Back in Kenya – Naivasha

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Taking advantage of retirement, I’ve come back to Kenya for a few weeks, with a couple of “core events” around which to frame my visit. As well as visiting as many of my many friends here as possible, I’m trying to take in some new places and revisit some places I visited a while back.

Tuesday 19/11/2024

Having flown into JKIA from Heathrow via Cairo (worried about a short connection in Cairo, but needn’t have done) there was the usual drag queuing through immigration and customs.

I had a short overnight (5am-9am) before sorting out some business, picking up a hire car and a travelling companion, and driving out to Naivasha. The road has improved since I last drove it in 2013! We had the mandatory stop at the top of the Great Rift Valley escarpment – views out to Mount Longonot and sheep skins drying in the sun.

Having reached our accommodation (“Guesthouse Jane” is slightly rundown but the people are really friendly and my concerns have allayed) the afternoon consisted of rest, a short run (good views over the lake), and supper in the hotel’s restaurant.

Wednesday 20/11/2024

Our plan was to visit Hell’s Gate National Park, one of the few where you can get out of the vehicle and walk about. But first we had to get a puncture fixed on the car, then we picked up a guide (Sophie), and started our safari. We had some good sightings of zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo, water buck, rock hyrax, antelope and gazelle (Thomsons and Grants) etc as well as being introduced to the scenery. Photos of these below.

Zebra Crossing

Wildebeest

Rock Hyrax

Grant’s Gazelle

Wart Hogs

Baboon Family

Cliffs of metamorphic rock – the pale but is a recent rock fall

Fischers Tower, a volcanic “plug”

Jumping in front of the rock made famous in the Lion King movie.

We couldn’t escape being dressed up as Maasai – then the hard sell of memorabilia

But, in the middle of the park, the “repaired” tyre failed catastrophically, and we discovered the hire car had no spare. Sophie, our guide, was great in mobilising other guides to come with a spare off another vehicle so that we could get to the gorge for the mandatory hike, but then we had to take our wheel to a jua kali puncture repair, who managed to get it to stay airtight enough to return to town, give back the borrowed wheel, Then back to Naivasha to try to acquire a new tyre at a price the hire firm would pay. A long a stressful day, but part of the adventure of life in Kenya!

KWS stopped to check on us

Thursday 21/11/2024

After the trauma of yesterday’s tyre issues, we were hoping for a smoother day today! I ran early and was rewarded with a lovely view over the lake

We met guide Sophie at Sanctuary Farm whence we were to get a boat to Crescent Island. Soon we were kitted out heading for the boat. The water has risen in recent years, so the dead trees stand with their feet in water.