Kenya

We weren’t sure whether we would go to Kenya. Although it’s been a major tourist destination for a long time, recently there have been bombings in Mombasa, the struggle between the cattle farmers and the cattle rustlers has escalated into a virtual civil war thanks to an easy supply of big guns from Somalia, and pirates have been kidnapping tourists from the coast. Somehow we ended up there anyway, and even spent a few days in Nairobi without getting mugged, which I gather is an achievement defying statistics. We rented a huge Pajero for a week (“It’s ok Julie, I’m sure I’ll be alright driving in Kenya, the traffic can’t be that bad and there aren’t too many carjacking’s on the roads WE will take…”) and went camping in the Masai Mara. We got completely lost in the park, were surrounded by a family of Hyenas, woke a sleeping pride of lions (“Tony.. they’re walking to the car, start the engine…!?!”) and drove out through the gate long after it had closed. We were told not to drive at night, so at about 9pm we pulled into a property on the side of the road which an enterprising local had offered as a camp site. It was a stroke of luck, as the food he cooked that night was excellent, and he took us to the local Masai village the next day. Masai “cultural villages” are common sights, but I don’t think these dark mud huts saw many visitors. 

Our other main destination was Nakuru, at one time the home of Julie’s dad and Grandparents. We also spent two nights camping in Hells Gate national park. The camp site was one of the most amazing places I’ve slept, waking up to a view of the plains below covered in zebra, buffalo, impala and warthogs. We spent a great day rock climbing on the cliffs around the park, surprising the local baboons who thought they had the cliff tops to themselves. Because there are few predators in the park, you are free to roam camp and climb where you like, but we managed to find trouble anyway and found ourselves running from an angry heard of buffalo. 

Masai Village

Woke the sleeping lions

Climbing cracks in Hells Gate National Park

Maybe not the best angle