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Before breakfast we head into the same areas as last night, except most of the party people have disappeared, leaving more garbage. We pick our way around hoping to see something more of interest. Right on shore fishermen return from their night out on the lake, dumping their catch (tilapia, Nile perch) onto the ground for waiting customers (local women). Goats, chickens wander through the garbage, egrets, Hammerkopfs, terns, storks sit on the boats waiting to grab breakfast. Along the horizon of the lake are all size of fishing boats from dhows to rafts. Rowboats seem barely sea-worthy; people drown in the lake every month from sudden rough water.
After breakfast we leave Lake Victoria basin heading back east to the Western Highlands through Kericho. This area gets the most rain in all of Kenya, hence the location of miles of tea estates. The tea is picked, fermented, and dried here, then shipped in wooden boxes out of Mombasa to the London Tea Exchange, dealing in teas from around the world. Of 12-14 grades of tea, the top brands, e.g. Taylors, will even blend Grade 1-3 and sell as top quality tea. Twinings might blend grades 4-6.
Climb in elevation up to Mau Summit then head back down into the Rift Valley and Lake Nakuru National Park. Thunderstorms catch up to us, but we have to stay in the vehicle inside the park anyway. Birds don't like the rain, but we see mammals that we have come to expect: a lioness lolling in a tree, Baboons throughout, DeFassa Waterbuck, Impala, Burchell's Zebra, a huge herd of African Buffalo. We're staying in the Lodge at the south end of the park. Beautiful accomodations with a balcony overlooking the park.
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