Kenya

15th October 2010

Nothing like being directed to your seat on the aeroplane by 'it's the seats in front of the shit box!'

Our flight got off on time, and nice to find out it was only going to be 8hours, instead of 11

I actually thought it was going to be.

ton's of movies to watch, many I hadn't seen (helps to be marooned on an island before you go on long haul flights!)

Immigration in Nairobi was insane. People everywhere, no real signs or people giving directions, just lines that didn't move.

It ended up taking us over an hour to get through (we're on African time now!)

We'd organised an airport transfer with the tour company, but do you think we could find our names on a sign in the entrance hall... that'd be a solid NO!

Ended up getting a random taxi into town, with Laura deciding we were going to be taken down a unlit street and murdered.
( I might add that we were both carrying a rather large sum of US dollars, to pay our kitty for our tour, and spending money for the next month...)

Thankfully our taxi driver was lovely and took us to the hotel, via a tour of the city.

Found out our hotel is in the prostitute region of Nairobi... brilliant (thankfully I can't be blamed for this one, as I didn't choose it)

Checked in ok, and hit the sack.

16th Oct

Up at 8am (6am UK time) for a weird breaky where the yolks in the eggs were almost as white as the whites.

Fresh fruit of offer was amazing mmm passionfruit, and fresh pineapple.. I could live on these.

Changed over some of our US dollars for Kenyan shillings and set off to explore the town.

The roads are all made from dirt and the people we've come across seem friendly.

One thing I immediately noticed is how much we stick out.

It definitely makes you feel more than a little uncomfortable when walking about town.

Walked past the meat market, which was the foulest smelling thing I've ever smelt...

Heat and meat don't really go together

After wandering about town we snuck into a posh hotel & sat chilling on the sun lounges by the pool.

Had lunch at Steers (almost a mix of Burger king/pizza hut)

Before heading back to the posh hotel and the pool.

Loving the warmth!

Had a pre-departure meeting at 6pm, where we met up with our tour group.

They seem like a cool group.

There are going to be about 18 people +/- . We only met about 11 so far, we will meet up with/lose others as the trip goes on.

Seems to be mostly couples with a mix of Aussies, Canadians, a token Brit and a strange Korean.

Handed over our huge chunk of money for the local payment (which is meant to cover all food, accommodation, and entry into the national parks)
A relief to hand it over to someone else to look after though.

Had a bit of a run thought what we're going to be doing over the next few days! (sounds exciting. )

Caught a taxi back to the hotel with Emma, Sal and Duncan.

Tried to get a restaurant recommendation from the hotel reception, but the only one they'd tell us was their own, which after breakfast none of us were too keen to go to.

Set off outside and rounded the corner before one of the reception came running after us and pointed us in the direction of a lovely Italian place!

Tomorrow we have to be at the meeting point by 6am and then we will start our camping trip for real.

SO EXCITING!

oct 17th

(1st day on tour: Our first destination : Masai Mara game camp.)

Up at what felt like the crack of dawn, and headed down stairs for another attempt at breakfast.

Nice spread again, stuck to the fruit platters today with fresh pineapple. watermelon, and Passionfruit... yum!

Caught a taxi, with the others up to the meeting point, and stowed our large packs in the lockers in the back of the truck. (What will be our home for the next 24days.)

We got on the truck for the first time and were told "5 hours", so we settled in for a boring sandy drive, but not even an hour later stopped at a view point - OF THE GREAT RIFT VALLEY!!!!!

omg!!!
it was so wicked!

The first 200kms was on nice sealed roads through many little villages, the last 80kms however was a road of pot hole hell.
Where cars drove on whatever side of the road they wanted, swerving from side to side at the last minute.

The nearer we got to the camp site, the more animals we began to see on the roadside.
Just scattered about with no care in the world.

Arrive to the campsite about 1pm where we were taken to our amazing pre-erected tents.
Complete with showers, beds, and flushing toilets & and not to forget the resident monkeys playing on the roof like it was a trampoline!

If this is camping... I could get used to it!

Lunch was served, beef with rice and steamed veggies

Then we were off for our first game drive of the tour in the Massai Mara.

We're camped about 20 minutes from there (only about one kilometer, but it takes FOREVER to get there because of the bumpy roads!).

The Massai Mara is this huge open area, where wild animals dwell and vehicles can drive along the road (restricted to certain non-intrusive areas) and try to see animals.

It's very hit and miss.

Sometimes you see many, and sometimes you see no animals.

We were OH SO LUCKY!!!

We saw Gazelles, hyenas, buffalo, giraffes, elephants, wildebeests, lions, lionesses

It was like the lion king came alive right in front of our eyes.

Even saw a dung beetle rolling a dung ball along the road!

Such an amazing first day, definitely going to love Africa!

A late dinner similar to lunch, before setting up outside around the campfire and getting to know those on tour with us.

There are 13 of us right now, (more to leave and join as the journey progresses) and we all get along great!

It's a fairly quiet/tame group made up of mostly couples.

But they are all really cool, close to our age, and have lots and lots of travel stories (I have about a hundred new places I simply MUST go to.,..)