Rocky mountain hills that offer spectacular Shetani Lava Flow

One of the most fascinating features in Taita-Taveta is the numerous rocks that dot this county.

It is believed to be one of the rockiest places in Kenya and is home to the magnificent Taita Hills that are equally rocky.

Rocky outcrops come in varying pulsating sizes, shapes and colours. They are a sight to behold and to feast your eyes on as they spread across the region in rhythmic, spellbinding splendour.

Indeed, Taita is spectacular in its boundless generosity in offering a diversity of jaw-dropping scenic features that are a favourite haunt for the more adventurous.

LAVA FLOW

One of the greatest spectacles is the breathtaking rocky Shetani (devil) Lava flow and its labyrinth of caves located deep inside the sprawling Tsavo West National Park.

The charcoal black lava flow is 8km long and has a width of 1.6km making it one of the largest volcanic crater-fields and nature trails in the country.

It lies on a gently sloping part of the Chyulu lava field, forming one of the cones near Kilaguni Lodge.

According to locals, this was one of the last Chyulu cinders to have been active.

Chyulu Hills form a high range of cones and are among the world’s youngest mountains, spewed by volcanic eruptions not more than a few hundreds of years ago. Shetani is one of the recent eruptions, just over a 100 years ago.

Chyulu Hills are the watershed of the underground rivers and streams which gush out at the equally captivating Mzima Springs.

LAVA TRAIL

According to legend, many people perished after they were buried alive by the lava about 200 years ago and locals claim that their cries can still be heard on some nights.

To mollify their spirits, the story goes, visitors are advised to leave food offerings.

Shetani is endowed with diverse flora and fauna and the caves are worth exploring.

For the caves though, one needs to carry a flashlight as some of the caves are known to harbour poisonous snakes.

The lava trail is among the few places in the park where visitors are allowed to get out of their vehicles as there are no dangerous animals like in other parts of the park.

One other significant aspect of the rocks is that they are rich in minerals, including highly prized gemstones. Large areas of the mineral-rich zone remain untouched.