Historical and cultural sites

Kenya has over 400 historical sites … Among them:

Funju Cultural Center
This is a wholly community owned enterprise registered as a CBO and has developed a campsite ablution facilities. It has also built traditional style bandas for cheap alternative accommodation. The group is set to provide nature walks and cave exploration majoring on historic cave dwellings. Among its strong features is the excellent scenery it offers which includes an excellent panoramic view of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It is presently suited for Day visits only.

Kasigau World War 1 fortifications and Mount Kasigau
An area of deep forest with a gun escarpment/position about 5ft high and trenches about 1m deep on top of a hill facing east at Kasigau. These are World War 1 British war structures in a thick forest. Site explains the extent of the war in east Africa.

Mwanakaviri
Mwana means – small i.e. Mwanakaviri – means small cyclone, which always is experienced on top of Mwanakaviri Hill. The cave on slopes of the hill was once a habitat or home for our ancestors, there are two floors; ground floor was inhabited by women and children, upper floor by men. The roof at the cave served as watch tower now and then the person on duty at the watch tower would raise alarm if he sees enemies from a far. Mostly Masai community used to terrorize and steal cattle, goats and sheep from Sagalla community. The Masai community believed that a domestic animals particular cattle were stolen from them. Apart from the cave there is also a cattle Boma which the herder would guard day and night. There is also a community camp site with limited camping facilities, camping equipments is available for hire. Other activities – Nature trail, Bird watching, Rock climbing landscape, photographing and agro tourism.

Mwangeka Cave
It is the biggest cave/rock shelter in Taita used as a hiding place by Mwangeka and his fighters against the British soldiers. Caves are known locally as Kino caves or Kenyatta caves. Caves said to have been used during the freedom fighting in East Africa and frequented by Jomo Kenyatta when he was hiding from the British. The caves are 3 in number, the first is where Kenyatta and his Kenyan colleagues used to meet and plan for the Kenyan independence. The meeting was called ‘Njama’, a Swahili name for the word strategy. In this first cave was strictly Kenyan business. The second cave was where the late President Jomo Kenyatta used to meet with the late President Julius Nyerere to plan for the overthrow of the colonial governments in Kenya and Uganda.

Wray museum and memorial chapel
This is a museum that depicts the history of the Church in Taita. It is housed in a relic building which is reputed as the oldest in the Tsavo Conservation Area. One cannot help but marvel at the commitment and endurance that the early missionaries endured in exporting Christianity. This Museum situated nearly 15 Km from Voi Town is a must visit for any history lover. Hence you’ll sample letters written in the 19th Century by these missionaries and sit on chairs as old as the Kenya – Uganda railway line.

Historical Caves
These include Mwanakaviri, Shomoto, Mbangenyi, Ngangao and Funju caves. A cave used to be a home for some families who kept livestock over 100 years ago also served as a watch tower in case of any invasion by enemies, mainly the Maasai.

Lake Turkana
Lake Turkana is a myth. With its 6400 square kilometers, 250 km long and 50 km large, it is the biggest lake inside the desert of the world. It is very hot there, the hottest area in Africa! This lake is ranked in the Humanity Patrimonial by the UNESCO. On the shores, we found the most ancient human skeleton of Homo Habilis. This lake is an important reproduction zone for the Nile crocodiles, where they can grow very fast and very big. You can also find a lot of Nile perches in the lake. Around this lake, there are three National parks: Sibiloa (reproduction zone for Nile crocodile), Central Island and south island. The Jade Sea is considered as the most beautiful National site of Kenya thanks to the beautiful jade color of the lake inside the surrounding desert.