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Up early to a sparkling morning, dew on the ground, clear skies and the crashing of the waterfall in the background combined with the squabbling of the baboons and some of the most incredible bird calls I have ever heard.
Falling asleep took a little longer last night due to the heavy breathing males outside my tent. Cape buffalo males that is. The were so close we could hear them chewing their cud and hear them farting! All that grass and cud-chewing can't be good for gas build up in the gut! Unreal!
I awoke to a smell I can only describe as strong cat pee in the corner of the tent. It was coming through from outside and seemed that some animal had marked out an area by spraying. Fresh pats were surrounding our tents so these massive creatures, weighing around 800 - 1000 kilos were within peeing distance of our tents.
Packed up camp and final safari run through the Nakuru National Park. More great shots of wildlife and then lunch again in the grounds of Nakuru Lodge. Then on to Nakuru town where I had the most fun so far!
We were here for an hour to have a look around, go to the post office, bank or foreign exchange. Some of us trotted off to Forex and when I was done I waited outside for the others. Many hawkers on the streets, selling the usual Kenyan flag, East African maps, postcards, wristbands etc. Sure enough a young guy approached with his usual patter. He had a really really open smiling face, not that you would never trust him but I enjoyed the sparring back and forth as I had no intention of buying anything, it becomes more of a game and these guys know it too. Well, God loves a trier and he kept walking with me as I headed back to the bus. He was a character for sure and much bantering back and forth and much laughter over the next 15 minutes or so, interspersed with general conversation. I sat on the steps of the post office by the truck and still he kept on. He knew I wouldn't buy but said he enjoyed talking with me! Yeah right! I found he was 27 and his name was Patrick. I asked for his African name which was Mzeri. He tried everything in the book, other hawkers came and went, and in the end he said a nice goodbye and placed a wristband on top of my hand. I had already turned down his offer of a gift previously and did so again. He walked away and said he wanted me to have it as he really enjoyed meeting me and talking to me. More hawkers came and went and eventually we boarded the bus. Standing looking out the open window I see him again, together with 6 others smiling and then he threw a Kenyan flag up to me and said to have safe travels and goodbye. Victor, our tour guide was really surprised and said it looked like I had made a few friends. He couldn't believe that I had 2 gifts bestowed upon me and by a street hawker. Neither could I but I will surely remember the entertaining time I had in Nakuru.
We drove on for another 3 hours over some really bad roads, which were being upgraded and eventually arrived in Eldoret. Eldoret is around 2,500 metres above sea level and this is the place where Olympic Kenyan runners are born - exceptional athletes who run to and from school 3 times a day during their school years, and all done at altitude.
We camped in the grounds of a totally unique complex which had dormitory accommodation and double, queen and single rooms. We all decided to camp and thought we could upgrade to a dorm on our return.
The uniqueness was in the layout and the actual buildings themselves. It was Avery much in the style of Fred Flinstone combined with hobbit style and all with an African influence. Long downhill undercover tunnel like walkways to an enormous bar and restaurant complete with underground streams with bridges, lots of stonework, skins, woven banana leaves for thatching and all with large African animal carvings. A most eclectic combination of styles evolving from someone's incredible imagination.
Fantastic clean western toilets, really hot clean showers - heaven!
- comments
Cheryl Hi Sandy, It all sounds great and you are having the best time. Love the close encounters of the animal kind, pity no pics. You really have an admirer with Patrick! Your gift of the gab is not so bad evidently! Thanks Cheryl