EXPLORING MENENGAI CRATER LOCATION, MAP AND ACTIVITIES
Menengai Crater is a stunning natural wonder near Nakuru City, Kenya. This huge volcanic crater offers breathtaking views and exciting adventures. Have you ever seen a massive sinkhole? Menengai Crater is one of those!
LOCATION OF MENENGAI CRATER
Menengai Crater is located on the floor of Rift Valley, Kiamaina constituency, Nakuru Couty, Kenya. It is 11.9km from Nakuru city and 148km from Nairobi.
HOW TO GET TO MENENGAI CRATER?
You can get to Menengai Crater by Public transport. You will board a matatu from Nairobi to Nakuru. You can get the matatu at Odeon which is the MoloLine company, at Tea Room which is the 2NK company, or at Nyamakima which is the MoloLine company. The matatu will take you express to Nakuru town where you will take a taxi to Menengai crater.
You can drive yourself to Menengai Crater using the Nakuru-Nairobi Highway. You can also use a travel company which is safer and more convenient.
MENENGAI CRATER FORMATION AND GEOLOGICAL FACTS
Menengai Crater is the largest volcano caldera in Kenya and the second-largest volcano in Africa. The largest volcano in Africa is Mount Kilimanjaro a stratovolcano located in Tanzania.
You may be asking yourself what is a volcano caldera? A volcano caldera is a large depression formed when a volcano erupts and collapses. During the eruption, the magma in the magma chamber underneath is expelled forcefully. The support that the magma chamber offered disappears hence the earth sinks forming a hole.
Menengai Crater volcano was formed about 200000 years ago and the caldera which is 12 by 8 km was formed 8000 years ago. The caldera floor is covered with numerous post-caldera lava flows.
There is a volcanic activity project under the GDC (Geothermal Development Company) that is at an advanced stage towards geothermal power generation.
HIKING MENENGAI CRATER
The hike around Menengai crater starts at the viewpoint which is at the entrance near the traditional shops.
- Maximum elevation 2278 meters above sea level.
- Minimum elevation 1886 meters above sea level.
- The depth is 485 meters below the park.
- The diameter of the caldera is 12 km.
On your hike at Menengai Crater, you can choose to go around the Caldera to have different viewpoints of the crater. The hike around the caldera is tough you will walk along a trail that is very close to the hole. If you have fear for heights this will not be a hike of your choice.
The hike around the Caldera involves ascending and descending the peaks around. It is a tough hike that needs physical fitness and a hiking spirit. There are different viewpoints around the Caldera. One is at the entrance and another one is accessed from the Kiamaina shopping center, near the residential area.
There is another one, the second-highest peak which seems to be opposite the highest peak. The highest peak is the main view point which is at the entrance near the shops. It is visible from any part of the Menengai Crater whether in the hole or around the Caldera.
The second hike is the trail that goes down the Menengai Crater. This is the toughest hike which involves a hike down through the lush grass. At the bottom of the crater, you pass temporary Maasai homesteads and the Maasai community herding their animals at the bottom of the crater.
After descending to the bottom of the crater you will walk across the crater and ascend on the opposite side to the next viewpoint. The hike up is tougher than descending. The crater has steep slopes with sand that is slippery. Any mistake can send you rolling down the slopes.
You will come across baboons as you hike around the craters. Be careful because they snatch food from people. Menengai Crater is hot during the dry season and very windy. The main plant species around Menegai Crater are the eucalyptus and acacia trees. There are flowering plants which include Leleshwa, Euphorbia species, and acacia species. The grass here is the geothermal grass and the Boma Rhodes grass.
From the viewpoint, you can see the geothermal plants at the bottom of the crater. Nakuru City and Lake Nakuru are visible as you ascend to the viewpoint at the main road to the entrance of the park.
MENENGAI CRATER GEOTHERMAL ACTIVITY
From the viewpoint, you can see the geothermal plants at the bottom of the crater. 3 thermal power are being constructed within the Menengai Caldera on a build-own operation (BOO) basis. Each has a capacity of 35MW with a combined output of 105MW.
Plans are underway to construct a 50 km road network, a 30km water supply stem, and 25.5 km steam gathering system, and a campsite area. Geothermal Development Company (GCD), a company owned by the Kenya government drilled geothermal wells in the Menengai Crater whose whole capacity can generate up to 105MW of electric energy. GCD sells steam to 3 independent power producers to build 3 geothermal power stations each with a capacity of 35MW. The power producers are:
1. Menengai I Geothermal Power Station owned by Orpower Twenty Two.
2. Menengai II Geothermal Power Station owned by Globelq.
3. Menengai III Geothermal Power Station which is owned by Sosian Energy.
ACTIVITIES AT MENENGAI CRATER
- Photography
You can take pictures of yourself at the viewpoints, and the scenic environment of Menengai Crater.
- Picnic
You can enjoy a picnic date with your friends and family around the rim. Be very careful of baboons which snatch food from people. There are picnic areas near the viewpoint like Gazibos.
- Nature walk
you can enjoy walks around the crater enjoying the beautiful scenery.
- Geothermal tour
You can visit the Geothermal with permission. This is done before visiting the area.
Other activities are you can visit Lake Nakuru National Park, Hell’s Gate National Park, the Sleeping Warrior Hills in Naivasha, and Mount Longonot. These are attractions near Nakuru County.
CLIMATE AROUND MENENGAI CRATER
The dry season in Menengai Crater and its surroundings is from June to October and December to March. The wet season is from April to May and November to December. You can visit Menengai Crater any season of the year. It is accessible since the soil here is murram which dries fast.
Some parts are not accessible during the rainy season which has the red soil type, especially the road to Menengai Crater. Menegai Crater has a beautiful green vegetation cover.
Both season has their benefits and disadvantages. During the dry season, the sun is very hot to hike and the vegetation is mostly dry. During the wet season, the vegetation forms a beautiful green cover though the trails are muddy.
Historical significance of Menengai Crater
Menengai Crater has a history of fighting for pasture among the Maasai Community. This happened between the Ilaikipiak Moran defeated by the Ilpurko Maasai during a fight over grazing land.
The defeated warriors were thrown over at the edge of the crater and the place has been named the Maa word for “the dead.”
The crater is also a spiritual place and people come from far to spend time praying and contemplating. Another claim of the place is that it is haunted by evil spirits that take people captive. There are other claims of supernatural activities in the area like a flying umbrella during the rain and a devil riding a motorbike on Kirima Kia Ngoma which is the Devils Hill next to the crater.
MAP OF DIRECTION TO MENENGAI CRATER
Book with us as we explore this fascinating attraction. This will save you on the cost and the trouble of getting there on your own.
