The Southern Adventure (Part 2)

 Challa Charm

Few people know of its existence. Its story is as mystical as its existence  Tucked deep within a crater on a remote part of the Kenya-Tanzania border lies an exquisite piece of gem. A caldera lake like no other, this beautiful 4.5 square kilometer and 94-metre deep water mass actually changes color from hues of green to blue and turquoise depending on the season. The experience is just breathtaking.  Welcome to Lake Challa!

Lake challa

Lake Challa lies 100 metres deep within a crater, with heavily forested rims. It is said to have been formed thousands of years ago through explosive volcanic eruptions. It gets its crystal-clear waters from underground streams originating from the Kilimanjaro.

  

The nearest town and easiest way to get to Challa is via the town of Taveta, from which you can drive North to the lake. Like Taita Hills, you’ll need more than an estate wagon to manouvre through the rocky dry-weather access roads that link up to Challa.

The descent down the caldera slope to the surface of the lake isn’t any easier; safari boots will come in handy. And you’ll have to watch out for slithery reptiles; We encountered at least two serpents during our visit there. Word has it that some white settler introduced crocs into the lake in the early 1900s. However, the last documented case of a crocodile attack was way back in 2001, so a plunge into the crystalline waters shouldn't be that a risky affair.

'You will need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to challa'

There are no notable places of accommodation on the Kenyan side near the lake. For the adventurous, a tented weekend out should be quite an experience. The upper slopes provide ample grounds for this.

 

'The crystal-clear waters of Challa'

The Southern Adventure (Part 1)

         The Allure of The Misty Hills

One of the rocky hill outcrops

Driving up the Sagalla massif from Voi town, along the narrow winding dry weather roads, the change of scenery from the arid savanna that is the lowlands to the lush greens that are the indigenous forests with  plant species found nowhere else in Kenya, I’m introduced to a kind of  flora and fauna combination I never thought existed before. From the happy call of the birds, eerie sounds by little-known animal species and the sway of tropical branches to the gentle breeze that constantly brushes against the misty hills, the view only gets better with every excruciating inch up the little more than beaten tracks that are the access roads. Yes, the roads are the only downside if being hurled up and down the cabin isn’t exactly your idea of adventure. But for the spirited adventurer, the journey’s worth every minute of it. This is one place you’ll find trees with colored leaves, like the way autumn leaves develop awesome hues of red and purple in the temperate regions.

The one thing that makes this place so unique is its climate; The blend of coastal warmness and the humidity in the higher altitudes brings forth a delicate balance that supports this diversity. And you don’t really expect people to be staying along this seemingly unexploited territory until you get to the peak and you find yourself amidst beautiful and very friendly people.

The road from Mwatate to Wundanyi

The other interesting drive around this region is from Mwatate, up the hills to Wundanyi. The view here is just out of this world. Massive rock outcrops amidst the serene vegetation as you wind your way up towards Wundanyi will just get you clicking away. The best view near here you can get from a District Hospital situated about fifteen minutes past Wundanyi town. You can view Voi town and the plains below from here and there’s a massive 150 metre rock outcrop that’s quite a sight to behold.

There’s something about the water table in the entire Taita Hills range; everywhere you go, crystal-clear water seems to be seeping from the rocks into tiny rivulets.

How to Get There

Uniquely located within the larger coastal region of south-western Kenya in Taita Taveta County, Taita hills presents possibly one of the most overlooked or least known travel destinations in Kenya. Lying along latitude  3°25´ and longitude  38°20´, the hills offer an exhilarating escape into the heart of nature.

 The hills are a low-lying mountain range with several peaks, the most notable ones being Sagala, located near Voi township,  Kasigau near Kenya’s border with Tanzania and Dawida.

Now, most of Taita Taveta county is a no-go zone unless you have a powerful four-wheel drive vehicle. The only tarmacked road is from Voi, (the largest town in the region) to mwatate, then the branch from Mwatate to Wundanyi. It’s not much of a road though, but it’s just what you need for the complete hilly experience.

The hills are easily accessible from both Nairobi and Mombasa, the country’s largest and second largest cities respectively. If using public transport, you can get a bus to Voi from where you can get vans to Sagala and Wundanyi. It costs around Ksh.1000(USD 12) from Nairobi to Voi and around Ksh400(USD 5) from Mombasa.

The general aerial view with Wundanyi town in the middle