Hyrax Hill Museum: Discovering Kenya’s Historical Gem in Nakuru County

HYRAX HILL MUSEUM

 This is a museum located 4 km from Nakuru County. It rises 1900 meters above sea level, and it is 50 meters above the grass surroundings. Hyrax Hill Museum is rich in galleries of archaeology, material culture, and natural history.

 It is one of the major museums in Kenya after Kariandusi, Lukenya, Fort Tenan, and Kenyatta House. The biggest museum in Kenya is the Nairobi National Museum.

The museum plays an important role in the Nakuru and Rift Valley regions in preserving the history of the people, their culture, and traditional instruments. The name Hyrax Hill was derived from a large number of hyraxes that inhabited the rocks. The hyrax are extinct now due to people’s settlement. This site covers 50 hectares.

There are habitation hollows believed to have been occupied by the Sirikwa pastoral group who were displaced by the Kalenjin community.

History and key findings from the Hyrax Hill Museum

At the entrance of Hyrax Hill Museum, you will see two signposts with the history of Hyrax Hill and the map of Hyrax Hill. In 1920, a farmhouse was built by Mrs. Selfie. This farmhouse was converted into the Hyrax Hill Museum in 1965.

In 1938 the site was excavated by Mary Leakey. She developed the early hypothesis about the usage of the mysterious earthwork in ancient times. In 1957, Merrick Pasnansky surveyed and excavated the nearby site of Lanet, uncovering extensive evidence of the Iron Age Sirikwa occupation.

1973-1974 John Onyango Abuje excavated the area adjacent to Site 1. He discovered predominantly late Iron Age material, including two pits and a burial mound.

Inside Hyrax Museum

The archaeology

It describes the Hyrax Hill, the model of Sirikwa settlement, and the early man stone tools. There is a map of Kenya with prehistoric sites and their locations. You will see the early man’s skull, like the Australopithecus Boisei and Homo erectus.

Material culture

These are the objects used to do different activities like fishing, pastoralism, and farming tools. These are the tools used by the ethnic communities that live in Rift Valley, like the Maasai, Kalenjin, Turkana, Kikuyu, and Luo.

There is a model display of the Great Rift Valley floor, ornaments from the Maasai and Kalenjin communities, and traditional musical instruments from different communities like Kalenjin, Maasai, and Kikuyu.

Animal monuments

There are displays of animals like Rock Hyrax and its baby, the spitting cobra, waterbuck, and flamingo species.

Rock Hyrax

The museum has a tortoise pit. You can visit and enjoy seeing the tortoise. They are well taken care of, and their habitat is fenced. You can get close to them with permission from the caretaker. 

There is a path leading to the Sirikwa settlement site hollow and mounds. From the settlements, there is a trail leading to the summit of the hill. From the rocks, you can get a clear view of Lake Nakuru, Nakuru and its outskirts, and the Nairobi-Nakuru highway. The view from here is just beautiful.

Location of Hyrax Hill and directions for visitors

From Nakuru via Old Nairobi Road/A104, it is 6.5 km and takes approximately 14 minutes. From Nakuru via General Kariba St. and Nairobi Road/A104 is 9 km and takes approximately 18 minutes.

From Nairobi via A104, it is 155.8 km and takes approximately 2 hours 44 minutes. From Nairobi via Old Naivasha Road/C88 and A 104 is 154.2 km and takes approximately 3 hours.

Hyrax is located 400 meters from the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

Hyrax Hill’s county and regional context (Nakuru County)

Hyrax Hill is located in Nakuru County, Kenya. Nakuru County is in the Rift Valley region. Hyrax Hill is located a few kilometers from Lake Nakuru and Lake Nakuru National Park.

Hyrax Hill is regarded as the home of the early men. Several archaeological features have been found on this hill. The oldest being the area of Neolithic occupation with burials on site 1. The recent archaeology is Iron Age activity on site 1 and earlier Iron Age activity on site II.

Nearby accommodations, such as Hyrax Hill Hotel, and other visitor amenities.

1. Twiga White House Villas are located in Section 58, Nakuru.
2. Rock Hyrax Hotel in Nakuru.
3. Merica Hotel, a luxurious hotel in Nakuru CBD.
4. Sarova Woodlands Hotel and Spa. Located 2.4 km from Nakuru centre.

Tips to note as you plan to visit Hyrax Hill

This is a museum; their hiking area is small, but you can walk from the road to the museum and up to the summit of the hills. Here is more learning than hiking. That being the case, do not forget to carry drinking water and snacks. It would help if you were hydrated and full of energy as you learn.

Do not get close to the animals in the museum without the company of the caretaker. Make sure you follow the rules and regulations put in place in the area.

Importance of preserving Kenyan cultural heritage.

As generations and eras are changing, culture also changes the things our forefathers used to do; we don’t do some of the things now. The culture may fade away, but the people will remain there forever.

Preserving the cultural heritage is important so that the children and the generations that are coming will learn them and know where they came from. When this knowledge and the artifacts are preserved, our children can see them, embrace the culture, and pass it on. This is vital in preserving values and morals.

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