Guy from Buffalo falls into the Menengai Crater

You can almost see Niagara Falls from here

“Do you believe in the power of names?” the tour guide asks from the back seat.

Our SUV bumps along the path up to the top of the Menengai Crater as he tells us its history.

The once peaceful land of the Masaai experienced a big shift when its long time leader died, leaving a power vacuum that two different tribal leaders attempted to fill.

War followed and in the end, an entire community of people was pushed from the crater's edge. They fell 500 meters down to the crater’s floor. It was a moment that reverberated through the area’s history.

Maybe that’s what the Goo Goo Dolls meant by “Long Way Down”

So much so, that moment was how the crater got its name.

Menengai means “Big Death”.

And here we are thinking people going over Niagara Falls in a barrel is dark.

“A lot of companies name themselves Menengai,” the tour guide tells us. “Maybe they’re trying to kill poverty.”

Points for the black comedy, my guy.

Super Dark Back Story: 5/5 Chicken Wings

These caves have rules. Betray them at your own risk.

These days people view the caves in the Menengai Crater as a sacred place.

They make pilgrimages there, eat very little if any food, and pray in the dark for days at a time. Water drips from the ceiling and if you’re lucky enough to have it plop down on your head, you’ve been blessed.

Now, a Guy from Buffalo has to get his blessings, so you can be sure I walked around until some water dripped on my Bills hat. Super Bowl next year. Thank me later.

The people praying in the caves watch you like you’re a potential shoplifter.

After spending some time in the caves, our guide took us through the valley where the pilgrims sleep and up to the ridge which leads to the crater itself.

Taking the narrow path required climbing up a rock wall. Placing one hand over the other and making our way up we passed a small crevice and a pair of eyes peered out from the dark.

A man sat there with a bible in hand. He was reading and meditating. You could almost mistake him for one of the hundreds of people taking part in the Reading Invasion in Bidwell Park.

Blessings & Meditating Spots: 4/5 Chicken Wings

Well, I’m definitely scared of something now.

Once we reached the ridge it was time to take in the sheer scope of the crater.

It is actually a massive shield volcano, the largest of its kind in Kenya and the second largest on the African continent.

From the ridge, you can see tendrils of white smoke snaking up from the ground and along the path you can pick up small black pieces of obsidian from the last time it exploded.

The distance between the smoke, which appears miles away, and the obsidian on the path really hits home how massive an environmental event a volcano exploding is.

View & Volcanos: 5/5 Chicken Wings

Overall:

From its dark history to its current-day purpose of meditation and reflection, to its astounding view, Menengai Crater presents a unique experience unlike any you’re likely to find around the world. You know just from walking around it you’re seeing something truly epic.

Overall rating: 4.5/5 Chicken Wings