| Nairobi --- 4 to 6 Oct 2005 |
On Wednesday evening, 5 October, our flight from Amsterdam arrived at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta
International Airport, named after the leader of Kenya's struggle for independence and its firs
President. Leaving the customs area we and the other members of our tour group were met by Edwin
Nyabuto Ongory, who would lead our OAT group for the entire tour. We also were glad to meet the
eleven other members of our tour group, pleased to note their cheery spirit despite having just ended
about 24 hours of continuous travel with little sleep. Edwin promptly got our group on a bus for the
half hour drive to The Stanley Hotel., in the heart of Nairobi's office and commercial area. Our
room on the fifth floor had pleasantly old-fashioned decor and offered an excellent view of the busy
street below.
International Airport, named after the leader of Kenya's struggle for independence and its firs
President. Leaving the customs area we and the other members of our tour group were met by Edwin
Nyabuto Ongory, who would lead our OAT group for the entire tour. We also were glad to meet the
eleven other members of our tour group, pleased to note their cheery spirit despite having just ended
about 24 hours of continuous travel with little sleep. Edwin promptly got our group on a bus for the
half hour drive to The Stanley Hotel., in the heart of Nairobi's office and commercial area. Our
room on the fifth floor had pleasantly old-fashioned decor and offered an excellent view of the busy
street below.
Next morning, Thursday 6 October, our tour leader, Edwin, gave us an orientation lecture outlining
our days ahead, informing us about East Africa, and answering our questions. To me the biggest
surprise of the orientation session was Edwin's request that each of the thirteen members of our
group hand him one hundred dollars and that from those funds he would handle for us the payment of
tips to hotel and restaurant personnel such as porters, room cleaners, and waiters. I questioned that
procedure, explaining that II prefer to give tips personally in accordance with whatever service I got
from the recipient. Some other members of our group felt the same way but none (including me)
wanted to start the tour in a confrontational way so we each paid Edwin the hundred dollars as
requested.
our days ahead, informing us about East Africa, and answering our questions. To me the biggest
surprise of the orientation session was Edwin's request that each of the thirteen members of our
group hand him one hundred dollars and that from those funds he would handle for us the payment of
tips to hotel and restaurant personnel such as porters, room cleaners, and waiters. I questioned that
procedure, explaining that II prefer to give tips personally in accordance with whatever service I got
from the recipient. Some other members of our group felt the same way but none (including me)
wanted to start the tour in a confrontational way so we each paid Edwin the hundred dollars as
requested.
Edwin then led us on a walking tour of the streets near our hotel. We viewed the exteriors of several
buildings, including the home of the legislature, the official presidential residence, several
government ministries, schools, monuments, etc., and (no surprise) ended by visiting the interior of a
souvenir shop.
buildings, including the home of the legislature, the official presidential residence, several
government ministries, schools, monuments, etc., and (no surprise) ended by visiting the interior of a
souvenir shop.
Nairobi's central business district gave us a favorable impression. The streets were well paved and
clean, the buildings impressive, buses not overcrowded, pedestrians walking at a brisk pace and
dressed much better than we had expected. However, we had been warned that with over 40%
unemployment tourists walking the streets, especially at night, could be crime victims.
clean, the buildings impressive, buses not overcrowded, pedestrians walking at a brisk pace and
dressed much better than we had expected. However, we had been warned that with over 40%
unemployment tourists walking the streets, especially at night, could be crime victims.
Nairobi Pedestrians
Nairobi Street scene
After lunch at the hotel we took a short bus ride to Nairobi's "Giraffe Center" exhibiting giraffes
and warthogs in a zoo-like fenced area with an elevated platform from which we and dozens of other
tourists hand-fed the giraffes.
and warthogs in a zoo-like fenced area with an elevated platform from which we and dozens of other
tourists hand-fed the giraffes.
The next stop in our Nairobi bus excursion was an interesting visit to the "Mazuri Bead Centre" were
many women, reportedly single mothers, were busy making and selling hand-made bead jewelry. Here
Virginia bought a pair of nice-looking earrings.
many women, reportedly single mothers, were busy making and selling hand-made bead jewelry. Here
Virginia bought a pair of nice-looking earrings.
Worker at the Mazuri Bead Centree
Mazuri Bead Centre
Then in the outskirts of Nairobi we visited the farmhouse where Karen Blixen lived from 1914 to
1931. She is best known as the author of "Out of Africa" describing her experiences in Kenya; on
which a popular movie was based. The grounds were attractively landscaped and contained the
remains of Blixen's coffee roasting machinery.
1931. She is best known as the author of "Out of Africa" describing her experiences in Kenya; on
which a popular movie was based. The grounds were attractively landscaped and contained the
remains of Blixen's coffee roasting machinery.
Before returning to the hotel the last stop on our Nairobi excursion was for dinner at the Carnivore
Restaurant. The main feature of the restaurant was a huge barbecue pit surrounded by more than a
dozen skewers barbecuing a large variety of exotic meats such as crocodile, ostrich, zebra,
hartebeest, etc. An unusual culinary experience!
Restaurant. The main feature of the restaurant was a huge barbecue pit surrounded by more than a
dozen skewers barbecuing a large variety of exotic meats such as crocodile, ostrich, zebra,
hartebeest, etc. An unusual culinary experience!