Shetani Lava Flows, Kenya

The Shetani Lava Flows in the Tasvo Wests National Park of Kenya is a spectacular sight of hardened volcanic lava.

Located about 4 kilometres west of the Chyulu entrance gate to Tsavo West National Park, on the road to Amboseli, the Shetani Lava Flows were formed only a few hundred years ago.

Shetani means devil in Kiswahili. The lava flows produced red fire flames and hot flowing rivers. The lava spread for 50 square kilometres across the reserve. The black remains of the lava flow are 8 kilometres long, 1.6 kilometres wide, and 5 metres deep.

The last major eruption of lava was around 200-500 years ago. The lava may have travelled from the Amboseli to Tsavo West road to the area of Shetani.

There are also the Shetani Caves nearby, which are also the result of volcanic activity.

MARTINA NICOLLSis an international aid and development consultant, and the authorof:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom(2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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