Visiting Menengai Crater: viewpoints, hikes and practical tips

Rising just north of Nakuru town, Menengai Crater is easy to overlook, and many visitors drive straight past on their way to the park. That is a shame. From the rim, you look across a giant volcanic bowl on one side and down to the town and lake on the other. It makes a great half-day outing and a good break from game drives.

What makes it special

Menengai is a shield volcano whose summit collapsed long ago to form a caldera, a bowl about 12 kilometres across and up to several hundred metres deep. Its floor is a rough landscape of dark lava flows and bush. It is still warm underground: Kenya is drilling geothermal wells here to generate electricity, and you can often see their steam rising from the crater floor.

The name has a darker story. In Maa it is often said to mean “place of corpses”, after a nineteenth-century battle between Maasai groups said to have ended at the crater’s edge.

Getting there

From Nakuru, follow the signs north towards the crater. A taxi or ride-hailing car takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and many drivers will wait for you, so agree the fare and waiting time first. The last part of the road is rough after rain, so ask your driver about its condition in the wet season.

What to do

• The viewpoint: a short walk from the end of the road brings you to the rim. If you have only an hour or two, this is the part to do.
• Hiking: trails lead down into the crater and across the lava fields. Go with a local guide, as paths are not always clear and the terrain is rough.
• Sunrise or sunset: the light on the crater walls is at its best early and late in the day, but plan to be off the rim before dark.
• Cycling: the road up from town is a popular, steep challenge for local cyclists.

Safety and practical tips

• Go in company: visit with a guide or a group, and avoid the rim after dark.
• Bring what you need: carry water, sun protection and a warm layer. It is breezy and cool on top, even when the town is warm.
• Wear proper shoes: the lava rock is sharp and uneven.
• Respect sacred sites: some caves and places around the crater are used for prayer. Ask before you enter or take photos.
• Keep valuables out of sight: as in any quiet spot, do not walk around with your phone or camera on show.

Combining it with other sights

The crater fits easily around a safari day. Go up in the early morning, then spend the afternoon in Lake Nakuru National Park, or do the reverse if you are looking for a sunset view. Our three-day itinerary includes it, and our guide to one day in the park has the game-drive plan.

For more on when to come, read the best time to visit, or stop at Lake Elementaita on the road south.