So last year while on a tour of Machakos – a county in Eastern Kenya, I travelled to the Fourteen Falls. Fourteen Falls is a spectacular 27 meter deep waterfall that derives its name from the 14 distinct falls that cut across the Athi River.
The sign welcoming you to the falls
The first thing I noticed was the smell then when I got closer to the falls I noticed the foam. Having been to Fourteen falls before this was not what I had expected. I must admit I was disappointed but I’ll leave the rant for another day.
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the amount of garbage running down the side of the river under the falls and, well pretty much everywhere, is a real eye sore and certainly limits the experience
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The falls are still a sight to behold from afar. The closer you get the faster they lose their allure. You do get used to the smell the longer you stay. I really don’t think there is much more that I can add lest I dissuade anyone from ever going to visit the falls. Here some spectacular views of the falls …
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There is a lot to see and do while in this scenic site, boating, fishing, photography, plant identification, and bird watching among other activities. The falls are impressive; however the amount of garbage and pollution all over the place is a huge detriment and tarnishes the experience. The falls have so much potential if it were not the neglect from the authorities.
14 falls are located near Thika town about 65 Kilometres North East of Nairobi off Thika-Garissa Road turning at Makutano junction.
The charges to get in are as follows. Kenya Citizens Adult: Ksh 200 Children: Ksh 100. Residents: Adults Ksh 1000 Children 100 Ksh. Non Residents: Adults USD 20, Children USD 10. The County Council also charges extra Ksh 150 for cameras.
I’d like to thank Karue for allowing me to use his photographs. Please check out his photography page on Facebook.
Meanwhile Safari254 has been nominated for a Bloggers Association of Kenya (BAKE) award in the best travel category. Please spare a minute of your time and VOTE for me.
This week I am linking up with;
1. #SundayTraveler
2. Noel Morata’s Travel Photo Mondays.
Be sure to head there and check them out.
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29 Comments
Great photos…
It is a great place for an afternoon outing, picnic or even bird watching event. Unfortunately as you mentioned the place is neglected and could do with some little attention from the authorities.
I last went to 14 falls as a 10 year old, was back their last year and they are still the same, save for the pollution.
What an amazing place Fourteen falls is! Sad to see so much garbage at such a beautiful place. Love your photos!
Oh how gorgeous and also disappointing, the amazing vistas and nature in all it’s splendor to be spoiled with garbage and junk – it’s sad when things like this don’t matter and the traveler get a not so good impression. But I’m glad you did show both sides of the picture and not just the postcard view.
I’m so impressed by these waterfalls – so massive and stunning. Do you think that one day would be enough to explore the place?
The falls look so grand and magnificent in your photos from far away. But oh dear, all that rubbish is just so awful. I can almost smell it. Kind of sewer-like? That’s really too bad. I hope the authorities and the people upstream wise up to what a treasure they have and better maintain it. It’s problem here in Malaysia, too.
These falls are absolutely gorgeous! Sad about the trash – you should submit those photos to MyTanFeet’s ‘trash in paradise’ series if you haven’t already 🙂 Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler!
So gorgeous but disappointing. Authorities must save this beauty.
What a great place!
Love, love, love the falls…not a fan of the garbage! Great photos as always!
Oh wow, from a distance they look spectacular but I can’t believe the amount of garbage. Hopefully one day there will be more of an effort to tidy it up. Thanks for linking up to #SundayTraveler!
It really is a huge shame when local authorities dont clean up national treasures that they could easily earn money off of with tourists visiting the surrounding areas. Great pictures all the same.
OMG! How could the Government allow this things to happen? They keep on collecting money from the people yet they don’t know how to clean it. I’m so sorry about the place 🙁
Voted! Congrats on the nomination – you deserve it! It’s a shame that the falls are so polluted, but hopefully your post will call attention to the problem so that they’ll get cleaned up!
Thanks for voting Dana :)!
This is just too sad. I have never visited the falls 🙁 I wonder what can be done to salvage to scenic beauty.
Your pictures of the falls are awesome, but I am so saddened by all of that garbage! Why can’t they clean it up?! That’s just awful!!!
As always, you have no idea how much I look forward to your posts, Rachel! I mean that and have shared that so many times now. I had the same reaction as Michele in the almost “sewer like” environment. That falls are absolutely spectacular and it’s sooooo sad to see that folks would allow this to happen. Ok, so when is your next post…the excited little kid in me?? LOL… 🙂
Thanks for the encouraging words Mike! I have a very hectic schedule, but I try as much to post at least once a week. I’l try and post something either Sunday or Monday this coming week.:)
Fourteen Falls is truly majestic. Sad to hear about the smell qnd th trash. I hope this postwil wake wake up people to such issue.
I’ve voted! Good luck, mu dear!
Sucks about all the garbage there, but the falls itself looks amazing!
Stunning photos of the 14 Falls. I love how you captured its beauty. It really is too bad about the pollution and the smell. It’s too bad it can be such a deterrent for visitors and almost takes away from the majesty of the waterfalls.
What a spectacular set of waterfalls and an impressive bunch of photos. Thank you for introducing me to them. I hope one day they get cleaned up.
Despite the garbage it looks beautiful! I absolutely love waterfalls. The trash is really a sad sight to see though 🙁
Nice photos, but you’re right, the trash in the water really does take away from the beauty of the falls.
It’s time we stand up for our rivers just the same way we stood for trees. This is so sad.
Thank you Rachael. Very beautiful photos!
I just live in Tanzania, and I was not aware of this waterfall, I will visit it some days, so beautiful in deed!