From the sub artic to the tropics
After 4 weeks of sub-artic environment of Sweden, I was back into London to what felt so much warmer in relative comparison. When you have experienced -25c for 3 weeks, London did not seem so bad at around -1c. I decided I had enough of the cold, I was becoming pale. Me, pale…it is unheard of ! I am usually so dark my Mother tells me off for being in the sun so much and looking like a pheasant working in the rice paddies.
I decided on Africa which gave me a sense of excitement but I have to admit a little bit of uncertainty. It is a continent totally unknown to me and in all honesty seemed rather dangerous for a solo female traveller. The only things I have heard about Africa was rather bleak with its poverty, political instabilities, tribal warfare, illegal diamond and gold trade.
After lots of research for a cheap fare I decided on Kenya first. I was hosted by a young family in their humble home just in the outskirts of Nairobi for my few days. It was a small house in an estate which was on unsealed roads, dusty and littered with rubbish. Not the most nicest environment for anyone to live in but this was their home. There was no running water so they had to fetch it from a well nearby and store it in large plastic drums for use throughout the day. It was a unique and humbling experience.
The Kenyans are very hospitable and friendly people. The children are so adorable. Anywhere I saw young children they would stare at me with a big grin calling out “Mzungu” and running up to shake my hand, sometimes 5 or 6 at a time as if I was a celebrity.
The safari to the Masai Mara Reserve would have to be the highlight of my experience with wildlife to date. To see them up close and in their natural habitat was just amazing. I somehow felt the connection with the animals and the land. We were observers but in some way they were also observing us, perhaps even amused at the humans sitting in metal boxes roaring around. My favourites are the big cats, Lions, Cheetahs and Leopards.
February 24, 2010 7:56 am 1 Comment
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By joash fredrick obuya, March 4, 2010 @ 5:10 am
hi Tina i hope you had a wonderful times in kisumu even though you never stayed with me