Travel: Kenya for 10 days with 2 cars, five kids, too much stuff, and lots of animals.

We started with an 8 hour trip across the border at Namanga.  We had to buy special insurance and leave our car title in TZ in order to do this by car, but we did it.  We stayed the first night in a gross hotel that David only described as clean.  ( He missed even that description.)  I have ended my PeaceCorps days and did not like this place.  But is was half way to our next stop and it turned out it had a great little carnival for the kids just behind it.  ( See Lisa’s site)  I was too much ugghhy with the drive and the hotel to be happy enough to take cute pics. 

Next we went to Ol Pejeta to camp.  There was a massive rain when we got there.  yeahhhhhh.  We got to stay at this cool donor site in the middle of the conservation site.  Got stuck in the mud on our way there but made it with Matt’s help.  As we walked into the rental house we lucked into there was a giant hippo in a pond behind the house that yawned for the kids.We did a game drive that night and saw hyena and cape buffalo(being nice to each other) and great scenery.    David and I heard lions at night. 

    

 

Next we drove forever to Rutundu, which is one of the coolest places on the earth, but I do not do well more than 4 hours on a  bumpy road.  No one got stuck though….Turns out Cole was starting 104 fevers and I was starting one of the worst cold/cough I have had in a long time.  We had to trolley our luggage and food across the ravine to get it to the cabin.  The people just do a long hike around. The cabins were great.  No electricity but some staff would boil hot water one time a day for a bath ( yes a tub in each cabin).  We cooked our own food.  The kitchen shot is of the outdoor cool fridge.  We hiked the giant mountain with the kids day two and then Birch caught his first trout ever in the lake below us with help from Cosmus.  Then Cosmus taught them how to clean the fish.

 

           Rutundu left mt Kenya below         

 

The next day Cole and I stayed in bed all day.  David, Birch, and Lisa hiked to lake Alice a few hours away.  Look at those views. 

 

  

That night Ashlyn caught a fish also and we cooked it in the fire with help from Peter.  See the cool kitchen and fridge.

   

Next we drove to Lewa conservation site nearby.  Heard rhinos outside our door- yes immediately outside our door at night.  I thought they were the vervet monkeys getting in our cooler.  We stayed in the work quarters that TNC stays in.  Simple but nice and had a pool in which you could often see elephants near.We went on lots of game drives and saw tons of animals. My favorite was the rhino, Cole’s was warthogs.  Got stuck in mud again looking at elephants when it started to rain.  But Matt got us out again.

 

 

      

 

We ended with a drive to Nairobi which is traffic hell, but stayed in a nice hotel and had time to shop.  Got some cool bowls. 

Now we are home and having a relaxing day since school is still out for another week.  David back in states soon.  Hope you enjoyed the pics.  email with any questions.  Peace as always. joey