In the vast tapestry of time, certain places stand as portals to our ancient past. One such mystical enclave is the Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site, a treasure trove of history nestled in the heart of time. Before visiting this archaeological wonder, you want to know its location, entrance fee, and opening hours.
In this article, we discuss the Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site, including its location, entrance fee, and opening hours. Keep reading to find out!
The Location of Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site and Museum
Hyrax Hill Museum is easy to access from Nakuru CBD or Nairobi City. If you are in Nakuru’s town center, the prehistoric site is four kilometers away. If traveling from Nairobi, you must drive around 152 kilometers along the Nairobi-Nakuru road.
Then, get away from the highway and cover around 400 meters to arrive at the museum. You will see the signboard showing when you arrive.
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The History of Hyrax Hill $ Background Information
The Hyrax Hill is a volcanic rock spur that rises 2,100 meters above sea level. It covers a land space of around fifty-nine hectares. The hill got its name from the fact that the area had many hyraxes before. Its environs are lush with long grasses and bushes.
The Hyrax Hill has many caves that locals believe were once home to the Sirikwa pastoralists (from the Kalenjin tribe). Mrs.Selfe, a colonial British farmer, discovered this prehistoric site before the 1920s.
However, the National Museums of Kenya made the site accessible in 1965. The Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site and Museum became a monument in 1945. It is among the historic and archaeological sites that Dr. Mary Leakey once excavated.
Rom J. Clerk and J.C. Onyango Abuje are two other archaeologists who did their work at the site. According to these researchers, the site’s history is over three thousand years old.
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What Is the Entry Fee?
Hyrax Hill is an affordable place for children and adults. If you are a Kenyan Citizen and an adult, you will pay KES 200. If you come with kids, each will pay a fee of KES 100. Note that a kid is any child who is below sixteen years old.
Hyrax Hill’s site and museum attract visitors from other countries. Some are usually stopovers while traveling to Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha, and other Rift Valley lakes.
Others are East African residents of Kenya who choose Hyrax Hill as one of their weekend getaways. Hence, you will pay KES 600 if you are an adult resident and KES 400 per child below 16 years.
Adult tourists from other countries should pay a fee of KES 1200 and KES 600 for their kids.
Opening Hours and Attractions
Those looking to visit this museum should arrive anytime from 9 AM. The place remains open until 6.30 PM, allowing visitors to enter anytime.
The Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site and Museum is a beautiful white house with green accents. It is a hidden gem with preserved things you should know about, including:
- Pottery – The museum has pieces of ancient pottery. It shows that early settlers used pottery for food preparation, serving, and storage.
- Early Stone Tools – Researchers and archaeologists have found stone tools like blades, scrapers, and axes over the years. This is yet another indicator of early human settlements in the region.
- Domestic Animal Remnants – Sheep, cattle, and goat skulls suggest that the early settlers were pastoralists.
- Tomb sites – The archaeologists have also found many tombs. Their structure has helped them discover the burial practices of the early settlers.
- Structures – The Hyrax Hill Museum showcases circular hut designs and other enclosures that served as habitations in the past. We can tell how the ancient inhabitants organized their societies by looking at their huts.
- Wildlife – The Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site and Museum shelters some wild animals. These are tortoises and guinea fowl.
Dead stuffed animals like flamingos and waterbucks are also available for viewing. The place also showcases the type of musical instruments that the early inhabitants of Hyrax Hill had.
If you are fond of learning new cultures, you can discover the deep history of the Kalenjins.
Who Frequents Hyrax Hill Museum and What Else Is Attractive?
Although the place is open to any member of the public, it regularly welcomes schoolchildren. Since they study history in school, kids get a chance to learn about the earliest Rift Valley settlers.
Adults who come here arrive over the weekends and are usually workmates or colleagues on a team-building mission. If you plan to visit Lake Nakuru over the end-of-the-year holidays, you should tour this place too. You can catch the views of Lake Nakuru from above the hill and watch birds.
