Driving to Nairobi
Today we would be leaving Kissumu We woke up extra early because it would be an all day drive. As usual we stopped a couple of times for chai for snacks, and to use a friendly bush. We stopped in the town of Nakuru for munch but I was too exhausted so I stayed on the bus instead to read and sleep. We drove from there straight to Nairobi. We pulled into Comforts and it was the best feeling ever Home Sweet Home!!! I love the atmosphere created by the staff and the rooms in Comforts so I was extremely happy to be back. I went straight to my room to use the Internet naturally. I went to sleep early as we would be travelling again tomorrow and I wanted to wake up to pack.
Sunday, June 4
On the road again driving to Voi/Tsavo
Voi
Today we would make a stopover in Voi before we went to Mombasa. We would be going to game reserve. The trip was not bad, we arrived at our new hotel at around 2:30 pm. We stopped for chai as usual and to use a friendly bush. The hotel we would be staying for the night was absolutely stunning. The design was creative. It looked like a tree-house on the ground I was living in an actual hotel room but some people in the group got to stay in these cool tents that had a full bathroom. There was a quad and the rooms surrounded the quad. Everyone was really excited. We ate lunch at the hotel and then we headed out for Tsavo East National Park: Theater of the Wild. It was a ten minute drive from our hotel. When we got there it took us a while to get in. Our logistics guy Ben and the driver Charles said the best times to come is duck before they close and dawn The Park was okay we saw some elephants and tons of gazelles. At the exit we were greeted by buffaloes crossing the road. The best part of the day though was going into the town and chilling with the guys. Ben, Charles, Johnothan, Sam, Russ, and I went to the barbershop as they all decided to get a trim. For the price of a 100 Ksh or $1.16 one gets a haircut, a wash, and a head massage. The guys were all smiles. We head back home and I immediately went to sleep as we needed to be up at 6:15 to go back to the park.
Sunday, June 5
Tsavo East Park again
En route to Mombasa
The hotel staff woke us at around 5:50 to be ready to head to Tsavo East in the morning. Ben told us that the best time to go is in the morning because the animals are moving first thing. We were greeted by an elephant as we drove in. I was really tired so at times when not much activity was going on I would sleep. We took the same road we did the previous night and as we drove by we saw a dead giraffe lying there hollowed out. We knew it happened last night. It reminded me of the saying "Only the fittest survive". We passed a gazillion gazelle (alliteration), saw giraffes eating from the trees, and standing in the road. The cutest thing we saw were three elegant female ostriches and then all of a sudden we saw male ostrich perch down near them and he coked up and started swaying his black and white feathers side to side. en and Dr. Wamai explained that it was their mating dance . One of the females went close and walked away...he took it as a sign of interest and followed her. He proceeded to the dance again but they completely ignore again. The animals were natural posers it was awesome. We saw punda malias/ zebras. Zebras are beautiful creature...I love their stripes. Lastly we went to a far out part of the park....we were driving till Charles came to a halt once Ben says, "I have seen the lion". This has to be the most epic saying on the trip. Ben always spots things that none of us can actually see. Everyone was in a frenzy stating that they couldn't see. We waited there for a long time felt like an hour but I think it was for about 15-20 minutes. Other buses came and parked looking out. we were told that there were three lions. Heading east towards the lion was a whole group(?) of elephants. We were hoping that it would scare the lions from their hiding place and that was exactly what they did. Three female lions emerged from the bushes...we snapped pictures non stop. Then they went back into hiding. we got pictures of them peeking up every now and then. The elephants decided to cross in front of us. They travel in a interesting way but it ensures that they are safe. One elephant would stay behind and one ahead on both sides of the road. When they were crossing one stopped in the middle to ensure that it was okay. One was literally a few feet from the bus it was exciting. Poor Ben was really scared...lol. After the elephants crossed the lions reyreated back to their spot and I was able to get some cool shots. It was like being in National Geographic. We drove back to the exit where we were greeted by baboons and baby elephants. We spent 4 hours in the park. Amazing! Next destination was Mombasa...we would have to hurry and get ready to leave in an hour.
The drive to Mombasa was really short. No one wanted to stop. Everyone was dying to go to the beach. Once we got there we checked into the Kahama to Mombasa was really short. No one wanted to stop. Everyone was dying to go to the beach. Once we got there we checked into the Kahama hotel. The hotel was like an American hotel...it had fancy key cards that control the electricity. We were definitely in a tourist destination. The hotel had Air conditioner, movie channels, and pool with a slide We all decided to troop to Indian Ocean which is right behind the hotel. WE hung out in the ocean for an hour and half playing various games Since the tide was coming in we retreated to the hotel room. Afterwards My roommate Carlo, Amina and I got dressed up and ate at the hotel bar to have dinner. It was a good day. Finally, we were able to relax.
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