HAUNTED DUNGEON: A STORY OF MENENGAI CRATER

What do you make of a place that is treated as a shrine for worship and a devil's dwelling den at the same time?

Menengai Caldera or crater as popularly known, is a headquarter for confusion, mystery, history and geographic significance.

The name originates from among the Masai and locals call it 'kirima kia ngoma' literally mean mountain of the devil or the dwelling place for the devil. In Masai it means a place of corpses.

Located off the poshy Milimani estate in Nakuru town, can't proud of good road but a long dusty uphill murram road that makes one find a waste pit for excess calories and dehydration is a threat only curbed by bottles of mineral water which dehydrate soon as you consume. January heat is such a hit.

Theories of missing people,getting in trances, flying umbrellas, deaths of people are among the evils associated with the place. Did iI mention losing direction for days? I was with a friend who claimed to see smoke which I could hardly see!

Historically, the floor of the caldera is said to have been a battle field for the rivaling Masai over leadership and land. Death haunts the stories as fear emanates from the people.

However, the caldera is a blessing in disguise. It earns money for the guides and tax for the government. Locals have set curio shops and the snacks plus beverages are set there. One local man claims to have stayed there since 1982 and his family needs are taken care of by been a guide and a seller of the said shops.

It is an amazing site that I highly recommend everyone to tour and promote domestic tourism. Watching the eagles suspending and geological works take place demystify the mystic site.

Shrine,geysers, caves,heights are among the pleasantries to expect.
Don't forget to grab a bottle of water and curiosity, borrow even neighbor's!

Source: Observation, interviews, online sites.