Caves in Bungoma
Namunyu Cave: A Place of Beauty and Myth
The appeal of caves is, obviously, primal. Caves draw in visitors for their origin, beauty, history and myths. They offer, in their darkness, both an instant physical reward – shelter – and something more metaphysical. Although they vary greatly in size, shape and origin, caves, for millenniums, not only provided shelter but seem to have been considered a contact zone with the otherworldly and the magical. Prehistoric people used them as burial sites and ritualistic art galleries.
Like many caves around Kenya, Namunyu Caves is marred and slopped in myth and rituals. Reached via C42 Bungoma-Chwele-Namunyu Road or Bungoma-Malaba Road then Kimaeti-Malakisi-Namunyu Road, the obscure Namunyu Cave, within the farmlands close to Namunyu Primary School, is cranked up by the fact that it is the burial site for many revered Bukusu orators, who include: Maina owa Nalukale, Mutonyi owa Nabukelembe, Wakhuluunya and Namunyu Lubunda.
This portentous cave, often vaunted as an important seminal ancestral shrine, holds spellbinding chronicles of ancient “ancestor worship”, which in the old-world Bukusu beliefs was an attempt to preserve good spirits. It is also venerated as a traditional shrine commonly used by Legio Maria Sect, yet, beneath this veil of foreboding, is a great site for a no-frills out of the ordinary discovery trip, and a lovely area to enjoy a few hours of walking through the boondock bucolic setting.
From Kimaeti, a murram track road runs up through the farms to the north-east edge of Bungoma County, passing Malakisi, where the Daraja la Mungu and the Malakisi Falls are located. Malakisi in the local lingua means a place of gold. Started in 1848, Malakisi is one of the oldest town in western Kenya and among the first industrial centres in the region. At the border between Bungoma and Busia, Malakisi, for many decades, was fuelled by a vibrant cotton industry.
While Kenya may not be as well-known for its caves as some other destinations, there are still some fascinating caving sites worth exploring. Before embarking on a caving expedition, it’s essential to ensure safety by going with a knowledgeable local guide, wearing appropriate gear, and being aware of potential hazards.
Index of Caves in Kenya
Baringo County - Lomechan Cave, Bomet County - Kipsegon Caves, Bungoma County - Elephant Calving Cave, Namunyu Cave, Busia County - Kakapel Rock Shelter, Elgeyo Marakwet County - Mela Cave, Kiplagoch Caves, Embu County - God's Bridge Cave, Kajiado County - Oloolua Caves, Suswa Caves, Enkapune Ya Muto, Kakamega County - Lirhanda Cave, The Mukai Stone Cave, Kericho County - Van Wicker's Caves, Bagao Caves, Relesic Cave, Chebulu Caves, Kiambu County - The Paradise Lost Cave, Kwale County - Fikirini Caves, Shimoni Caves, Machakos County - Hyena Caves, Makueni County - Kisula Caves, Meru County - Mucheene Cave, Liga Ria Ngutu, Migori County - Mugabo Caves, Nakuru County - Njoro Caves, Hell's Gate Caves, Nandi County - Ngabunat Cave, Taita Taveta County - Dawida Cave, Mwangeka Cave, Taita Skull Cave, Kenyatta Caves, Leviathan, Tharaka Nithi County - Inanduru Bat Cave, Trans Nzoia County - Kitum Cave, Macking’eny Cave, Ngwarishah Cave, Chepnyalil Cave, Kamariny Cave, Vihiga County - Mungoma Caves, Givavei Rock Cave, Wajir County - Shaletey
outlook
Touring Bungoma County a rich cultural and natural experience. Visit the local villages to experience traditional Luhya culture, including music, dance, and food. The Luhya are known for their vibrant cultural heritage. Around Bungoma County are many great spots for photography and to appreciate the nature’s beauty.
You Are Here: Namunyu Cave
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Explore Destinations Near Namunyu Cave
A Guide to Bungoma County
A Summa Digest of Bungoma
About Bungoma Way Back When
26 Destinations in Bungoma County, arranged as one would visit these - north, south east then west - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Mount Elgon National Reserve, Elephants Maternity Ward, Chepkitale Forest, Kaptama Viewpoint, Chemoge High Altitude Training Camp, Bukusu Cultural Centre, Maeni Shrine, Namunyu Cave, Daraja la Mungu, Malakisi Falls, Kabuchai Hills, Teremi Falls, Chwele Market, Muyayi Dam, Luucho Hills, Musikoma Hills, Hunters Paraside Cottages, Bungoma Sports Club, Mwibale wa Mwanja, Buteyo Miti Park, Sangalo Rocks, Chetambe Fort, Old Webuye Mills, Nabuyole Falls, Kumfunje Bridge, Mwikhupo Falls
Know More About Bungoma County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
Bungoma lies is within the Lake Victoria Basin, rising from 1200 ms in the west and southwest to over 4,000 ms in the north near Mt. Elgon – the most prominent landmark, featuring a large protected forest park.
Annual temperature in Busia County vary between 0°C and 32°C due to different levels of attitude, with the highest peak of Mount Elgon recording low temps., slightly less than 0°C.
