Over the Past Months

I have not been posting here over the past months of the year 2013 as you may have noticed. This has been due to more trips to the wild leaving little free time to write.
Since January I have had several long haul safaris, some starting from Nairobi and ending in Mombasa, others starting from Mombasa and ending in Nairobi while others started in Nairobi and ended in Nairobi.
I have had excursions to Shimba, Wasini and Mombasa city tours.

Bat-eared Fox spotted in Tsavo East National Park.

Trekking Mt.Kenya

It took us about one and a half hours drive from Nairobi to Naru moru town. We hanged around to adapt to the climatic conditions of the area. We met our climbing team who presented us with the necessary climbing gears and briefing. We spent our first night in Mountain View Lodge.

The following morning our guide, cook and potter came to pick us from the hotel in readiness for the day. We took a taxi from town to the main gate. We checked in and arranged our stuff into various back packs. The four days three nights-trekking began.

The weather was friendly in the sense that it wasn't too cold and not as hot for trekking. It wasn't so easy for me with all the clothing and footwear and a backpack walking for more than two hours.We would see wild animals tails and dung on the way so we were aware of their presence. We took a break in between before another three hours to Met station where we spent our first night. The sun set over bamboo vegetation at 3000ft altitude was just another world to me. Our cook had something ready to warm us as we waited for dinner. We were advised to be watchful when walking to the toilets during the night for the roaming buffaloes around the place. It was so cold that inside a sleeping bag and with my clothes on I was awake almost the whole night! A strange feeling.

Morning shower turns out to be unnecessary here.Brush your teeth and wipe the face. We had our breakfast to re-energise for the second day of climbing. It got colder, misty and foggy as we went higher and no more sight of bamboos but shrubs and mountain grass and flowers. We had a lunch break by a huge rock where I was feeling so worn out and exhausted that I wished to embrace the unusual beautiful vegetation and landscapes on a mountain. I didn't feel like doing anything though I desired to capture everything with my camera, but had no energy for this, I was finished and felt weak and sick. They told me this is Altitude Sickness!!

Our guides were so used to this that the big load on their back packs was equal to nothing with their quick and sure pace. I would stop time and again to gaze at this wonderful creation to make pictures of what I see or my team meandering through rocks, mash and streams. So beautiful a world till we arrived at Mackinders camp(4000m) for the evening and overnight. I was so tired and all I wanted was lie on a bed to sleep. The cook woke me up for dinner but I couldn't eat. He forced me to have something at least to boost my energy but only managed a couple of spoonfuls. I envied people drinking beer and making merry in the dinning hall. Went to bed again in my clothes on into a sleeping bag for another sleepless cold night. I had no energy to wake at 3:00am to proceed up to Lenana summit. I was so happy for my colleague because he did it to the top. It was his most difficult adventure he had ever done. This is a dream to many and a once in a life time adventure.

On the third day I was a bit cheerful and feeling stronger. I had adapted to the mountain climate to some level and would have climbed to the summit had we not been descending. I tried to keep the potters' pace but they were damn too fast for me and I had to slow down to wait for my colleague and guide. Still the surrounding was all I wished to see more and more. Wading through the grass, rocks and soggy ground was now easier. We arrived back at Met station in the late afternoon for overnight. My colleague was more exhausted than me this time round due to the early morning summit climb. We would have long talks about anything and everything in this life and cultures of the Kenyan people, we dwelt more on the local Kikuyu, life before and after the colonial era, etc. Still night with only the sound and smell of nature.

My appetite had improved so I had good breakfast following morning. We headed downwards through the rain forest to the main entrance. A Jeep was waiting to take us back to town. We needed a shower and a rest. The team congratulated us the success. It was a great achievement and I will do it again someday, this time to the very top- the Summit.

We drove to Ol Pajeta Conservation Ranch the following day where we saw lots of animals: black and white rhinos, lions, common and gravy zebras, giraffes, chimps, buffaloes, warthogs, elephants, kudus and water bucks, oryx, ilands, gazelles,etc. This is a ranch/park to visit. The staff guides are so knowledgeable and willing to take you through the history of the ranch and various animals' life.

We drove back to Nairobi after a memorable six days as heroes, mountaineers!! Back to Mombasa by night.

Let's Go Tree Hugging!!

Mark Hugs the tree of Luck

Hey nature lovers! Are you planning a visit to Diani beach or already here? Don't miss this close unusual encounter with nature in it's real friendly form. Escape from the modern world of sky-scrappers, chaotic cities and enjoy a moment of peace with mother nature in Kaya Kinondo Sacred Forest.(http://kaya-kinondo-kenya.com/ABOUT_US.HTM)

You love Hugging trees? Then this is place to be. A walk through the corals, under huge trees, birds flying overhead, monkeys jumping from tree to another, butterflies and dick dick antelopes here and there.... Learn the history and cultural believes of the local Digo community. The different trees and herbs have various uses and benefits to the inhabitants.

It takes less than an hour to be there from any point within Diani.

Please contact me to book your day excursion.

A 5day Camping Safari

Justin from USA, Colorado, wrote me the following inquiry:

"I've been trying to book a 5-day camping safari that goes from Nairobi to Mombasa, but I'm travelling alone, and the only company I found needs a minimum of 3 people in order to take the trip. So it's likely that it won't work out. Do you offer camping safaris as well? I could always catch the train from Nairobi to Mombasa and then take some trips from there. I wanted to see Tsavo and Amboseli if possible."

I made Justin an offer and itinerary for the whole safari. It turned out to be exactly what he was looking for. We exchanged phone numbers to be able to text message/call each other when he would arrive in Kenya, and I promised to pick him up from his Nairobi hotel.

On the 24th of June I drove from Mombasa to Nairobi to meet Justin in the evening. The following morning we woke up at 6:00 am and hit the road 30 minutes later. By 09:00 am we arrived in the town of Emali for breakfast, filled up the gas tank, did some shopping and headed towards Oloitoktok. Justin wanted to visit the town. It was a market day so there were a lot of people, including some Masai, everywhere selling and buying goats, sheep, cereals, and fruit.

From Oloitoktok we drove towards Amboseli national park, Kimana public camping site. We pitched the tent, prepared some fruit salad for lunch, visited a Manyatta Masai village and went for an evening game-drive and sighted a group of lions. I was the chef and Justin helped me to prepare ugali and beef for dinner. We were the only campers during that night.

On the second day we had breakfast and packed our lunch ready for the full-day game drive. There were lots of baboons, hundreds of elephants, zebras, gazelles, on our way to the observation hill. The place is so beautiful and amazing with the Lake Amboseli lying beneath. We saw hippos grazing on the grasslands, countless elephants, gnus, birds, warthogs, hyenas, and giraffes. Unfortunately Mt. Kilimanjaro was covered in clouds, but the weather was warm. Back in the camp we prepared early dinner before dark.

On the third day we drove to Kimana gate to inquire escort convoy, but the officers told us that it wasn't too dangerous so we drove back to Oloitoktok again for shopping. Then we headed towards Tsavo west stopping on the way for taking photos of schools, animals, and landscapes. We had ample time all alone at the Shetani lava before any tourist van made its way to the site. Then we droveto the KWS Tsavo west camping site a kilometer away from the Chyulu gate, the best camping site in the area. A friendly warden organised us some firewood for the evening bonfire.

I prepared a fruit salad and we headed to the game drive to Mzima springs to see the beautiful forest of Acacia and other trees, hippos, crocodiles, fish, and countless monkeys. When Justin saw the Chaimu hill, Justin wanted to hike up. For me, it was the first time to climb up the hill. On the top we took some photos and spotted an eagle. That was a great moment. When driving away we saw a young dick-dick (What is this? Never heard of that. Perhaps you could explain it a bit to readers?) in front of us. Justin took a photo and just after that, the the eagle grabbed the poor animal. We witnessed the eagles feast in the bush. Rhinos in the Rhino sanctuary were a bit camera-shy and hid under thickets. We saw loads of antelopes, giraffes, elephants and buffaloes on the way back. For the dinner we prepared some beef with pasta. We were again the only campers around.

On our fourth safari day we headed to game drive and exited the park through the Mtito Andai gate. We stopped in a town called Voi to get some food and refuel our van, and continued to Tsavo east national park through the Voi gate. There were hundreds of elephants, a lot of giraffes, and zebras. Before pitching our tents in Ndololo public camp site we went to witness lions mating near Aruba. This exclusive and exceptional performance happened five times in 20 minutes. Lions are aggressive during this 2-week mating period, so one has to be very careful. Before dinner and camping, we drove a bit around and got attacked by a mob of crazy monkeys trying to steel our cabbage. The park ranger came to our rescue and scared them away with a sling.

We managed to cook the dinner in turns to fight the intrusive parasites, mosquitoes, while elephants were gazing at us. We heard that there were lots of lions around, too. Our campfire kept the wild animals away from our tent at night, but in the middle of the night, Justin woke up and whispered that the fire was off. We were again the only campers - this time among screaming hyenas, mooing elephants and roaring lions. The fix to the problem was sleeping the rest of the night in turns.On the fifth and last safari day we washed the dishes after breakfast and packed the car. On the game route we saw many animals including a mating ostrich couple. The male ran incredibly fast away from the female right after he had finished. We travelled through Bachuma gate down to Mombasa, had a late lunch at the Coast dishes restaurant. I booked Justin to Baobab beach resort for the next night.

Our safari ended on the 29th of June. We made our own plans and schedule, and realized them as agreed. According to Justin, the safari had fulfilled his wishes and he was happy. Thank you for choosing me, Justin.