Hell’s Gate

An “African childhood” movie

Hell’s Gate is a narrow gorge in Kenya, north of Nairobi, a few miles away south of Lake Naïvasha. Millions of years ago, the gorge was the overflow of a then much larger lake. The excess water poured into the gorge, at breakneck speeds.

The opening of the gorge. Today’s Naïvasha lake is a bare few miles away to the north. Imagine the lake reaching here during the rainy season and pouring down the gorge. Hell’s Gate is now a National Park. Not in 1968 or ’69 when we lived in Kenya. No wardens. No tickets. No other “tourists” than us.

Very odd geological structures can be found at Hell’s Gate. My recent research tells me that some of the settings of The Lion King animated picture were inspired by the site. Looking back I’m not surprised. Maybe I should have included “Hakuna Matata” in the sound track. Too late. It’s done.

Another giant monolith. Don’t let the picture fool you. This thing is huge.

Lava and ash from a recent volcanic eruption. Coupla centuries. Yesterday.

“Marmite du Diable”. Devil’s kettle. A pothole formed over thousands, millions (?) of years by hard rocks turning inside a softer rock in a whirlpool formed by the rushing water… That was a biiig kettle.

Right to left: my father Cyril, Mrs D’Alberto, the wife of the French Commercial Attaché (great friends of my parents), on the left, I have no idea who the Lady was. French Embassy I think. I’m glad I finished “post-producing” these movies, in a few years, I won’t remember anybody’s name.

Those one-day safaris were a common affair for us during the dry season. Pick up a destination, and hit the road.

Volcanic hill. I’m not quite sure why the grown-ups, whenever they saw a hill, all jumped in a frenzy: “Let’s climb the hill!”. Who understands grown-ups anyway?

A “2001 Space Odyssey” landscape. Never seen anything like that afterwards… Part of a Tomb Raider movie was shot here. Good location. It was strange to recognise the place in the movie.

It was an all-family affair. My mother, Denise and Danik Savary. A “normal life” for us kids.

Yours truly in the African heat on the lava fields.

“Encore” climbing a hill. Grownups, I tell you.

The final, extremely narrow gorge going down. (Probably snakes all around). Can you imagine the excess water of a huge lake pouring down this narrow stretch?

Hop on Equinoxio’s Time-Space shuttle to the Gates of Hell. Flight attendants Mick, Keith et al, will take care of your entertainment.