Blogs from Mt. Kenya, Central Province , Kenya, Africa - page 3

Today was the beginning of what would soon become a long journey. One that would take us miles across a mountain until we reached its frost bitten peak. We went to the entrance of Mt.Kenya and stood there and paid off the entrance fees for each challenger. We all stood there and were introduced to our mountain guides: Charles, Isac, and Robert. We all loaded up our supplies and got into the jeeps and entered the mountain. We drove across the gentle valleys and it was like looking at an evergreen heaven. The plain was vast and we drove until we reached the forest. We were driving through an open orange paved pathway and we were driven to the half way mark to the Med.Station. We were dropped off and we began the rest of the ... read more

After spending 10 days in Tanzania enjoying a wonderful trek up Mount Kilimanjaro on the Machame Route and ending my stay in this lovely country with some great safari in Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park, it was time for some more mountain adventures in Kenya. The bus-ride from Moshi to Nairobi was supposed to take 6 hours according to the books, but it took me more than 9 bumpy hours before I finally arrived in the capital. I had been given a lot of warnings about this supposedly crime-hit city before I came here so I decided to be a little bit more careful and use a lot of common sense when walking in the streets downtown. On my descent from Mt.Kenya I actually met a couple who had been badly mugged by ... read more

We leave for Nairobi today...it is another beautiful day here: sunny, warm, but with a bit of morning coolness in the fresh mountain air... I could see Mt Kenya as I ran this morning, and the farms and field were bright with dew. On the way back, I came across a group of young teens by the road....they called out to me and I went over. After the usual greetings of good morning, and handshakes, the brave one made several jokes at my expense, and then asked for 10 shillings...I showed, to more laughter, that I had nothing on me and then he asked for my "googles" (sunglasses)...or my Thatuna Rest Home hat...Again, to laughter, I explained that I have light eyes, not African eyes, and needed them in the sun... And then when I took ... read more

Tag #40 Heute ist eine Wanderung am Fusse des Mount Kenya angesagt und die Besichtigung des Mau Mau Cave's. In den frühen Morgenstunden haben wir freie Sicht auf den Mount Kenya, welcher zu späteren Stunden immer hinter Wolken verborgen bleibt. Die Wanderung führt uns durch Felder und Wälder, zum Teil trocken, zum Teil nass. Die Landschaft ist wunderschön... und überall sind Fussabdrücke von Elefanten. Meine Guide erzählt mir, dass hier Elefanten leben und sich in der freien Natur bewegen. Ausschauhaltend, werden wir nach über 2 Stunden Wanderung belohnt, und treffen auf eine Herde Elefanten. Doch diese sind scheu und müssen die Elefantenbabys beschützen: so rennen die weiblichen Elefanten mit den Kleinen davon, während die männlichen in schützender Position diese folgen. Die Wanderung geht weiter zum Mau Mau Cave. Der Ort ist überhaupt nicht "sehenswert", ist aber ... read more

There is something interesting and sometimes hard about living in place where you are the "different" one. I cannot be anonymous or "invisible" once outside my room. Whether I'm out running on the road at 7:00 am or walking to the little stands down the road to buy vegetables, or in town shopping, I am not just me, going along with my life, but someone noticebly different....someone that makes others "take note". This morning I ran down to the river, about two miles along a beautiful curving road that follows the edge of the valley. I was a little later than usual, and lots of people were walking to their fields or jobs. Lots of being noticed...although many runners come from this part of world, so running isn't unusual in itself. A matatu passed me on ... read more