Kenya is stuffed with hidden gems that we hold discovering and we wish to present our guests all of them! We lately camped at Suswa Caves, one such hidden gem. Generally you simply have to get off the crushed observe, and though the highway by means of Suswa is the well-beaten observe to the Maasai Mara, the diversion to Suswa Caves could be very unbeaten. So, on the danger of creating Suswa Caves Kenya’s hottest vacation spot, I’ll inform you about our weekend there and how one can get pleasure from your individual journey.
Eight of us headed to Suswa loaded up with tenting gear, meals and water. Laura and Moses got here from their camp within the Maasai Mara with their buddy Helen who was visiting from the UK. Kip, Leonie and their daughter Fleur got here from Nairobi, like us. We arrived on the turnoff to Mt Suswa Conservancy concurrently Moses and Laura so we set off collectively into the conservancy. The highway was so dusty! We needed to hold nearly a kilometre between our automobiles so those behind did not get misplaced within the cloud. On their manner in, Kip and Leonie received caught in a mud drift – that is how unhealthy it was!
After we entered the conservancy we needed to discover the campsite and arrange camp. It wasn’t the simplest to search out, however a few of the native Maasai who maintain the conservancy discovered us, waved us down and gave us instructions. We had been pleasantly shocked to search out one thing resembling a rest room block – a gap within the floor surrounded by a construction with the doorway going through away from the campsite. There are two campsites in Mt Suswa Conservancy: one is on the rim of the crater (I forgot to say that Mt Suswa is an extinct volcano) and the opposite is subsequent to the caves. We had been on the one close to the caves. Other than the crumbling buildings round lengthy drop bathrooms, there isn’t a different infrastructure on the campsites so you should deliver the whole lot. Happily we’re all ex-overlanders so we’re used to spending a few nights within the bush and had all of the requisite provides for such an journey. For a price the Maasai introduced us firewood, nevertheless it more than likely wasn’t environmentally sustainable firewood.
Maasai water harvesting
The following morning we hiked. We discovered a information to take us as much as the crater rim of Mt Suswa. On the best way he confirmed us the ingenious methodology the Maasai have been utilizing to reap water. Mt Suswa sits within the Nice Rift Valley and is one in every of a number of volcanoes that prompted the Rift Valley to exist; Mt Kilimanjaro and close by Mt Longonot being two others. This volcanic exercise means there are scorching springs and geysers all through the world. In truth this exercise has resulted in Kenya Energy constructing an enormous geothermal energy plant in Hells Gate Nationwide Park, which is spitting distance from Mt Suswa. Anyway, the Maasai have put pipes over steam vents within the mountainside in a manner that directs the steam down the mountain. By the point the steam has travelled down the pipe, it has condensed to water and drips into a big jerry can. Anybody can come and take water from this supply. On our manner again to camp after visiting the crater rim, we stopped by the primary water assortment level and our information doused every of us in chilly water harvested from the steam vents. It appeared a bit extravagant given the dryness of the panorama, nevertheless it was additionally very welcome because it was so scorching.
On our hike we noticed rabbits and shy vervet monkeys, a uncommon species as most vervet monkeys are very cheeky and by no means shy. We additionally noticed loads of birds which Kip was thrilled about as he’s an avid birder.
Within the afternoon, our information took us to (and thru) the caves. I might by no means have guessed how intensive they had been and the way giant. Some had been simply large holes within the floor, which could show a hazard for those who weren’t wanting the place you had been going! Others had been slender passages which weren’t a lot my cup of tea. There have been a variety of bats, and I did not fancy coming throughout one making an attempt to get out whereas I used to be making an attempt to get in! We had been proven one chamber that was referred to as the leopard’s consuming cave. I am unsure if it was true or not, I most popular to not assume too exhausting about it as our campsite was fairly shut. One giant cave was known as the baboon parliament as it’s a favorite gathering place for troupes of baboons. The rocks had been shiny and clean from the baboons sitting on them a lot.
Subsequent time we go, I believe the campsite on the crater rim is preferable to the one close to the caves, if just for the view. Hikes have to occur in early morning and late afternoon with a siesta to cross the warmth of the day. Conservancy and tenting charges are fairly affordable and the person who collects them is excellent at understanding that you’re within the conservancy – so even when the doorway gate is unmanned, you’ll nonetheless must pay as he involves the campsite to examine on you. Maintain your receipts although, so you possibly can show fee in case one other administrator comes round to examine/acquire.
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