Strange places in Kenya you rarely see

Strange places in Kenya you rarely see : There are odd locations in Kenya that are rarely included in travel itineraries. Some are known only from lore passed down locally. Locations of profound mystery that, up until now, have perplexed the few who happen upon them. I’ll present ten that will blow your mind in this article. They might even reignite your passion for adventurous off-the-beaten-path experiences on your Kenya safari.

1. Archaeoastronomical Site of Namoratunga.

Namoratunga, which dates to 300 BC and is regarded as the first archaeological site in Sub-Saharan Africa, is also thought to be an archaeoastronomical site due to the way the 19 pillars that were discovered here lean in different directions.

Namoratunga, which is thought to be the oldest archaeological site in Sub-Saharan Africa and dates back to 300 BC, is also thought to be an archaeoastronomical site due to the way its 19 pillars lean in different directions and correspond to the seven star systems of Sirius, Bellatrix, Triangulum, Pleiades, Aldebaran, Central Orion, and Saiph. An equally mysterious ring of more than 20,000 stones encircles the pillars.

Because the upright stones at Namoratunga II surrounded an old grave, just like they did at Namoratunga I, it was first believed that Namoratunga might be a burial site. Additional examination at Namoratunga II revealed that the pillars in this location were positioned in an odd way that had nothing to do with any previous interment.

However, Namoratunga gained even more significance in 1978 when Mark Lynch revealed to the public that the 19 megaliths were arranged in accordance with the seven celestial constellations. He felt that the pillars might have been a kind of calendar since they might even match a 354-day lunar calendar that has been documented to be in use by the Cushitic languages of southern Ethiopia for a period of 12 months.

2. Haunted Pillar of Mbaraki.

Mbaraki Pillar, which is 50 feet tall, is still a contentious issue. The locals tell stories of a strong Arab ghost residing in this area.

One of the most contentious locations on the Kenyan coast is the 300-year-old Mbaraki Pillar, which is about 50 feet tall and regarded as the second-oldest monument after Fort Jesus. What function it fulfilled in antiquity has never been agreed upon by historians and archaeologists. While some maintain it might have served other functions, others speculate it might have been an early example of a lighthouse.

There is a story from the local mythology that an Arab spirit lives inside its walls. The spirit is capable of strong magical healing. It has been reported that women travel great distances to carry out fertility rites at the base of the pillar in the hopes of becoming pregnant. In the hope of being healed, the sick also leave offerings here. Definitely one of the unusual spots to see in Kenya. 

3. Shape-shifting Swamp of Ondiri.

Strange tales of people drowning in Ondiri Swamp and having their bodies found in Mombasa, Naivasha, or Nakuru have been told, but those are only tales, you know.

There is nothing that can prepare you for what Ondiri has to offer. Many who have seen the marsh regard it as a wonder of nature. Walking around the swamp gives you the impression that you are falling into mother earth’s embrace because of its shaky texture. You most likely won’t soon forget the encounter because it was so strange and odd.

One of those peculiar locations in Kenya that is largely veiled in legend and mystery is Ondiri Swamp. It is challenging to distinguish fact from fiction when listening to natives speak. Strange tales of persons drowning in swamps and having their bones discovered in Mombasa, Naivasha, or Nakuru have been told, but those are only tales.

After Doula in Cameroon, Ondiri is the second-deepest wetland in Africa and the only quaking bog in the nation. It is puzzling why it is not yet included in the list of national wonders.

4. Indestructible Koma Rock.

Koma Rock is located in Tala town and resembles any other rock on the Nairobi-Kangundo Highway. It’s not.

Older Kamba people travelled great distances to the well-known Koma Rock, which has been revered by many for aeons, to make sacrifices to their gods at a special shrine known as Ithembo. They would also offer prayers there for rain and safety from plagues.

When the Kangundo-Nairobi highway was being built in 1970, the engineers intended to relocate the shrine to allow the road to go through the hill. The elders of Kamba protested angrily at this. Eventually, the elders consented to relocate the shrine to a different area of the hill in exchange for an appeasement sacrifice that included two goats and a bag of sugar.

That was unsuccessful. The engineers were forced to give up on the route after a protracted and difficult battle to build the road. It appeared as though an odd, unidentified force stopped the rock from being blasted.

Even now, as it winds through the Koma rock fields on its way to the city, the abandoned Murram Road can still be seen from the top of the hill. The Catholic Church now owns the shrine, and it serves as a destination for pilgrimages.

5. The Cryptic Writings of Matsigulu Rock.

Matsigulu Rock’s ostensibly unremarkable exterior belies a mysterious network of unintelligible inscriptions carved into its surface, giving this rebellious rock an almost legendary aspect.

At a distance, Matsigulu might not appear to be very big. Its surface is lacerated and dry, and it has large fractures that seem to be the only features. But beneath this seemingly unremarkable exterior is a mysterious network of unintelligible inscriptions carved into the rock’s surface, lending it an almost legendary quality.

The impressions on this unusual rock, which resemble human fingerprints in size, make it even stranger. Beside the footprints is a coffin-shaped rock that indicates this rock will be of interest to paranormal enthusiasts.

6. Terrible Fly of Ukasi Rock.

When combined with the Frightful Hairy Fly, a highly rare breed of wingless fly that is only native to these parts, Ukasi Rock, a towering rock boulder rising around 20–25 metres in height, may not seem like much of a tourist draw (Mormotomyia hirsuta)

The impressive Ukasi granite, a 20–25-meter-tall granite formation, may not seem like much of a tourist safari attraction until combined with an extremely uncommon species of wingless fly. This is one of the strangest areas in Kenya because only this region is home to the endemic Mormotomyia hirsuta, better known as the Frightful Hairy Fly. Considered the rarest fly in the world, the Frightful Hairy Fly was first described by entomologist E.E. Austen in 1936. We’re not sure why they also refer to it as the Terrible Hairy Fly. Based on the results of past expeditions, it appears that the wet season enhances the likelihood of seeing a fly. Recently, the region surrounding Ukasi Rock was designated as a national monument and protected site.

7. Haunted Crater of Menengai.

Curious visitors to the crater are lured to a contentious cave by tales of weird occurrences that have led many to believe that this is a haunted location.

Not only is Menengai Crater the largest crater in Kenya, but it’s the largest worldwide. Offering breathtaking views of Lake Bogoria and Lake Nakuru, it is an extinct volcano. A contentious cave at the crater entices visitors with tales of paranormal activity. Many people really believe that this location is haunted.

There are several reported weird occurrences in the crater. Among them is the unexplained disappearance of individuals. People losing their way for hours or even days is another. They seem to be in a trance when their relatives find them.

Menengai Crater was reportedly the site of bloody conflicts between the Laikipia and the Ilpurko Maasai, according to historians. The Laibon, the Maasai people’s spiritual leader, was not recognized by the Laikipia Maasai as having power. The Ilpurko once tossed the latter into the caldera during a battle. Maybe this place haunts guests with the spirits of these poor warriors.

8. Skull Caves of Taita.

 Taita Skull Caves are the outstanding end result of a prehistoric and strange burial culture practiced among the Wasagalla, Wadawida and Wakasigau people who inhabited Taita Hills for centuries before Christianity arrived.

The remarkable results of an odd, prehistoric burial custom followed by the Wasagalla, Wadawida, and Wakasigau tribes are on display at the Taita Skull Caves. Long before Christianity arrived, these communities lived in Taita Hills.

For a year, notable individuals were buried normally. It would get weird after that. Their skulls would be severed from the remainder of the corpse when the bodies were excavated by the community. In order to bury them “properly” among the ancestors, they would transport them to a hallowed cave. The caves are still there and are revered, even if this ritual is no longer carried out.

Taita only buried skulls in caves, in contrast to the Romans who interred their dead whole in catacombs. According to historians, this practice persisted until the early 1900s. Subsequently, the first Christian missionaries arrived in Kenya. The caves and their historic artefacts continue to be highly esteemed representations of Taita culture.

9. Milky Curse of Marafa Depression.

The Devil’s Kitchen, also called Nyari (The Place Broken by Itself), or Marafa Depression, is a remarkable location of stalactites and stalagmites created on limestone rock as a result of internal geological forces of denudation.

The Devil’s Kitchen, also known as Nyari, which translates to “The Place Broken by Itself,” is another name for Marafa Depression. An exceptional location of stalagmites and stalactites developed on limestone rock as a result of internal denudation processes in the geology. This distinctive ridge with its striking gorges and gullies offers breathtaking scenery. Some people draw comparisons between Bison and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. According to local mythology, a family’s luxurious lifestyle caused God to annihilate them. The family would use the extra milk they made for bathing, much to the dismay of their impoverished neighbours. They carried out their action as their desperate neighbours looked on. Thus, an earthquake that God sent engulfed them. Because of this, the stones of Nyari have a striking milky white hue.

10. Death Rock of Shomoto.

The Taita was skilled in the art of causing the most suffering to misbehaving community members. As a last form of retribution, suspected robbers would, for example, be helped by family members to jump to their deaths from the cliffs of Shomoto Hill.

The Taita was skilled in the art of causing the most suffering to straying members of the tribe. As a last form of retribution, suspected robbers would, for example, be helped by family members to jump to their deaths from the cliffs of Shomoto Hill. Occasionally, they would be left for dead with their fingers pounded to a pulp and bound to a tree near the edge of the cliff. At Mwachora, something akin to this would occur, but only with regard to sorcerers who are suspected.