OK, we’re going to make our fourth attempt at bird watching on the Sabaki river.So far, either one of us has been sick or the weather too bad.The sun’s been out all morning, it’s now lunchtime and we’re due to leave in one hour.Just as we sit down to eat the skies burst open and it’s pouring down.I text Jonathan, our guide, and he replies “the weather is very unreliable.Give another date, hope will turn 2be clear then. Very sorry.”.That sums it up really.Never mind, they needed the rain but even so it is the first day of July and officially the rainy season ended yesterday, not cricket. We’re up at Ocean Sports and must admit that we’d forgotten about the football.There’s a large crowd up here, even more so because most Watamu has just lost its power so everyone’s flocking here.We’ve bumped into Michelle who is building a guest house over here and arrived from England today with her children.She’s given us an irresistible invitation: they’re going to a game reserve called Shimba Hills, near Mombasa, next week and would we like to come along – would we!! The match has ended, well done Portugal, England – 2010.
2nd July
Our weekly walk up to Wishing Rock is once again very pleasant. We’re heading over to Mida Creek (for a change) for sundowners and taking Sammy with us as a guide.He’s quite a character is old Sammy and very knowledgeable.
We do our usual meander across the boardwalk and as we arrive at the bird hide the boys serenade us with a rendition of “Jambo”.There’s a fantastic party atmosphere and I think the birds are steering well clear of us.However, we do manage to see a couple of greater flamingo and a few waders, just to keep me happy.It’s getting dark pretty quickly so we waddle back (couple of glasses of bubbly) over the bridge just before nightfall.What a laugh.
Mida creek from the birdhide
Maulide and future Captain, Mohammed
A local school
teletubby in the dorm at the local school ?
3rd July
I’ve taken a break from work (bet you do feel sorry for me) to pop downstairs for lunch.All the best conversations take place at meal times.Agy’s joined me too and one of the supervisors pops over for a chat.He’s telling us all about his tribal culture and their belief system, it’s so interesting.For instance, last Christmas his uncle died.He returned home for the funeral but as the burial was about to take place it was discovered that the hair, which is normally cut at the time of embalming, was missing.The funeral had to be cancelled, anyone who takes the hair of a dead person is able enter someone’s home and steal their possessions without being seen.The following day the embalmer was caught with the lost hair which he was intending to use for just that purpose.
We’ve now been joined by Andrew.He’s spent the weekend at Tsavo East, camping.It’s been a great trip and not without adventure.He woke up on Saturday morning, by the river, nice and peaceful, birdies singing etc when suddenly a plane appeared from nowhere and started to dive bomb them.This was frightening enough but a short while later they were surrounding by KWS officers armed with machine guns and demanding what they were doing there.Andrew explained that they were just camping by the river but they told him that there was no way that he could stay there and he must go to a designated camp site.Obviously he cooperated and said that he’d leave straight away.Their reply was that they shouldn’t hurry off yet as there was a pride of lions just up the road and it would be such a pity to miss them.That’s what I like about these guys, they’re pretty scary but they do have a heart.
me and Michelle's landrover
Mombasa ferry at Likoni
View from the bandas at Shimba Hills
KWS Bandas at Shimba Hills
Buffalo herd,Shimba Hills
forest elephants,Shimba Hills
4th July
Caro has been on the phone to invite me to join her on a trip to a local school.It’s a girl’s school, supported by ASSETS, in fact they are currently funding 10 students here.Their progress is closely monitored and if there is any problem after their first term, they are visited by the Committee.We are here to arrange a meeting with the headmaster to discuss the girls’ performance.The school is very obliging and they kindly take us on a tour.I have to say that we’re very impressed.
We celebrate our successful morning with chicken and chips at Bustani.
5th July
Pack your things, we’re off to Shimba Hills. Michelle and the boys pick us up in their lovely landrover and we hit the bumpy old road to Mombasa. Michelle, her two boys Tom and Tippy, plus Tom’s friend James, keep us entertained on the journey.At Mombasa, we successfully negotiate our way to the ferry which transports us safely across the river; Shimba Hills is about 35 km from here.
rare sable antelope,Shimba Hills
me with a Tusker at Shimba Hills
Michelle at the banda,Shimba Hills
James,Tippy and Tom singing along
6th July
I had a nightmare that something was sitting on my bed.I shouted and screamed and woke Agy up, pathetic.That’s what bats do to me, turn me into a gibbering wreck.Apart from my screaming, some Galago’s (a kind of Bushbaby) came to visit during the night and made an awful racket too.Apart from that we had a good night’s sleep. We’re on a pre-breakfast game drive.It starts off a little quiet but that doesn’t matter as the scenery is so fantastic.Never mind the views, I’m now very happy because we’ve just come across a deserted camp site with white-backed vultures, the rare palm nut vulture and a brown snake eagle enjoying their breakfast.What a find Agy’s just preventing a tortoise from stepping out under the wheel, now you must always look both ways when you cross the road.
Back to camp for breakfast before a final game drive out of the park.We (or Tippy) manage to find the buffalo and sable again but it must be the elephants’ day off.However, we do find an elephant beetle rolling a piece of dung, delightful.
It’s been a fantastic couple of days and once again we are entertained on the way home with a good old sing song.The locals give us a few strange looks when they hear an extremely loud rendition of Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier” coming from the car.
.
Tippy and myself spotting for game,Shimba Hills
I know I’ve done this joke before but Agy’s the one on the right.
