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Many countries in the world have eerie and mysterious places. Did you know that Kenya has some too? In this video, I will share 6 Most Strange and Mysterious places in Kenya: From ancient burial grounds to spectacular but dangerous natural phenomenon. Let's dive right in! Number 6. Matsigulu Rock Matsigulu Rock, located in Vihiga, appears ordinary from a distance. Its lacerated, parched surface, with gaping cracks seems to have little else to offer. Yet behind this seemingly ordinary appearance, is a cryptic maze of indecipherable writings etched on its surface, that makes this defiant rock almost mythical. All who visit are baffled by the human-like imprints, which add a touch of mystery. However, nothing can prepare you for the sight of a coffin-shaped rock right next to the footprints. The 6 FT rock is securely perched on a smaller one and propped like a real coffin. Villagers of Matsigulu revere it because of its shape. They believe anybody trying to tamper with it could be stretching his luck a bit too far, perhaps even inviting danger in their life. In 2009, a stone mason in the village was struck by an unexplained illness when he attempted to break the rock for construction. The mason is said to have been bedridden for 6 months with a swollen stomach. He only recovered after religious leaders were called in to pray for him. Apparently, the mason had been warned in a dream not to smash the rock because it was somebody’s tomb. Number 5. Namoratunga II also known as Nasura Pillar Site Namoratunga II, is an archaeological site on the west side of Lake Turkana in Kenya. It is regarded as the first archaeo-astronomical site in Sub-Saharan Africa. The site has 19 basalt pillars surrounded by a circular stone formation. The pillars, known as the 'People of Stone' in Turkana, lean in from various directions. According to some archaeologists, this is in alignment with the seven star systems: Triangulum, Pleiades, Bellatrix, Aldebaran, Central Orion, Saiph, and Sirius. The site was initially thought to be a burial site, similar to Namoratunga I. Further research revealed that the pillars were arranged in an unusual pattern that was completely unrelated to any other tombs, but the debate continues. According to local legend, the pillars were once men who had been petrified by the devil after failing his tests. The devil would sing a song, and anyone who showed emotion would be turned into stone. Number 4. Hell’s Kitchen aka Marafa Depression The Marafa depression in Kenya's Kilifi County, more commonly referred to as "Hell's Kitchen", is a series of sun-baked gorges and tall chimney-like structures; Some of which reach 30 meters in height. These structures were perfectly shaped over decades by water and wind erosion. The daytime high temperatures that range from 35 to 50 degrees Celsius are what give the depression its name. The locals refer to the gullies as ‘Nyari’ because of erosion that is exposing layers of sandstone in sparkling whites, pinks, oranges, and deep crimsons; giving the area a magical appearance. Myths are associated with the depression, with the local community attributing it to divine wrath. The myth is that a rich and extravagant family that lived at Marafa would indulge in bathing with valuable cow milk. God, furious at their wasteful actions, punished them by opening the ground beneath their home. The symbolically milky white and blood red sandstone of Hell’s Kitchen serves as a reminder against wastefulness and exorbitance, according to the residents. Another legend claims that there was once a town located where the gorge is now. One day, all the town’s inhabitants received a vision telling them a miracle was coming and to move their town. Everyone moved except one old woman who refused to leave. The abandoned town then supposedly vanished - with the remaining woman still inside - leaving the Marafa Depression in its place. Number 3. The Haunted Pillar of Mbaraki. Mbaraki Pillar's purpose remains a source of intense debate among historians and archaeologists. Local folklore claims that an ancient Arab spirit with powerful magical healing abilities resides within its walls. Some believe this 300-year-old pillar was once a tomb for a prominent person. The first curator of Fort Jesus, James Kirkman, was convinced it was the tomb of a Sheikh from Mbaraki. Despite this, no single burial chamber was ever discovered within Mbaraki Pillar. Because the pillar is hollow in construction, unlike other pillar tombs found on the Swahili coast, it is highly unlikely that it was used as a place of burial. There have been suggestions that it served as a landmark or a lighthouse, but this is also inconclusive. The fantastical ghostly tale of an Arab spirit who lives here adds to the archaeological controversy. Women flock to the base of the pillar to perform fertility rituals in the hope of bearing children. The sick are also known to leave a variety of offerings at its base in the hopes of being cured. Number 2. The Shape Shifting Ondiri Swamp Ondiri Swamp is Kenya's only quaking bog and the continent's second-deepest wetland, after Doula in Cameroon. It is regarded as a natural wonder due to its ability to change shape. Every step you take around the area makes you feel as if you're sinking. Myths and mysteries surround the swamp. There have been stories of people sinking in the swamp and their bones being discovered in Nakuru, Mombasa, or Naivasha. Even if the stories sound ridiculous, they could be true. Number 1. Skull Caves of Taita The Taita Skull Caves are a striking end result of an ancient and strange burial culture practiced among the Wasagalla, Wadawida and Wakasigau people, who inhabited Taita Hills for centuries before Christianity arrived. In the Taita community, dead people were buried for a year. Their bodies would be exhumed at the end of the year and the skull severed from the rest of the body. The skull would then be taken to a sacred cave, to be buried ‘properly’ among the ancestors. At the time of burial, a sharp rock would be placed just above the last neck vertebra to make it easier to remove the skull later. The rock would create a wedge over the decomposing body, making it much simpler to separate it from the rest of the skeleton. The caves had a system for arranging the skulls. The first row of skulls would be stacked near the entrance, facing the setting sun. The skulls in the next row would be arranged by the deceased person's clan or lineage. This type of burial was not afforded to every person. For instance, only the skulls of elderly men over 70 years old would be buried in the caves among the Wadawida. However, the Wasagalla caves contained the skulls of children and women. Thieves and murderers received a totally different treatment – they were thrown to their deaths over the numerous cliffs that dot Taita Hills. Their skulls, trapped in the crevices of these cliffs, can be seen to date in Mount Sagalla. Which place shocked you the most? Leave a comment down below with your answer! If you liked the video, please leave a thumbs up for the algorithm. And if you want more content like this, subscribe and hit the notification bell to be notified when a new video is up. That's it for today, thank you for watching!