It is almost a month now since our Nature series team launched its wide strides to Uganda. The first write-up on gorilla tracking has been a great welcome to a diverse community in the travel and tourism world. This time round, we have been chasing after a fortune of identifying Uganda's top ten attractions and we found an incredible list of our fortune here!!
1.KidepoValleyNational Park
The KidepoValleyNational Park is one of Uganda's most spectacular parks. It is 1,442 square kilometres and harbor scenery unsurpassed in any other park in East Africa. Tucked into the corner of Uganda's border with Sudan and Kenya, the park offers breathtaking Savannah landscapes, which end in rugged horizon. The vegetation can most excellent be described as open tree Savannah which varies much in structure and composition. Mountain forest dominates some of the high places, while areas along the LorupeiRiver support dense Acacia geradi forest. The flora and fauna of the park are more typical of Kenya than the rest of Uganda. The landscape throughout the park is studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs from which one can obtain stunning views in all directions.The KidepoValleyNational Park was established in the 1960s. KidepoValleyNational Park is a 1436 km² national park in Karamoja region in northwest Uganda. Kidepo is rugged savannah, dominated by the 2750 m MountMorungole and transected by the Rivers Kidepo and Narus. Perennial water makes River Kidepo an oasis in the semi-desert which hosts over 86 mammal species including lion, cheetah, leopard, bat-eared fox, giraffe - as well as almost 500 bird species.
2.Sipi falls
SipiFalls is supposedly one of Uganda's most beautiful sights. It is one of the major tourist attractions in Uganda and is about 15 km from Kapchorwa.SipiFalls is a series of three waterfalls and lie near Kapchorwa, north of Mbale. The waterfalls lie on the edge of Mount ElgonNational Park, near Mount Elgon on the Kenyan border.
3.Mt Elgon National Park, Uganda
Mt.ElgonNational park is located near Mbale in the Eastern part of Uganda. The park covers 1,145 sq km. It is named after Mt Elgon (4,321m), an extinct VolcanicMountain that lies on Uganda’s border with Kenya. In the prehistoric times this mountain stood taller than Mt.Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in East Africa. Though the Mountain is shared by Uganda and Kenya its highest point Wagagai peak (4321m) lies in Uganda. The mountain has got three other major peaks which are Kiongo (4303m), Mubiyi (4210m) and Jackson’s summit (4165m). Mt.Elgon is known locally as Mt.Masaba. Masaba is the name of the founding ancestor of the Bagisu who is said to have emerged from a cave on the slopes several centuries ago. The Park can be accessed by road. The journey takes around 3-4 hours from Kampala along a good tarmac road. Hiking is the major tourism activity. Climbing Mt.Elgon is not so much challenging and therefore can attract both medium climbers and the experienced climbers. From here, you can visit the exquisite SipiFalls for scenic viewing, Nature walks from Budadiri trailhead. Community visits and participation in Imbalu dances.
4.Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi
The Tombs of Buganda Kings at Kasubi are regarded as the major spiritual centre for the Buganda people, the largest Ugandan ethnic group. They constitute a site embracing almost 30 ha of hillside within Kampala district. Most of the site is agricultural, farmed by traditional methods. At its core on the hilltop is the former palace of the Kabakas of Buganda, built in 1882 and converted into the royal burial ground in 1884. Four royal tombs now lie within the Muzibu Azaala Mpanga, the main building, which is circular and surmounted by a dome. It is a major example of an architectural success in organic materials, principally wood, thatch, reed, wattle and daub. The site's main undertone lies, however, in its indefinable values of belief, spirituality, continuity and identity. Guides at Kasubi lead visitors around the area and into the building, explaining the history of the Baganda and the cultural traditions associated with the tombs.
5.Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
It is known for its exceptional biodiversity, with more than 160 species of trees and over 100 species of ferns. The park is part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and is situated along the Democratic Republic of Congo border next to the Virunga National Park and on the edge of the western Rift Valley. It comprises 331 square kilometres of jungle forests and contains both montane and lowland forest and is accessible only on foot. Many species of birds and butterflies can also be found there, as well as many endangered species, including the mountain gorilla. Bwindi is also an incredible preserve home to some of Africa's most endangered animals.It is a haven for gorilla tracking.
6.RwenzoriMountainsNational Park
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park covers nearly 100,000 ha in western Uganda and comprises the main part of the Rwenzori mountain chain, which includes Africa's third highest peak (Mount Margherita: 5,109 m). The region's glaciers, waterfalls and lakes make it one of Africa's most beautiful alpine areas. The park has many natural habitats of endangered species and a rich and unusual flora comprising, among other species, the giant heather.
7.Mpanga National Reserve
This is a government nature reserve 453 hectares in size. Gazette around 50 years ago, the 45km2 Mpanga forest reserve near the small town of Mpigi, lies 37kms west of Kampala on the road to Masaka. It is a compact forest offering a cathedral like atmosphere in which to enjoy fabulous bird watching. The main forest center in 500 m from the main high way and marked by a decorative sign. Visitors are welcome to picnic or camp at the forest center and follow any of the well marked trails to the south of the river. The reserve protects an extensive patch of medium -altitude rainforest, characteristic of the vegetation that once extended over much of the northern lake Victoria Hinterland, but has largely been cleared over the past century due to human activity. Wide footpaths (initially made by researchers) crisscross the forest where Celtis mildbraedii and Bosquieia phoberos form the dominant tree species. The forest is now is now open to public.
8.MabiraForest reserve
Mabira forest lies along the main highway running from Jinja to Kampala. Its actual location is 54 km from kampala and 20 km from Jinja. The forest centre is on the edge of Najjembe village approximately 500m north of the main road. If you are coming from Kampala, it is signposted to your left before you reach the roadside market at Najjembe. The Mabira forest project was established with help from the European Union. There are 10 forest trails catering for people of all time schedules and abilities with options of both guided and unguided trails. If you are not rushing to the west of Uganda or needing to get to Kampala in a hurry, then consider MabiraForest – a pleasant backwater and stop over.
9.Lake Victoria, Uganda
While the communities living around the lake have many stories to tell in addition to the lake being a source of living for them, no need to add to what Wikipedia says;
"Lake Victoria or Victoria Nyanza (also known as Ukerewe and Nalubaale) is one of the Great Lakes of Africa. Lake victoria is 3rd biggest lake in the world covering 68,800 square kilometres (26,560 mi²) in size – making it the continent's largest lake, the largest tropical lake in the world, and the second largest fresh water lake in the world in terms of surface area (third largest if one considers Lake Michigan-Huron as a single lake). Being relatively shallow for its size, with a maximum depth of 84 m (276 ft) and a mean depth of 40 m (131 ft), Lake Victoria ranks as the seventh largest freshwater lake by volume, containing 2,750 cubic kilometres (2.2 million acre-feet) of water. It is the source of the longest branch of the NileRiver, the White Nile, and has a water catchment area of 184,000 square kilometres (71,040 mi²). It is a biological hotspot with great biodiversity. The lake lies within an elevated plateau in the western part of Africa's Great Rift Valley and is subject to territorial administration by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The lake has a shoreline of 3,440 km (2138 miles), and has more than 3,000 islands, many of which are inhabited. These include the SseseIslands in Uganda, a large group of islands in the northwest of the Lake that are becoming a popular destination for tourists"
10.The people of Uganda the cultural diversity
The Uganda culture is made up of a dissimilar array of cultural groups.Itincludes a number of religious groups like Christians, Sikhs and Hindus. People speak in 40 languages out of which Luganda is the most common. Swahili is also used while English is the official language. Literature of Uganda is very rich as well.Many of the regions like Buganda, Bunyoro and Toro had kingdoms of their own. Lake Kyoga forms the northern periphery for the Bantu-speaking peoples, who dominate much of east, central and southern Africa. In Uganda they include the Baganda and several other tribes. In the north live the Lango and the Acholi, who speak Nilotic languages. Iteso and Karamojong who speak a Nilotic language, occupy the east parts of Uganda and few Pygmies live isolated in the rainforests of western Uganda. Each of the tribe is very respectful to their tradition and the culture of Uganda can be best described as a melting pot of diverse cultural practices. The Uganda people are quite hospitable.
In our nature series this season, our African safari desk has stretched its adventurous strides to Uganda and in the next few episodes; we are going to light our campfire around informative details, news, and facts about this wonderful East African country widely known as – the home of the rare mountain gorillas.
Uganda’s major attraction is the endangered mountain gorilla, the most profoundly built of living primates and among the most peaceable too. Staring into the pondering brown eyes of these calm giants, who share 95% of their genes with humans, is as awe-inspiring as it is exhilarating; no less so, when one realizes that fewer than 700 known individuals survive today. The groups are divided between Bwindi National Park and the Virunga Mountains south west of Congo border.
Within Uganda, there are five habituated Gorilla troops available for viewing – four in Bwindi and one in Mgahinga National Park. The groups have been given local titles which have very interesting meanings. Eight people are permitted per group per day and a total of twenty four people are taken in Bwindi, while eight people are allowed for Mgahinga.
Uganda is also home to man’s closest relative, the chimpanzee, a delightful ape whose evocative pant-hoot call is a definitive sound of the African rainforest. Chimpanzee communities have been habituated for tourism at Kibale Forest, Budongo Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kyambura Gorge. There is also a community of orphaned chimps, most of which were confiscated from poachers, and can be visited on Ngamba Island, which lies on Lake Victoria 45 minutes by motorboat from Entebbe.
Of more exhalation is the exceptionally well representation of monkeys in Uganda. Kibale Forest boasts the greatest primate variety and density in East Africa, with five or six species likely to be observed over the course of one afternoon walk. Elsewhere, Mgahinga National Park hosts habituated troops of the rare golden monkey, while Murchison Falls is one of the few East African strongholds for the spindly, plains-dwelling Patas monkey. The fossilized 20-million-year-old bones of Morotopithecus, the earliest-known ancestor of modern apes and humans, were unearthed in the 1960s near Moroto in Eastern Uganda, and are now housed in the National Museum in Kampala.
Tracking Gorillas is one of immensely fascinating and sometimes very emotional experience for many taking safaris in Africa, whilst for others it often fulfils a lifetime ambition. The most famous areas for gorilla tracking are in the Bwindi Impenetrable forest. The best way for a perfect tracking is guided nature walks between Buhoma in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and the town of Kisoro via Nkuringo and vice versa.
This experience offers a low cost insiders perspective into village life in rural Uganda highlighting some of the wonders of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest all at your own pace. Gorilla tracking is a very captivating activity; it involves walking in the wilderness in search of these great apes. It can be a challenging activity, therefore ensure physical fitness.
It is paramount to know that the Uganda wildlife authority requires you to have a tracking permit; Booking for all gorilla permits in Bwindi and Mgahinga is done at UWA Headquarters in Kampala. Advance permits are available as early as two years.
Another great encounter is the Chimpanzee tracking. The way they feed, climb trees, respond to humans and the care they show for their young ones, is just phenomenal. Kibale national park, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison falls national park are a haven of Chimpz. I know the fact that Chimpz are 'cousins to humans' is not a new tale to you. For the more adventurers, you can be part of the habituation team that goes in the morning to study the behavior of this primate in order to make them get used to human beings.
Kenya is a country that many refer to as 'the real Africa'. The cradle of mankind, the home of diverse ethnicity, contrasts and awesome history, all have also been used to refer to Kenya. No matter your interest, pursuance and motivation, Kenya will have uncountable offers which will turn your expectations to nothing less than a lifetime experience.
One of our last Kenya safari visitors from Liverpool was very impressed when he saw the Crying stones of Maragoli near the famous Kakamega forest – the only remnant of equatorial rain forests in Kenya. On reaching the airport to take his flight back home, the visitor who for the sake of his fame in Europe I will not disclose said "Kenya is a whole world in one country…." He waved and left … the last words I had were, "I will come back with my business partner soon… see you then"
For many decades now, many people from every scope of life worldwide have gained massive interest in Kenya. Key personalities have made their name to appear in the Guinness book of record, won Nobel prizes while others have featured in global headlines by setting foot to explore this 'paradise'.
Last week Richard James and Anne Nicholson were in their first time safari in Kenya. Amazingly, what they thought of Africa before then was totally different from the kind of Africa they saw in Kenya. From delicious international cuisines to attractions, beautiful sceneries, wildlife, amazingly hospitable people, beautiful cities and towns e.t.c, all depicted untold African safari experience. Anne and James had a chance to have lunch at the famous carnivore restaurant – a world re-known joint for all selection of game meat and uncountable international and African delicacies. I might not tell the experience better than Anne and James, but I know even to them, words cannot explain this life time experience.
It would not be a sheer tribute if I say "Whoever goes to Kenya has a legacy and an inimitable myriad story to tell" but at least I have Anne and Richard as witnesses among many many others. Many have experienced these African safari dreams, while others only hear
On another arena.... Kenya now boast of world class national parks, well improved infrastructures and hospitable communities, following massive developments that are in place in line with Kenya's vision 2030. If you have been to Kenya recently, you will bare me witness that the roads have greatly improved, Nairobi – the capital has even become better and electricity is reaching even the very rural places. The only issue however is most of the new roads don’t have road signs (ha ha ha!), hope they will be in place soon the roads are complete with carpeting.
News flash......
A funnier thing is that, Kenya is now home to the oldest pupil in the world, the man by name Kimani Maruge. Maruge has entered the Guinness book of records after joining elementary (primary) school class one at the age of 78 years. He comes from Eldoret a few miles from Cherangani hills and Iten where most of the Kenya's world best athletes come from and where most go for high attitude training.
Elephants are the most interesting animals in the world in addition to them being the largest animal living on dry land today. Having grown up in Africa, I have had enormous scenarios and amazing encounters with African elephants, but my desire for more and more encounters is voracious. Today I will tell you untold stories and incredible encounters with elephants in Africa and off course some implausible facts. Join me…..
In one African experience, we were sited around a campfire in one of my safaris in Kenya that worked out so well. The night was characterized by clear skies, lions roar and hyenas human like laughter. The night jars whistled and bats flapped their wings as they hovered in the air. The story of Ahmed - the Kenya's most famous Elephant was being aired by our guide as everyone nodded in awe. We all wished it didn't end, but our joy was we would visit Marsabit national reserve in a few days time.
The day we rose up in Marsabit national reserve was awesome. The reserve is characterized by forested mountains which rise like an oasis in what otherwise would be a desert boondocks. Although the reserve is home to some of the largest elephants in Kenya, it is only Ahmed who enjoyed twenty four hour surveillance from presidential order. Ahmed was preserved and now stands a national monument, displayed at the Nairobi national museums in Kenya. He died at the age of fifty five.
One of the other spectacles in Marsabit national reserve is the crater lakes. Despite being surrounded by a vast abscond wilderness; the beauty of these lakes is far ahead moving imagination. The reserve has three crater lakes which provide habitat to a variety of birdlife. One of the three – called lake paradise is the most scenic and famous from the early films and writings of Martin Johnson and Vivien de Wattville.
Of even amusing stature is the Tsavo national park. This magnificent wildlife thrilled paradise lies on the southern east Kenya, just a few hours drive to the famous, sun-baked white-sanded beaches of the Kenyan coast. Tsavo was crowned home to man eaters' mane less lion in early 1900 to 1920. The lions killed countless Asians, Africans and Europeans who by then worked on the construction of Kenya Uganda railway.
Tsavo is also known to have been theatre of the greatest elephant slaughter in Kenya, all in the name of poaching for ivory. As a result, the elephants developed a wretched tendency towards human being. When they saw vehicles or hear the sounds of running engines, they would run away and hide in he think bushes. That was in the 60s and 70s. However, this has now stopped and the new generation is more calm and human friendly. If you get to Tsavo you will be amazed to see 'brown' elephants. This is as a result of brown mad bathes they take from the pools of water in park.
As I conclude let me share with you what I consider to be the most amazing facts about the elephants, an animal that ranks high on any visitors African safari itinerary; Elephants stomp when they walk and sleep standing up while baby elephants sometimes lie down to sleep. Elephants bathe. Sometimes they spray dirt on themselves or bathe in mud to get the parasites off. Elephants weigh about 10,000 pounds. It would take 250 students to add up to 10,000 pounds. They cool off by fanning their ears. This cools the blood in their ears and that blood goes to the rest of their body and cools off the elephant.
Only grown up ladies and their babies live in the herds, the bull elephants leave the herd when they are 12 years old. They fight with their tusks and they eat grass and bark of trees. The longest recorded fight between two elephants was recorded at 10 hours and 56 minutes.
During the wet season they eat things low to the ground while during the dry season they use their trunk to gather food from trees and bushes. They suck up water into their trunks and shoot it into their mouths. Elephants need lots of room to roam and eat. They can reach 24mph for short distances.
The elephant heart weights about 22kg and circulates about 450 liters of blood. Inner "cleaning" is performed by a 77kg liver. To drink its 11 litres of water at a time, the elephant uses its trunk which weighs about 113kgs while its 12kg tongue helps in swallowing.
The approximately 250kg food eaten every day passes through 18m of intestines which is eventually processed into about 100kg of elephant dung per day. Elephants only digest about 40% of what they eat, and therefore, they need to spend two-thirds of every day eating. They 'release' 2000 litres per day.
A skin of an elephants can weighs 450-750 kg, while the tail as heavy as 11kgs. It is estimated that an area of fifty square kilometers is filled with particular elephant "call" in infrasound. This might increase to about three hundred square kilometers at dusk due to lower temperatures. An elephant's gestation (conception to birth) is 23 months.
An elephant’s eyes are very small in relation to its head. The eye contains very few photoreceptors and they cannot see very well further than a few hundred feet. However, this never hinders their speed, for instance a herd ambles at about 4 miles per hour and can charge at more than 25 miles per hour. It's important to note that Elephants cannot run or jump however; they walk very fast and climb. Elephants can swim considerable distances. In deep water they hold their trunks above the water like periscopes.
An elephant’s trunk is the most versatile of all mammalian creations being used as a nose, arm, hand and multipurpose tool. It is powerful enough to kill a lion with a single swipe, yet the finger-like lobes at the end are proficient enough to pluck a feather from the ground. The trunk is boneless, and is composed of an estimated 40 000 muscles. The tusks are elongated upper incisor teeth, which grow continuously throughout the elephant’s life. They are not always an exact match, as this depends on which side they favor much like left and right-handed humans.
An elephant’s ears are covered with lots of veins, which form distinct and unique patterns adept enough to identify individuals - much like human fingerprints. Elephant's ears are packed with blood vessels, and when flapped, they quickly lower the animal’s body temperature. This swiftly circulating blood is cooled by about 15 degrees Fahrenheit while in the elephant’s ear.
In Africa, the elephants are called Jumbos and in Kenya, you can't afford to miss the tale of 'Ahmed', the celebrity of all elephant to have ever lived on earth. Visit Kenya today and learn how Ahmed became a national monument.
Written by; Francis Nyagah African Safari desk Natural Track Safaris
Africa and Kenya in particular has earned a remarkable share in the world of safaris. Safari is a Swahili word meaning travel and Kenya boasts the pioneer-ship of safaris in the world.
Safaris are packaged in diverse ways in Africa, but it is in Kenya where African safaris trace their roots of origin. Although safaris have gone through a massive revolution, the authenticity of safaris in Kenya has remained unscathed for decades. One of the incredible revolutions that Kenya safaris have experienced is the camping safari.
Lior and Kristine had a lifetime experience camping in Kenya. The couple had a whole eight days exploring the magnificent beauty of Kenya. Setting foot in Kenya, they proceed to the famous Maasai Mara. The breathtaking plains spotted with ever green shrubs and scattered acacia, swarm the greatest global spectacle – the wildebeest migration. Mara gained its esteem from the Big cat dairy featured at BBC and lots of other innumerable documentaries and photographic events, but it is the migration that saw Mara rise to one of the seventh wonder of the world.
From Mara, they proceed to Lake Nakuru national park where the picturesque flamingo birds turn the skies pink. Known as a the bird watchers paradise, the park has turned out to be a tale of success in conserving two endangered ungulates – the Black and white rhinos and the Rothschild giraffes. Kristine and Lior had fun! fun!! fun!!! photographing and viewing wildlife, birds and sceneries at close proximity.
Conversely, their paramount incident was the trekking day. We got to Menengai crater in time and all set; we started trekking up the crater. As we went up we could see the horizons interspersed with hills and trees. The sky was clear and the morning sun kept the moist dew glowing.
After a successful hike to the top of the crater, we proceed to Hells gate national park. Here, the trek takes place in a gorge. The gorge is perceived to resemble the 'tunnels of hell' due their seemingly endless facades. To reach the central tower photo site, we had to pass two rock barriers. The first one is slippery and around 2.5 meters high and the other one is around 12 feet. After a great courage, Kristine climbed and we all managed to reach the photo site. It was incredibly rewarding for Lior and Kristine especially the photos bearing the central tower backdrop.
Although I didn’t accompany Lior and Kristine to Samburu national reserve, I heard acknowledgment of their immense experience there. Samburu is a reserve comparable to none in Kenya. It is in Samburu where you will find the grevy's zebra, reticulated giraffe and the gerenuk gazelle. Lior and Kristine camped near the famous Ewaso nyiro river rich with Hippos and African crocodiles.
Lior and Kristine are now in Uganda, but they still hold to it that their camping safari in Kenya was indeed a perfect choice. Thanks to Elizabeth of Natural Track Safaris who did all within her reach to ensure Lior and Kristine camping in Kenya was a success. Kudos! Peter, the driver guide …that was a job well done.
Natural Track Safaris has received testimonials world over for arranging unique and precise African safaris tailor made to suit all safari needs. Nonetheless camping safari through natural track has proved itself way above any other in Kenya.
Next time, you can be the one reading about your safari in our articles just like Lior and Kristine.
Kwaheri ya kuonana!
Written by: Francis Nyagah African Safari desk Natural Track Safaris
The Tuesday evening of 2nd September 2008 will be carried down in the history of Kenya meteorology.The Great Rift Valley formed the jumbo theatre of what residents of Gakingi village will keep to remember for decades. What started as a usual evening downpour, suddenly turned out to be a real climatic reversal……
Hailstones, snowballs, ice crystals, snow, sleet, solid rain…… name them, were the terms used to describe this dramatic event which brought almost all Kenya into a situate tranquil. And, on Wed 3rd all was in the headlines ‘snow in Nyahururu!’ the region has now become a unique attraction for short-timed tours in Kenya for the residents.
Kenya has for long time been habituated to a tropical weather conditions therefore, the Nyahururu ‘snow fall’ on Tuesday evening would easily be mistaken to a start of ‘Kenya Alps’. The snow covered an area of almost 200 hectares with a depth of 10 inches.
Excited residents of Gakingi had their pleasurable affair as they played with the snow that struck their village after an evening downpour. Whatever title used to refer to this event was of miniature significance to them - all what they know is that it was ‘Mbarafu’ (snow) and Kenya sasa ni kama ulaya (Kenya is like abroad) like to say "Kenya has not been locked out by mother nature"
Nyahururu is located in the eastern warp of the Great Rift Valley. It is in Nyahururu where the great ancient British explorer Sir. Thomson with his German counterpart Sir. Fischer’s discovered the Nyahururu water fall in early 90s. The water fall was later named after Thomson 'Thomson's fall' and it forms a pleasant stop over for many safaris in Kenya. Fischer’s on the other hand was rewarded in Naivasha where a tall rocky outcrop in Hells gate national park was named after him.
Although many theories have come up from a diversity of sources explaining what could be the most possible cause of this ‘snow fall’, effects of global warming should be given a priority. What happened in Nyahururu on Tuesday should not be taken lightly. The event shows how evident the effects of global warming have become significantly unpredictable and perilous. The whole world should take the Nyahururu event as a case study of how unpredictable the magnitudes of global warming effects are.
It's amazing how history carries its lure beyond human indulgence. It works like magic, thriving all the emotions, perceptions and feelings beyond imagination. It also fosters culture and brings strong bonds even among the most diverse ethnicities. It is this history that made Tomas Mareth and party from CzechRepublic feel part and parcel of Kenya. History made it easy for them to feel 'at home away from home'. In Kenya they got the history magic …...
Tomas Mareth and party were in their long anticipated African safari. The safari was to take eleven days on tour in Kenya and then reach its best moments in the white sand sun-baked beaches of the Kenyan coast.
The first activity was climbing Mount Kenya. This saw them ascend the premier peak of the equator also famous as – the only snow capped point on the equator - that is according to early explorer Dr. Ludwig Krapf. Sirimon route was the best for them and on the fourth day, they enjoyed the fantastic view of sunrise at Lenana.
The journey to the peak requires an adventurers' heart. From the gate you pass through the rain forest where some trees are unimaginably huge from where you traverse the mangrove forest before reaching 'Old Moses' camp. The second day is even more tasking and involving. 'Think of hiking a distance of 22 kilometers having to pass through rough terrains, boggy soil, and crossing rivers and 'swamps'. All this happen at an attitude above 3000 meters above sea level. It might sound tiresome and involving, but amazingly, the whole journey turns out to be very interesting and rewarding
Unlike 'Cocacola' (Marangu) route in Kilimanjaro where one walks on gradually outlined paths, Sirimon route takes you through great valleys and rocky outcrops. Among the valleys is Makinda, the longest valley in Mt.Kenya which finds its source slightly below the three peaks (Batian, Nelion and Lenana)
When Mareth learnt about Joy Adamson history and how close they were from the jungles in which the famous born free documentary was filmed he was very impressed. He consulted with the group and enquired whether it was possible to have them pass by Joy and George Adamson's museum. "Yes! It's possible". I said.
When the day came to start their African safari, all the arrangements were in order and now it was confirmed by Peter the driver guide that they would pass through Elsa-mere where the Museum is located.
All this time, I had not known why Mareth and the party were so much interested in visiting any trace of Joy Adamson until I learnt it later at the airport …..
Joy Adamson was born in Troppau, Silesia, Austria-Hungary (now Opava Czech Republic – the home country of Tomas and party). She was born Friederike Victoria Gessner as the second of the three daughters (Traute, her and Dorle) of Victor and Traute Gessner who later divorced while she was still a young girl.
Joy married three times in a span of ten years after her first love affair left her heartbroken. She got the name 'Joy' as a nickname from botanist Peter Bally who she got married to as the second husband after World War II making it her first marriage in Africa.
Joy met her third husband George Adamson while on a Kenya safari and they made a home in Kenya. It is while with George that she (Joy) did what turned to be a global legacy.
Tomas told me that in 'Opava', there still stand a house where Joy spent her childhood with her grandma' who she called 'Oma'.
At Elsa mere, Tomas and Party came live with what two decades ago formed a normal lifestyle of Joy Adamson in Africa.
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