Highs and lows of adventures in Uganda

One of the best feelings in the world: Diving into an 11 000 year old crater lake on a hot day in Fort Portal.


One of the worst feelings in the world: Spending the night on the floor in the bathroom, rather than in your bed after said swim.

I still love you Uganda!

I'm back in the shiny city of Nairobi. I cried on the way back from the airport...a little dramatic perhaps for post-holiday blues. After a run this morning, endless cups of tea and coffee with a friend...I thought...it is not so bad here! But, for now, I am happy to relive my holiday through my photos. Stories to come.

Mum's visit- in pictures

Mum has taken all of her photos back to Scotland with her (I should have taken copies!)-I think in every one of hers we are sipping wine or eating food! Sure signs of a great holiday!

Being Karen Blixon and a trip to a tea platation

Lunch at a trout farm and a visit from a hyrax

Facts of the day- 1. The closest lisving relative to the hyrax is the elephant.
2. The hyrax is born with its eyes open (!) and can climb straight away.
3. The hyrax is the only wild animal that's shrieks (similar to a car alarm...but less annoying!) are louder than my mum snoring! (Fact!) Love you Mum!

A mini safari

A great wee holiday - the next one can't come soon enough!

PS - I was reading the Culture section of an old weekend paper this morning and saw an advertisement for a bracelet that gives off electric shocks when the person wearing it snores. Not joking. Has anyone tried this??

More Safari Tips

I am still pretty new to this 'safari-tour-guide' thing (!). You could say, that I am learning on-the-job.

So, for my mum's recent trip, I thought back to to what I had learnt on previous safaris in Uganda and gave handy hints to my special visitor!Yet, I still learnt lots.

More self-drive safari tips:

• Buy a road map before the morning of your safari. Better yet, check the map you bought has your destination ON IT!
• Even though it may not be the first time visit to Africa- remember to stop at every roadside market, and pot seller you pass-by, it is a photo opportunity after all. (The same goes with African Crap Craft stalls/markets!)
• Put the customer at ease on all occasions whilst on safari, regarding the wildlife. (Remember, you yourself have been in similar situation...remember that sleeping lions story ...) and remind them that the hyena outside will NOT come into the tent.
• Take ear plugs - some people snore...loudly. This will sadly cut out all wildlife noises, but do not worry, as most of the animals have, by then, ran in fear of their lives!
• Even on short safaris remember to take Imodium with you. Nobody wants a sick guide! (Rookie mistake!)
• Leave some days totally unplanned. The customer is on holiday and may just want to read in the sun. Don't fall into the over-planning pit! 
 

Soon, I may be ready to take the test for my guide badge!

Coming and Going

My mum has come and gone all too quickly. We drove north, just a few hours away, not far, but far enough to feel the changing winds and where a few raindrops teased the Earth.

Her plane took off last night and left me tossing and turning, trying to find sleep. It was too quiet. That is my excuse for driving into my gate this morning! I think it's valid.

But when the sun in Nairobi shone today, I thought about how lucky I am that I do get so many visitors, when I make the choice to live here. And for now, that is my choice.

I'll share some stories and photos from our 'girls-on-tour' adventure this week, once I have found my routine again.

PS- my music is playing loudly and the cottage will soon become too small again!

A zen safari

 I recently had a weekend full of yoga.

It was a great start to the year. We detoxed and worked on the mat. Had a few cooking lessons, leisurely meals (yes, we did eat...a little) and...a bit of safari.

We stayed in a tented camp, nestled into the bush of Nairobi National Park (can you spot the tents below?), fell asleep to the shrieking alarms of the hyraxes and woke to the loudest ever lion's roar. A peaceful change to that of security dogs barking  throughout the night.

It feels like I haven't been on my mat or exercised for ages. This week I have been feeling poorly, so am looking forward to feeling like 'me' again. Hopefully I'll be better by Friday, when my Mum arrives for a mini adventure. Yeahhhhhh!

My birthday weekend

Armed with birthday breakfast goodies from Artecaffe, my friend Jeni and I heading to Nairobi National Park to hunt down some lions and their cubs.

The 5am get up meant that there were not that many other cars in the park (not surprising for a Saturday morning..!-but it also meant that by lunchtime I was ready for nap!).

Once the early morning mist had lifted the animals came out of their hiding.

We searched high and low for the lions, but they were not at number 5 or 7 where they should have been!hmm. Eventually we found a lone lioness on the prowl-  we thought she was going to go in for a kill at one point; the zebra nervously huddled together and the four ostrich trotted off to protect their eggs...but the lioness didn't seem that bothered and after sniffing around for a while continued on her journey.

It was a great start to the day-but I am still quietly hoping that next year I will be able to run the NYC marathon!

PS-  I know I have hundreds of photos of zebra-but that doesn't stop me taking hundreds more!

Surfing through Tsavo

The Surf had a lot to live up to... but now that she (yes-look at her decorative stripes-definitely a she!) turns right as well as left and got us to and from the coast, I can say that she is a pretty damn good car. Great for leading RAT (Robyn's African Tours-thanks Tania!)...even if she doesn't have a sunroof.

In Tsavo we searched for the man eaters that it is famous for-but didn't come across any; as Tsavo is roughly the same size as Wales there are quite a few hiding spots! Unlike some other parks in Kenya, we saw more game than we did safari cars so were able to turn off the engine, take long breathes and enjoy the near silent footsteps of the elephants march.

The recent rains meant the red dust of the roads had settled and the dramatic skies changed for our enjoyment hourly.

We camped where a pride of lions regularly roam (we knew they were close when the baboons starting barking and climbed  the tree on site)We parked our cars very close to the tent and kept the doors unlocked....just in case...! We feel asleep to the sounds of the African bush, like a lullaby rocking you gently....that is until you hear the humph-humphing of a nearby hippo.

After a bit of a fright by a baboon on the way to the bush toilet in the morning (I tried to be brave and held a bracelet up in a very threatening manner...!!!) we packed up camp and continued our journey.

The red soil turned into sand, more palm trees lined the route and the taste of the sea was already on our lips. Next stop, Watamu.

My challenging weekend

On the weekend I headed to Lake Naivasha to help out as an official at the Safricom Family Challenge which raises money and awareness for Kamili (one of the few mental health clinics in Kenya).  I had heard about the competition over the past couple of weeks; the competitiveness and seriousness of some teams versus the fun and games of others (and really...some teams took it VERY seriously! I think one couple has filed for a divorce!). My event was a tree planting challenge. It may not have been the most mentally or physically exhausting of the events, but it was such a worthwhile challenge, as all the trees were planted in the permanent staff quarters to give them shade.

The challenge was held in such a great location, just a short drive over the Rift Valley; hopefully I will go back to watch a Polo match another time.  After tree planting we walked where giraffes roamed and enjoyed some Tuskers looking over the open savanna.

Dinner was sponsored by Strathallan-cheers!

Now I am back in rainy Nairobi ready for another busy week at the ‘w’ place.