African Holiday Adventures

Well the holiday has started, although first week is in Perth for a wedding.
We must be seasoned traveller as we are not totally distracted by the exciting things coming. Aware there are some dangerous places we are visiting with shootings and muggings.
But we have been careful in Perth, no Northbridge or trains so hopefully the danger is mainly behind us.
Actually enjoyed our week in Perth a lot, good seeing old friends.
Let the real holiday begin.

Sunday 27 May

South African Airlines, not bad. Four seats in the centre for just Carolyn and I. Not bad leg room for cattle class. 11 hour flight but passed OK.
So we made Johannesburg, accommodation at a little hotel 5 mins from airport. We were told a free shuttle bus could be found as you exit the airport, surprise surprise there was a little man who not only pointed from where the bus leaves from but was happy to walk the full 20 meters with us and only wanted 50 US Dollars for his company. Guess he is the first local we have upset. At hotel about 5pm and a 9:40am flight tomorrow morning, a good night’s sleep is the only thing on our mind.

Monday 28 May

Alarm set for 6am, both awake 4am. Hate time differences. Got to the next hotel at 5pm so another full day of travel. Full plane and a few mums bought noisy lion food with them. So we have made Kenya and Nairobi hotel, great and a 500ml beer $4.20, sensational. You just leave the airport and there a large fenced off area with some Giraffe in it. Apparently also Zebra but did not see them. They did not come over to the fence to say hello to us. Perhaps I have better eye sight than them and they did not see us.
Had a good chat with our tour guide and learnt a lot
Apparently "The Big Five" is not Shiraz, Cabernet, Pinot, Merlot and  Chardonnay. The things you learn on these Safari's.

Tuesday 29 May

A day of leisure, suits us as we start at 5:30am for the next three days. Slept in all the way to 7:30am got this Holiday thing down pat.
Big breakfast and a long coffee around the pool. Map from reception said a shopping centre about a kilometre away from the hotel. Let's do it. Thought it was the wobbers and wapists we had to be careful of, wrong. It is drivers when crossing the roads, especially on large roundabouts that put our life in danger. But we made it, not that the shops were great but we did get to walk past little markets on the way and had one stall keeper trying to buy my high quality plastic Intercontinental Pen. Could have made a fortune! Should have pinched more pens over the last few months. Great meal that night around the pool pondering on just what price the pen could have got.

 

Wednesday 30 May

5:15am we were picked up to go to the Airport. Kigali Rwanda the destination. Couple hours flying then arrive to meet rest of tour group. They are all good looking, just Carolyn and I and a guide to ourselves.
Frist stop the Genocide Memorial.
Did not enjoy it but glad we saw it. Sobering experience. Now looking at country and people with different eyes.
Drive around the city, much poor living but quickly being upgraded to more modern living. City is obviously changing quickly. Cannot be easy with what has happened here.
Off on our three hour drive to Volcano Mountain Park where we are spending the night. Magic country side as we climbed higher and higher. Most unfarmed slopes covered in Eucalyptus, but majority of land was terraced and farmed. Few vehicles just bikes and walking sticks. Girls in colourful dress with buba strapped on their backs.  Great lodge and sat at bar by candle light waiting for generators to kick in. (6:30 to 11:00). But was educated by the barman. Apparently all the Eucalyptus around the lodge originated from Austria. He meant well.
Outside was cold but not our little cottage, before dinner a fire was built then on return it was re-stoked. An oil heater was operating will the generators were going and to top it off all that just as we were going to turn the lights off a young lass delivered a hot water bottle each for the bed. Cold we were not. Big day tomorrow! Yes another 5:00am getup.

Thursday 31 May

Gorilla day!
6:30 headed off to central meeting point. There are 10 families of Gorillas and we are assigned to our family. (8 people in each group).  Our family was the Agashu family, 23 Gorillas, one silverback. After hearing what it is all about into the 4WD's and onto the base of the volcano park. The locals great us.

A long trek upwards over farmland until we reach a large rock wall. The untouched jungle was on the other side. We are at a little over 7000 feet in Altitude and yep breathing a little heavy.

 

Was luck with us, after a month of non stop rain the last few days have been dry and today sunshine. Mud being the hardest part of the hike.
Climbed the wall and continued through the jungle. The art of trekking isn't that complicated, you follow the poo.
Then we found them, interestingly enough we also found another trekking group.
Two families had decided to meet. We were later told most of the trekkers had been doing this for 5 years only having two days a week off and had never seen two families meet, how good is this!
So the other family was the Sabyinyo  Family which has 10 members, two smaller silverbacks. Although they did not fight the big boys did display there strength to each other, crashing down thick bamboo and a bit of chest beating. Lasted about 20 mins before they went their own ways.  The whole atmosphere then changed with all becoming relaxed and our focus went to the babies playing while dad sat back, scratched his bits and chewed on bamboo. The hour past so quickly, not sure if it was the excitement or fact that trek home was downhill but we were back to the vehicles in no time.

 

 

 

 

Back to compound for a long hot shower and change out of very muddy clothes. Lunch then slow drive to Kigali for the night.  Interesting seeing the little country villages and a rough idea how they live. 9:00 am pickup for airport tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

Friday 1 June

Just one of those days of travel. Arrived in Nairobi on a public holiday, 49 years of self ruling. The city was full of celebrations and good news was traffic was not as bad as usual. Unpacked bags and being civilised people a couple of G&T's poolside.
Life is good.

Saturday 2 June

At last a sleep in. 3 course breakfast and relax until 1pm pickup. We are heading to the Nairobi National Park and Zoo. The park is on the outskirts of town 160 square miles with tracks randomly through it. You stay in your vehicle and drive and try your luck. We had an old Hiace van with pop up roof and was able to stand the whole time.

Drove for 15 mins both of starting to realise in the real world we may drive all day and see nothing. Went around a corner and there was a lion sitting on a rock, think he was saying "what took you so long". Must have got to within 4 metres, how good was that.

A little further on Giraffe, Buffalo, Gazelle and Warthogs. It was a great taste of what is ahead of us.

Wandered through the animal Orphanage (zoo) then back to the hotel to check out 200 photos of a lion.

10am pickup tomorrow.