| Mount Kenya --- 7 & 8 Oct 2005 |
Friday morning, 7 October, we checked out of the Stanley Hotel in Nairobi and started driving north
to the area of Mount Kenya, Kenya's highest mountain. Seven of us tourists got into one van and six in
the other.
The standard seating plan for wildlife-vlewing vans in Kenya and Tanzania is as follows: in the front
row sits the driver with additional seating for another person; the second row consists of a seat by
one window, a seat by the opposite window, and a passage space between; the third row has the same
configuration as the second; the fourth (last) row consists of three seats. Behind the last row of
seats is a baggage compartment. The van has a set of doors for the first row of seats and another by
the second row. To view animals the roof of the van can be raised by about 60cm (24") to allow the
passengers a good look around.
to the area of Mount Kenya, Kenya's highest mountain. Seven of us tourists got into one van and six in
the other.
The standard seating plan for wildlife-vlewing vans in Kenya and Tanzania is as follows: in the front
row sits the driver with additional seating for another person; the second row consists of a seat by
one window, a seat by the opposite window, and a passage space between; the third row has the same
configuration as the second; the fourth (last) row consists of three seats. Behind the last row of
seats is a baggage compartment. The van has a set of doors for the first row of seats and another by
the second row. To view animals the roof of the van can be raised by about 60cm (24") to allow the
passengers a good look around.
Our minivan with top raised
Virginia at the rear of our van
The road from Nairobi to the village village of Nanyuki near Mt. Kenya took about five bumpy hours.
The first part was poorly paved and the rest unpaved and dusty. The landscape was attractive
and varied, some sections with small farms, the drier sections in the drier north consisting mostly of
grassland with scattered trees.
The first part was poorly paved and the rest unpaved and dusty. The landscape was attractive
and varied, some sections with small farms, the drier sections in the drier north consisting mostly of
grassland with scattered trees.
Upon reaching Nanyuki we visited "Nanyuki Spinners & Weavers", a women's self-help project. Here
we watched how wool from local sheep is washed, cleaned, dyed with vegetable dyes, spun into
threads and then hand woven. A very primitive and labor-intensive operation. There was a small
shop selling blankets, shawls, rugs, sweaters, etc.
we watched how wool from local sheep is washed, cleaned, dyed with vegetable dyes, spun into
threads and then hand woven. A very primitive and labor-intensive operation. There was a small
shop selling blankets, shawls, rugs, sweaters, etc.
Spinners working at
the "Nanyuki Spinners
& Weavers"
the "Nanyuki Spinners
& Weavers"
Worker at "Nanyuki
Spinners & Weavers"
showing us around
Spinners & Weavers"
showing us around
From Nanyuki it took just a few minutes to reach the Mt. Kenya Safari Club located directly on the
equator, where we stayed two nights. This is a large upscale resort, beautifully landscaped, with
ample recreational facilities, and a good view of nearby Mt. Kenya. Every evening the resort puts on
a short African dance show.
equator, where we stayed two nights. This is a large upscale resort, beautifully landscaped, with
ample recreational facilities, and a good view of nearby Mt. Kenya. Every evening the resort puts on
a short African dance show.
On the equator at the Mt. Kenya Safari Club
Virginia and Linda with the Safari Club dancers
The following day, 8 October, we drove for about an hour to the Sweetwaters Nature Reserve where
we were shown a very tame rhino and invited to hand-feed him. Behind a fence we also viewed a very
angry chimp in what was billed as a chimp sanctuary. .
we were shown a very tame rhino and invited to hand-feed him. Behind a fence we also viewed a very
angry chimp in what was billed as a chimp sanctuary. .
Angry chimp behind fence at "Sanctuary"
Tame rhino being hand-fed by tourist
We had lunch at the Sweetwaters Tented Camp, where originally we had been scheduled to stay in the
Mt. Kenya area but were "bumped due to overbooking". On the way back to the Mt. Kenya Safari
Club one of our two vans broke down (no water in the cooling system) and had to be replaced. In the
afternoon we took a walk through the very nice grounds of the Mt. Kenya Safari Club.
Mt. Kenya area but were "bumped due to overbooking". On the way back to the Mt. Kenya Safari
Club one of our two vans broke down (no water in the cooling system) and had to be replaced. In the
afternoon we took a walk through the very nice grounds of the Mt. Kenya Safari Club.