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Published: April 29th 2008
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Wow, what a week it has been, last Wednesday I set off with my 1 other group member - yes there are only 2 of us right now? How bizarre is that? I was a bit miffed at first but it has all worked out well. Kelly and myself are getting on well and having a great time, we're also making the most of having the whole truck to oursleves!!! We also have 2 crew, a driver and a guide, they're both Zimbabweans and are really cool too, plus Heath the guide can really cook which is great!!!! Heath says that this first 3 weeks as we head North is never as popular so that explains why there are only 2 of us. When we get back to Nairobi we're picking up more people which will be good I'm sure. It's not so bad as every campsite has a fully fitted bar etc and there are always other overlander trucks there which is good so we get to meet loads of people....Most of all I'm looking forawrd to handing over their share of all the daily chores hehe - washing up, cooking cleaning - its a tough life out here ;-)
So what have we actually been doing?
Day 1
We set off from the hotel, picked up some provisions and headed off. The roads are sooooo bumpy so they took some getting used to, and the journeys are lengthy at times as we're covering so much ground.
Lunch was at the roadside,I figured it would be picnic style, but no, out came the table the chairs, the chopping boards - all at the roadside!!!
Then we continued, on to Kembu campsite, set out from the town of Nakuru, it's v pretty with a great bar, hot showers and some over friendly dogs too?!
A quick lesson in putting up the tents, dinner then bed as we had an early start...
DAY 2
We were up at 5am and left at 6am, not keen on the early starts but hey they're worth it! We got to Lake Nakuru National Park at 7ish and set off, Kelly and I had the whole van to ourselves which was great as we had no problems seeing, and pictures were easy to take, within the first half hour we spotted 3 Leopard, a mum, and 2 cubs, it was amazing as there are
only 10 in the whole park and it's not easy to find them. We followed them for a good hour and a half at one stage an Impala attack was imminent but they cooled off. Then onwards, we saw buffalo, zebra, impala, warthog, ostrich, flamingos, rhinoceros,and goodness knows what else, i took hundreds of photos and they came out great which was good. We stopped for a rest at 12 ish to get out of the heat and get some lunch, we went to Nakuru Lodge, a v fancy all inclusive resort based in the park, it was really nice, baffoons would run around your table and the food was great. The afternoon we just drove around before heading back through town to the campsite. It had been a great day, nice to get out of the truck and do something and we were amazed at how much we saw.
DAY 3
An early leave as we headed to Eldoret, the journey wasnt too bad, managed to sleep most of the way....
The campsite was great, the most amazing bar with little attic rooms, pool tables etc - like a big tree house...
After lunch we went on a
walk to the forest where we saw loads of Colobus monkeys. It was nice to stretch the old legs, we went with another truck who we'll be seeing a lot of so I got to know them too, one's from Execeter?!
The rest of the day we chilled, drank, ate, you know all those gruelling things... Oh yeah at all these sites they run you a bar bill which you pay off at the end - BAD NEWS!
DAY 4
Today was a long drive, crossing the border into Uganda which unbelievably took 2 hours to pass a 100m stretch, several cursings at young children insistent at selling you bananas, naturally exchange of dollars and all in the midday heat?! We were glad to get through, and even better to get to the campsite before dark!!! We pitched up quickly and got dinner on the go... the site was amazing, right on the Nile, the showers were open on one side so you faced out to the Nile - really cool, but no hot water was a blow...!The site was packed as was the bar that night, the music was pretty loud and consistent all night long...
DAY
5
White Water Rafting on the Nile!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WOW - 5.5 hours, 30kms, 12 rapids Grade 2-6 and a lot of time spent soaking wet, or swalling tasty Nile water. It was a real laugh, some were better than others, but the whole thing was tops. I floated for 4kms of flat which was most bizarre but good fun too. Lunch was eaten on the rafts, but only light as we knew we would be swimming after. Have a DVD of it so you can all have a laugh at that. Then a big dinner by the riverside before heading back to cold showers and a preview of the video - it's really well done!
DAY 6
A really lazy day, up late then headed into town although there wasnt all that much around, the afternoon we just sat around sunbathing by the pool, that was before the 3 hour torrential downpour came, we took refuge in the restaurant,and had dinner there too?! The rainy season has started much to their delight, but it leads to messy camping for us......ah well all is fun.
In Kampala now, heading off to Kabale, then On the 4th we'll be in the
Congo (?!) chasing some Gorillas.
Ok i have to go, had to rush this as net is soooo slow. So much more to say about the country, the people, the roads the accidents.... it's a little grim and shocking at times, but every day you see or learn something new which is great.
Hope all is well in the UK, feel free to update me on your daily routines, wildlife spotting, river swims...?! Take care love Rachel xx
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