Blogs from Nairobi, Nairobi Province, Kenya, Africa - page 77

the safari was awesome. but I say that everytime. The maasai mara is not a game park, but an area of land just north of the serengetti. It is not fenced and the animals wander freely. The land used to belong to the maasai people who are mainly pastoralists, but the government approached them and asked if they could relocate so that tourists can use the area as well. suprisingly they agreed (or were forced to) and today the villages of the maasai are near the mara but not in. the maasai take their cattle to the water sources in the evening and then allow them to grase where ever. On the way to the Maasai mara we saw goats, zebra, giraffe, cows and sheep. The first day we arrived around 4 pm and immedaitly went ... read more

Time is passing so fast here in Kenya. Maybe it's because I am staying with a family I'm going to miss so much when I leave, it seems to pass faster. Today, I decided to take down the cornrow braids I've been rocking far too long and get a Kenya braid-style. The plan was that I'd have one stylist to take the my braids and wash/condition my hair and the owner would braid it up into a quick style. I got there early and we removed the braids quickly, but when it came to the washing, it took A LOT of time! I haven't had my hair washed that thorougly since I don't know when. The stylist did a really good job and to think she had water from a pitcher that she heated with a ... read more

If you came to Kenya for a two week safari and beach holiday you could leave thinking Kenya was a lovely laid back country of serene beauty where all anyone had to worry about was saying Jambo (hello) and Your Most Welcome to everyone each day. The sad truth though that Kenya is anything but that. Nairobi must be one of the dirtiest, smelliest and most squalid cities I have ever had the displeasure to have been to. A shadow of it's former colonial past, Nairobi is a sprawling metropolis of destitution and violent crime...one very big messy hole. A great introduction to African cities, but not somewhere where you would want to hang around for too long. Nor did we, as we started our long trip northwards over the top of Lake Victoria. The towns ... read more

Having bored people stupid for a long time about how excited we were to be going, it was a bit unsettling the day before we were to fly to be thinking about whether it was such a good idea to be going after all. I mean, anyone in their right mind would jump at the chance to give up a good job, flat, friends and family to go to the arse-end of the world's poorest countries to live like pikies with no income, place to stay or any of modern lives luxuries - well wouldn't they? I made a mental note to make sure I commended myself on my courage if it works out to be an unmissable trip, and to blame Kim forever if it is anything but so less than so. Our parents came ... read more

Jambo Again! Knowing it has been a couple of days does not mean the fun has not continued! Saturday, we spent the day in Sweet Waters. Sweet Waters is a privatly owned game park that should not be missed. While we saw many animals (zebra, giraffe, wart hogs, and impala) there are two other major attractions to Sweet Waters. The beautiful Black Rhino, which I had an almost unfortunate incident of being charged by. While he was beautiful to look at and rather tame, Rhinos have very small brains. And I guess he forgot I was a human and not a tree. Freaked Karl out something fierce! I was calm, but he saw it happening much faster than I did. We have some GREAT photos of it though! The other really cool part of our day ... read more