Another marvelous adventure among the colours of Kenya

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Our journey begins September 18, 2009: 22.30 punctual our plane leaves from Fiumicino airport, at a time of Mombasa. We land on time the following day at 6:00 local time (the time zone in Kenya is +1 hour when DST is in Italy, where the principle +2 Standard Time). The impact is exciting immediately strike the colorful clothes of women and the dense vegetation that reaches from Mombasa to Watamu, consisting mainly of palms and baobabs. After about three hours drive on a dirt road, we arrive at Watamu, namely Eden Village Watamu Beach, located on the beautiful Jacaranda beach. The village is in my view, very nice and at the same time essential. On the beach meet the Beach Boys, which immediately befriending: Agostino di Torino, Benjamin, Little Lucky, Dolphin, Peppe, Barakka Obama, are just some of the guys who made this trip memorable and made us discover a little ' 'Africa. With them we did walk through the beautiful white sand atolls, I come out with the tide, until the reef and found starfish, sea urchins and corals wonderful. As for excursions, we ordered the entire package to Dive, Watamu a boy, who works for a local agency (as indeed most of the beach boys) and of which we heard really good. There were already felt by Email Italy. Dip is very helpful, punctual and speaks very Italian well. As decided, we, in fact, met outside the bar of Eden Village, 17.00 the day of our arrival. Thus we have established the excursions and the prices that actually are very beneficial to those proposed by the village, while maintaining the same services. So we opt for a 2 day safari to Tsavo East safari blue, visit the ruins of Gedi and tour of Malindi. Now let me say one thing: in some cases, the work of the Beach Boys, and their trips are discredited by the villages or tour operator, the beach boys working for local agencies, like the boys offering tours in the villages!! Hakuna Matata then! No need to worry! The day safari to Tsavo East, Dip comes to take early and accompanies us to breakfast at a café in Italian. She offered him breakfast, as well as all other drinks that have been when hiking. Mimmo Centoleoni then meet, which will be our guide during the safari, our driver Mohammed, careful and responsible and Black Cat, a very nice guy Kenyan who will accompany us throughout the safari! Proceed at a time of Tsavo East, and as we see the landscape change: the dense vegetation gives way to Watamu driest scenarios and the earth glows red. We passed the children greet us and we are meeting. Some good candy is always nice and their smiles are priceless. Immediately before entering Tsavo East meet elephants, ostriches and gazelles. Once inside go to visit the crocodiles, strictly walk! Resume the Jeep and go in search of animals in the savanna, encounter giraffes, elephants, zebras, antelope, antelope, water, gazelles, impalas, dik-dik, hippopotamus and finally the king of the bush, the lion in Swahili, Simba. With luck and great skill of our guide Mimmo, we see a buffalo hunt, by the lion, aided by the lion. A little 'fascinated and a bit' sorry for the poor buffalo, to continue our game drive in the bush. We visit the Masai tribe, where they invite us into their hut to tell us of their customs. Great offer us many smiles dances and children. Returning to the Lodge for dinner and overnight. The next morning we wake up very early to continue the safari. Let other lions, the other one still awake just to sleep, others simba larger with lots of mane and hippos. On the way back to Watamu we stop at a primary school, where we leave the school supplies that we had procured in Italy, and flour, purchased locally with the help of Mimmo. An unforgettable experience that I believe deeply marks the life of anyone alive: children are lessons in a hut, sitting on logs or rocks without desks or chairs. The water problem is evident, as the shortage of food. A bit 'sad for not being able to do more, leave school and resume the road to Watamu. Although there are many children who flock to the streets to the passage of our Jeep greet us with sound ... "hello". The next day after we meet with Dive Safari 14.00 for a visit to Malindi and Gedi ruins. Malindi reveals a big surprise: the city and lively, animated. Leads us through the market plunge of Malindi, the real Africa as it is, not a place constructed ad hoc for the tourists. People are surprised to see ... visit also the wood factory, where skilled sculptors create objects of refined, fitted from wood obtained from coconut trees, Baobab and many others. Then we head towards the ruins of the Arab city of Gedi. These ruins are now inhabited by cute little monkeys, with which we play and where we Dip bananas that we had brought! The visit to Gedi proves very interesting, thanks to the careful explanation of the guide. We return to the hotel very happy, ready for adventure the next day. Dip is to take, punctual as usual, at 9.00 for the blue safari. Before taking the boat takes us by surprise for a ride in the town of Watamu, where he lives. We also accompanied the island of love, after which we move towards the boat which will do the blue safari in Malindi Marine Park. Boat reach the reef for a bit 'of snorkeling, we have seen numerous colorful fish and beautiful backdrops. We head to stop and where the water, crystal clear and warm, is about one meter high. After the bath we go to the mangroves, placed in a very attractive scenario, characterized by tongues of white sand, contrasted by the intense green of the trees and from light turquoise water. Here we stop for an excellent lunch of fish. Return to the hotel in the afternoon, once again satisfied.
Unfortunately, arrives also the last day of stay in Watamu. We dedicate to the sea and walks among the atolls. The evening salute a bit 'sad our friends from the beach, with a promise to return as soon as possible and to write from Italy! Leave them some clothes and soaps are not used. I believe our experience in Kenya very significant. The return from Africa is still a bit 'shocking: memories of the smiles of children, dell'affabilità persons, the colors of the savannah, the adventure among the animals at the safari, remain vividly etched in memory and a constant reminder to return to this land full of treasures to discover. I strongly recommend anyone to go to Kenya to see Africa through the eyes of a true African, leaving the narrow sphere reserved for tourists. Only then can feel the charm of this land, and wonderful at the same time full of contradictions. Dip is an excellent guide in this and leave his contact details below. email: tuffo1@yahoo.com