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Published: August 25th 2009
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Mum with bub
we were so close to them ...very cute Gosh so much has happened in the last couple of weeks. It feels like we’ve been here for months! We're actually in Tanzania now so have to think back and remember kenya! We arrived in Nairobi on 4th August. Our hotel had sent a driver to pick us up and we had a crazy one hour journey through the centre of Nairobi to Wildebeest Camp on the outskirts. It’s a cool place where you can camp, take a very basic room or a very plush fixed tent. Through Matt’s excellent negotiation skills, we managed to upgraded from the basic no frills room on our first night to the plush end on the second for no extra money. We have to keep reminding ourselves that we’re bargain basement backpackers now! So, I think I’ll bore you if I list everything we’ve done so far so here’s our most memorable moments so far:
Arriving in the airport to the glorious sounds of a multi-harmony gospel choir..what a welcome to Kenya
Safari in the Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Hell's gate... we spent an amazing five days, camping in the wild, watching a pride of Lions hunt the Zebra and cycling with
the giraffes (such cool looking animals!). Also saw wildebeest, hippos, rhinos, buffalo, baboons, flamingos, warthogs, impala....the list goes on!
Visiting a Masai village. A weird but memorable experience. It's kind of awkward because you pay to go in and they put on a show (jumping, dancing...) but it's still interesting as you get to see how these tribes are still living according to their customs - the huts are made with cow dung (and yes they do smell) and the women do all the work in the camp while the men mind the cattle and hang around looking gorgeous in their red cloaks.
Taking the overnight train from Nairobi to Mombasa. A 12 hour journey which ended up being 16 but very enjoyable as we very slowly chugged through national park, watching the elephants wander by as we ate breakfast! As we passed through the villages, all the kids chased down to the railway line to wave (one little boy did a great dance too!)
Meeting Ingalene and Anne, our two gorgeous Danish friends who we have dubbed the human juke box duo. We met them on Safari and ended up travelling together to Lamu. We had
a lot of fun singing every tune you can imagine at any given opportunity! Their specialiaty is Aqua and Swahili hip hop :o)
Arriving in Lamu Island by boat. It's a wonderful Swahili town off the north east coast of Kenya. It feels like stepping back in time and wandering through scenes from the bible - only donkeys for transport and women in long veils and men in skirts and beards.
Matt's birthday on the 14th - we went out on a Dow boat from Lamu and sailed around Manda island and Manda toto. Went fishing and bbq'd our catch for lunch. Sailed back at sunset to a huge singalong (the girls were in flying form). Our favourite tune of the day was our captain singing "If you're happy and you know it....close your eyes" (he had run out of actions by his turn!!
The kids on Lamu - They were so cute and as soon as they saw us would chant "Mzungo Mzungo Jambo Jambo Jambo Hello How Are You I am Fine Thank You Very Much!!!" The touts were a bit more slick - their approach was - hey friends, where you from - "oh
England? cockney Geezer" (to Matt) or "Oh Ireland?, Conas a ta tu?! ( to me)"
Getting the local tour of Lamu from Julius who works at Jambo House (great hostel by the way in case anyone's going there!). First he took us to the Friday night disco where we danced under the stars (and all the boys wanted to dance with Matt!). The next day, he took us to meet his cousins and we all had fresh coconuts which he got for us by shimmying up the tree ...cool fast food!
Taking the 9 hour bus trip from Mombasa to Arusha. Ok this is memorable for all the wrong reasons ...dusty, dirty, crowded, no stops for food and ...the window fell out of the bus!! actually that was quite funny! the driver stopped to figure it all out and lots of people got off too stretch their legs. The next minute he took off without explaining to anyone what was happening ...i had to watch poor Matt frantically running behind the bus while I was desperately trying to find out where we were going. I was told to relax ...we were just looking for the window! Matt was
very relieved to see us 20 minutes later. Especially as just after he got back on the bus, an Elephant wandered across the road.
...gotta love Africa!
Some Recommendations:
Nairobi - The Wildebeest Lodge just outside the city centre is excellent. They cater from very basic (ie small 2 man tents and small rooms) right up to luxury fixed camps. The food was good and they can also book trips for you.
Lamu Island - Jambo House is a new guest house there. Arnold is the lovely German owner who has travelled just about everywhere in the world so understands the needs of a traveller and is great for local advice. his staff are excellent too (thanks Julius for making our stay so much fun!)
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