormant. Scholars of volcanoes believe the crater is something between extinct and dormant.
Furthermore, there are community accounts that people who lived near or around the Volcano saw some minor eruptions from the crater some less than a thousand years ago, indicating life for the volcano rather than extinction. It is also claimed that small cinder cones on the caldera floor exhibit hot fumarole activity.
Through geothermal excavations the government launched some years ago, the Volcano is reported to have geochemical evolutions that the government is investigating.
About 2500 meters above sea level, the Menengai crater boasts a 12 kilometer diameter. From the rim of the crater, the slopes descend 500 meters down the crater floor.
The shape of the Crater is thought to have evolved over time as a result of cauldron block collapse, breaking down the caldera walls. Still, this collapse had no bearing on the west or southern sides of the crater.
Wild flowers and plants abound in the Menengai Crater’s surrounds, luxuriant grasslands and rich woodlands. A few wild species include mountain reedbuck, mongoose, vervet monkeys, and few more call this unusual flora home.
Among the several bird species found in the vegetation are African Marsh harriers, Verreaux eagles, and many more.
Fighting for pastures for their animals and area for animal grazing, the Menengai crater is thought to have been a battlefield for Maasai tribes seeking territory on the slopes of Volcano in the rift valley.
In one of the battles, the well-known Ilpurko Maasai allegedly beat the Ilaikipiak Moran Maasais. According to the narrative, Ilpurko Maasai’s defeating fight resulted in the Ilaikipiak being thrown over the crater’s edge, therefore killing Ilaikipiak Moran Maasai. This inhabitants think that the Menengai crater is haunted by the deceased Ilaikipiak Maasai therefore its name, which means death from the Maasai word “Maa,” reflects this.
On the other hand, some residents feel the Menengai Crater is a site of spiritual enrichment with spiritual forces capable of healing and rendering miracles upon individuals. For this reason, Pilgrimages from all around come to the crater annually in search of spiritual enrichment.
One of Kenya’s and Nakuru’s most popular tourist destinations, the Menengai Crater boasts quite stunning views both inside and outside of the crater.
Located north of Nakuru County, roughly 10km outside of Nakuru Town, the very lovely Menengai crater offers adventure and drink beside. Hiking up the crater allows you to savor the quite stunning vistas of the crater depths, Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, and various areas of Nakuru County.
Among other things, the crater provides climbing to crater top, picnicking at the carter, camping at the crater, motorcycling around the crater and picture capturing at and around the crater.
For those mostly photographing at the crater, the top of the crater reflects amazing pink and blue hues of Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria, providing unmatchable backgrounds for images.
Additionally a beautiful addition to pictures and a perfect complement to camping and picnics is the sunset at the top of the crater.
You will also have chance to visit the Mau Mau cave west of the Menengai crater. Guerrillas allegedly sheltered from British colonial forces in the Mau cave during the Mau Mau rebellion.
From Nairobi, you will follow the Nairobi – Nakuru route through Nakuru town then North of Nakuru to reach the Menengai Crater.
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