Lake Naivasha

Tag 5-6

Meanwhile, the last tension from everyday life has fallen away, and my mind is fully acclimated to being here in Kenya.

Justus is Kenyan and has been a tour guide for 18 years. He completed a degree in accounting but couldn't find a job afterward, so he transitioned to being a tour guide. People working in tourism seem to be doing relatively well here, at least that’s how it appears. As we travel through the streets of Kenya, it can be quite alarming at times. Every second person lives below the poverty line. In front of the metal shacks, there is just dirt, no asphalt. Cows and sheep serve as sources of income, donkeys pull carts behind them, children help out, and people lie amidst the rubble. It's even worse than what I experienced in Southeast Asia.

For us, the journey continues; we are leaving Maasai Mara and heading towards Lake Naivasha. A 4-hour drive, 200km still lies ahead. Lake Naivasha is situated at 2000m above sea level.

As always, our backpacks are carried to the jeep. Fortunately, they weigh much less than they did in New Zealand.

Justus is waiting, as always, punctually. He cleans the jeep every morning. After the last bit of dirt is wiped off the jeep, we are off.

At the entrance of the national park, there are again some women selling their jewelry. Thankfully, we continue driving straight away. The situation at the entrance three days ago was very uncomfortable, as the women were incredibly pushy. It must feel like being an animal in a zoo.

Upon arriving at Lake Naivasha, we first have lunch. When we are on the road, we eat the lunchboxes prepared by the accommodations. The food has been tasting quite good so far, although it could be more authentic for my taste. Unfortunately, there is always way too much. Given how bumpy it often is in the jeep, one has to be careful not to eat too much, or it might come back up.

Currently, we distribute food to children on the street, mostly to schoolchildren on their way home. (sometimes over 10 km of walking)

After a short boat ride on the lake with plenty of bird watching and a few hippos in the water, we head to our next lodge. The Colobo monkeys greet us on the premises. It’s 30 degrees and the breeze is nice; you'll have to see for yourselves.

Zebras and giraffes also live on the property and can be spotted. The area is truly huge and beautifully designed. I’m simply amazed.

At 6 PM it gets dark, and just like that, the sun is gone. One quickly realizes that you are very near the equator. The sun has an incredible intensity.

But do you know what that means?

The whole herd of hippos is seeking their way out of the water to graze on the grass.

Since the lodge is right by the river, the grass becomes the highlight in the evening. At least 10 hippos are grazing in front of us. What a spectacle! Even a baby hippo. Wonderful.

These hippos are quite unshapely, hard to believe they belong to the whale family.

The grass area is fenced off in the evenings with a grid and an electric fence. Surely not without reason.

After dinner, finally getting to enjoy some African cuisine and a drink by the fire, we snuggle into bed and delight once again in the soothing sounds of the wilderness.

Tomorrow, we have another long drive ahead, the longest. We are heading towards Amboseli National Park, where we will stay for two more nights.

Kwaheri