Machakos County is a combination of rural countryside and bustling metropolis, located 70 km south of Nairobi and only 30 minutes drive from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. The name Machakos was adopted by a seer from Akamba known as Masaku, who welcomed the British to Kambaland; in 1887, the region was established as the first administrative center of the new British colony in East Africa.
Machakos County is a wonderful destination to explore outside of Nairobi, characterized by fertile and verdant stretches of land. On the way from the capital to Machakos County, travelers are greeted by vast savannah grasslands with a chain of farms teeming with wildlife.
The village of Machakos is surrounded by hills which offer a truly picturesque view. At the other extreme is the Yatta Plateau, the world's largest flow of maggots, and the Masinga Dam, Kenya's largest man-made water reservoir.
A variety of top notch events take place in Machakos throughout the year, from celebrations of the ancient customs of the Kamba people to exciting dates on the sports calendar.
Machakos People's Park
The popular Machakos Park offers panoramic views of the surrounding hills and captivating views of the Maruba Dam, making it the perfect place to relax and unwind. The park is home to Africa's only open-air amphitheater, a "dancing water" fountain, a children's play area and restaurants. The park is a perfect weekend getaway for families, retreats and team building activities.
Wamunyu Handicraft Center
This sculpture mall was created in honor of the late Mutisya Munge, who served in the British Army during World War I in neighboring Tanganyika. After the war, he began sculpting figures, using skills he had learned from the Makonde people, whose homeland straddles the Mozambique-Tanzania border. Then Mutisya brought the knowledge of sculpture in his hometown of Wamunyu to Masaku. Many of the fine handicrafts and artifacts carved here can be found in galleries and upscale craft shops, both locally and abroad. These sculptures have become a moving symbol of the newfound fortune of the local Kamba people. A visit to the center provides a fascinating insight into the history of how one man's skills helped transform the Wamunyu community.
Wild animals
The farms along Mombasa Road are an excellent starting point for nature walks, cycling and game drives. This stunning expanse of savanna offers a truly wild African experience, home to cheetahs, zebras, elk, oryx, giraffes, ostriches and antelopes, to name a few.
Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park, located 52 miles northeast of Nairobi, is dominated by a mountain covered in montane forest and is home to more than 45 species of birds, including the grey-headed sparrow, weaver, pigeon pigeon, the augur vulture and the African pied. wagtail. Buffalo are the dominant animal in the savannah, although visitors can also expect to see bushbuck, olive baboons, pythons and maybe even a leopard or two.
Machakos County offers visitors a wealth of historical sites and cultural attractions, many of which are a legacy of its time as a favorite retreat for foreign royalty and dignitaries on hunting trips. With its colonial past, the region has long attracted the world's elite.
Sports tourism
Annual sporting attractions include the Masaku Sevens rugby tournament, the Tour de Machakos cycle race, Masinga TT endurance races and Rhino Charge, an off-road car racing competition. The modern Kenyatta Stadium has hosted several international football and rugby union tournaments, as well as being home to domestic football clubs. visitors can go there to watch Kenyan Premier League games every weekend. Water sports are available at Masinga Dam, the high altitude training ground for water sports in Kenya.
Adventure
The landscapes of Machakos are an open invitation to adrenaline junkies eager to quench their thirst for adventure. The area is popular for rock climbing, hiking, exploring hyena caves and water sports in the shadow of the Masinga Dam. Meanwhile, motorsport enthusiasts will enjoy exploring the semi-arid and mountainous terrain of Machakos in 4x4 vehicles or ATVs.
Entertainment and nightlife
Machakos' proximity to Nairobi means it's something of an entertainment hotspot, with plenty of lively nightclubs to visit after the sun goes down and countless events throughout the day. Machawood is an entertainment center for film, media and the arts, hosting an annual New Year's Eve party. The center also hosts talent searches, film competitions and training seminars for local musicians, artists and film fans. .
macmillan castle
Lord William Northrup Macmillan built this massive 32-bedroom mansion as a hunting lodge and lived there for many years with his wife. It features high ceilings, underground bunkers and fine Edwardian furnishings. The house was officially declared a national monument in 2008 and there are plans to turn it into a museum. No wonder, as the castle has hosted many distinguished guests over the years, including former US President Theodore Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Sir Evelyn Baring, Prince Amedeo of Belgium, and the Duke of Aosta, among others. The Macmillans were prominent philanthropists and left a lasting legacy in Kenya, including the McMillan Memorial Library in central Nairobi.
African Heritage House
Situated on a plain overlooking Nairobi National Park, this impressive building was designed by American Alan Donovan, co-founder of the African Heritage Pan African Gallery. The house is an exemplary showcase of many traditional clay styles of architecture found in Africa, while the elegant rooms are filled with luxurious furnishings and African art.
Koma Rock Shrine
Koma Rock Sanctuary is located 13 kilometers east of Nairobi, in the heart of Ukambani, the traditional homeland of the Akamba people, for whom this rocky and mountainous place has long been considered sacred. Akamba elders used to travel here to offer sacrifices to their gods, and according to devotees, many miracles took place here. One is said to have happened in 1971, when civil engineers building the Kangundo-Nairobi highway, planning to move the shrine to make way for the highway, were unable to break through the rock and were forced to abandon their planes. ; a sign, say true believers, of higher forces at work. Many visitors to Koma Rock have reported seeing a vision of a mother holding her child. Interpreting this as Jesus and Mary, the Catholic Church has installed a sculpture atop the sanctuary, in honor of the vision: an imposing 70-foot-tall depiction of Jesus being cradled by Mary after being taken down from the cross.
Masinga Dam
A deep sense of serenity generally pervades those who visit Masinga Dam. With the sun's rays dancing across the vast expanse of water it holds back, it really is a sight to behold. In the center of the reservoir is the beautiful island of Gichuki, a perfect place for picnicking and taking photos. The 46 square mile reservoir is a great place for canoeing, kayaking, and many other water sports. The nearby Kobos Resort and Masinga Dam Resort ensure visitors have the perfect place to unwind, dine, relax and enjoy the night.
the monuments
Machakos Town is home to a number of recently erected monuments honoring various local Kamba heroes; this region has been their homeland for at least five centuries. Visitors love to soak up the rich history and culture of the area.
kyamwilu
Located in the Mua Hills, Kyamwilu is one of the strangest places on the African continent. In other words, the laws of gravity are practically ignored. Pour water on the ground here and watch it rise, seemingly defying gravity. Cars parked in neutral seem to go uphill. Many locals believe that this phenomenon has a supernatural explanation: something has angered the local spirits. Scientists, however, have a more prosaic explanation: apparently it's all just an optical illusion caused by the design of the hills, causing the hills to slope slightly downward.
the road seems to go uphill. Visitors can judge for themselves.
Sunset
Machakos offers a seemingly limitless number of vantage points from which to take in the stunning reds and oranges of Kenya's legendary sunsets, from farmland and parkland to gorgeous rolling hills.
Sunset
Fourteen Falls is an 89-foot-tall waterfall whose name derives from the 14 waterfalls that tumble down a wide section of the famous Athi River. From a distance, the waterfall looks like a silent white stream, cascading over rocky outcrops, but as visitors get closer, the deafening roar of water lapping against the rocks can be heard. All of this, combined with the stunning views of the flora of the area and the water jets of the falls, makes for a truly memorable experience.
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