In Combination with your Safari to MERU OR SAMBURU
Magado Carter & Nyambeni hills
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Magado Crater is located at the northeast tip of the Nyambeni range, to the North is the Uaso Nyiro river and bordering Nyambeni ranges to the South. The circular crater rises 73 meters (250 ft.) above the surrounding area with an average diameter of 800 meters and crater depth below the rim of 140 meters. Debris blasted out during the crater eruption formed a rim 80 to 100 meters thick.
Lake Magado visually is made up of orange, red, purple and green puddles which are separated by salt moulds. These different hues (colours) are due to the alkaline nature of the water and emit an acrid smell. This unique colour combinations is thought to be openings in the earth’s crusts which are known as fumaroles, which makes colour change as a result of chemical reactions resulting from the minerals contained in the lake - perhaps triggered by volcano gas activity.
A small lake on the floor of Magado crater evaporates to form a soda salt crust. The Meru people apparently have been collecting soda in this crater for thousands of years. In recent years the Meru as well as the Boran and Somali people have shared the crater. During the rainy season, the tribes people water their cattle in this natural collecting basin. During the dry season as the full lake recedes, the soda that remains behind is collected.
A local Meru tale says that: if a young man could push a donkey loaded with soda packs from the lake to a special band of dark rock, about 100m from the crater floor on the eastern rim, he could choose any girl in the tribe as his wife. The only condition was that he could only use his chest to drive the animal. At the only entrance to this crater a 10 to 15 feet gulley has formed and along the sides live Meru, Boran and Somali people who use the crater for shelter.
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ITINERARY:
While staying at Meru NP we will stop over with picknick lunch
Day excursion from Nanyuki. Transfer time one way 3 hour
Day Excursion from Samburu / Shaba. Transfer time 3 hours
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After early morning breakfast and depart for Magado Crater.
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Arrive at Magado and hike for a very short distance approximately 2 hours down into the crater and the Lake. The Lake is a marvel of nature with its multi-coloured pools which are caused by the high evaporation of the alkaline waters.
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Hike to the main gate, exit, and begin your journey back.
WHAT TO BRING:
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Hiking boots | Binoculars | Camera | hat | sunscreen | sunglasses | guidebook.
RATE INCLUSIONS:
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Professional English Speaking Guide
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Return ground transport: Pick-up & drop-off at hotel
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Sanitizers, Masks & Drinking Water during trip
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