When it comes to canyons in Africa, you may be filled with the “Scars of the Earth” level of shock of the East African Rift Valley, but if you think that kind of place is too “hard-core”, walking to the leg cramps, and taking pictures with a wide-angle lens to fit, then Kenya's Nakuru Gorge is definitely a treasure Pingtai! There is no need to trek, driving half an hour from Nakuru town to the edge of the canyon, standing on the edge of the cliff, reaching out as if you could touch the clouds, looking down is the wind and sand carved for hundreds of millions of years of red rock walls, good luck can also be seen in the line of the baboon family, “canyon day trip”. The most important thing is that this place is not as crowded as the Masai Mara, just find a rock and sit down, and you will be able to shoot a movie like the opening credits of The Lion King in no time. Today, we will chatter to understand, this canyon in the end, what is the history of the bull, how to play without stepping on the pit, and how to avoid those special pit tourists “wild set”!
Advertisement
Although Nakuru Canyon is not as famous as the Great Rift Valley in East Africa, its story is definitely enough to make ten seasons of documentaries! Geologists say that this place began to “grow wrinkles” about 12 million years ago, when the African and Arabian plates broke up, and the earth's crust shivered and ripped out this 15-kilometer-long crack, which is 300 meters deep at most. However, the local Maasai grandpas do not believe in science, they say that this canyon is the sky god Enkai (Enkai) angry when an axe chopped out - because human beings stole to eat the goat sacrifice to the god, this temperament is quite in line with the picture of the African wilderness.
Advertisement
In the early 20th century, British colonizers came to mine, thinking that the canyon hides gold, but the result of half a day's work only dug out a pile of red sandstone, so angry that directly in situ to build a sentry station (you can still see the bullet holes in the wall of the ruins). Later, when Kenya became independent, this place became a secret passage for Maasai shepherds, who drove their cattle and sheep through the bottom of the canyon, and tribal symbols drawn with charcoal remain on the rock walls, which at first glance look like abstract art, but in fact they are marking the water sources and dangerous areas of the “ancient navigation”.
In recent years, archaeological teams have also found primitive tools here, stone axes, bone needles and so on, proving that hundreds of thousands of years ago there were human beings squatting here to survive. So, don't just stare at the scenery here, just kicking a stone may fly a piece of epic!
Don't look at Nakuru Gorge as wild-looking, but it's actually ridiculously friendly to tourists! From the capital Nairobi drive over 3 hours, the road condition is higher than the average level of Africa, at least will not be upside down to the breakfast spit out. There is a parking lot at the entrance of the scenic area, charging 300 shillings (about 2 U.S. dollars), and the janitor will enthusiastically guide you to where to park your car so that it doesn't get sunburned on the roof.
Advertisement
In terms of facilities, don't expect five-star toilets, but the environmentally friendly toilets at the entrance are fairly clean (bring your own paper towels!), and there is a tin shed where you can sell your goods. There is also a tin shed selling mineral water, bananas and bags of nuts at a price that makes you cry - 50 shillings for a bottle of water ($0.3), the same price inside and outside the scenic area, moving Africa! Cell phone signals, the cliff edge from time to time, but the hiking route every kilometer there are wooden signs to point the way, the probability of getting lost than in the mall to find a toilet is even lower.
The key to praise the management of the scenic area: the ticket is only 15 U.S. dollars (Kenyan parks are considered the price of cabbage), including a hand-drawn map and free guided tours (the guide brother English thief 6, will also use TikTok terrier jokes). Do not want to walk can rent mountain bikes, 20 U.S. dollars a day, ride to the canyon in the middle of the viewing platform as long as 40 minutes, along the way by the antelope overtaking the feeling of not too magical!
Nakuru Canyon's signature skill is the “chameleon rock wall” - the morning sun just head, the rock is tomato fried egg color orange-red; midday change Chelsea red; wait until the sun sets, directly switched to purple potato milk tea color. Geologists can rejoice, rock faults are visible to the naked eye, like lasagna piled on top of volcanic ash, ancient riverbed sediments, and even fossilized seashells can be found (you are allowed to pick up a small piece as a souvenir, just don't carry a sack).
Although there are not as many animals as in the next national park, the best thing about it is that it is “unexpected”: there are hoofed rabbits (which look like giant hamsters) living on the rock walls, and they are so cute that it is a crime for them to poke their heads out; if you are lucky, you can see a family of warthogs lining up to take a bath in the bottom of the canyon (the picture is too beautiful to look at). Don't be disappointed if you are a plant lover. During the dry season, the “desert roses” that emerge from the crevices of the rocks bloom bigger than your fist, with pink and white petals that have their own fairy filters.
The best part is the “Echo Cliffs” - stand in a certain position and yell, and the echo will bounce around the canyon seven times! Local kids love to compete in shouting competitions here, such as yelling “I want to be president!” into the valley, only to hear the echo seven times. The result is that seven times the echo sounds like the whole village rolling their eyes together.
1. choose the right shoes, the knee is not wasted: hiking routes are all gravel roads, wearing slippers is equal to self-inflicted injuries! Recommended high-top hiking shoes, or minutes to pour a shoe sand.
2. water to bring enough, but do not drink: no drinking water in the scenic area, per capita at least 2 bottles of 550ml (sweat with electrolyte powder), but do not drink the canyon at the bottom of the creek water, look at the clear actually may contain “original” parasites.
3. Sun protection should be armed to the teeth: here the UV rays are so ferocious as to turn on the beauty light “reverse whitening”, physical sunscreen + SPF50 + sunscreen two-pronged, or else a day of sun into the Oreo skin color.
4. Be wary of “enthusiastic guide”: scenic spots may be claiming to be “free to lead the way” of the locals, in fact, you will turn you to the shopping point to draw money, stick to the official tour guide is the most secure.
5. Photography taboo: some areas on the rock wall painted with the red symbols of the Maasai people, that is the sacrificial land, it is best to ask the guide before taking pictures, lest you be charged a “spiritual damage fee”.
At the end of the day, Nakuru Gorge is like a low-key powerhouse - without the Title of East Africa's Great Rift Valley, but allowing you to enjoy a VIP-packed wilderness experience for the price of a cup of milk tea. Here you can gawk at 12-million-year-old rock walls, play “who blinks first” with hoofed rabbits, or simply listen to the echoes of your own troubles until they fall apart. A final Maasai proverb: Maji ukiyavulia nguo, huruka kama kuku, means don't overcomplicate things - throw away your guidebook and wander on instinct, as the rocks can tell you a better story than you can. Stuff your backpack with water and a camera, and I'll see you at the edge of the canyon!
