Nature, sun, relax, wildlife, in other words... Kenya!

I left home at 1 am on Jan. 10. I'm with a friend and come to the station accompanied by an acquaintance who pay for his taxi service. Arrive by train to Rome Termini where we change to the airport of Fiumicino. Here, after checking in we met a couple of friends of the Sorrento peninsula with which we tackle the journey together. At 11.30 hours, half an hour late, the plane of the Kenya Airways takes off to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta airport where we landed at around 19.00.

 

Arrival in Nairobi

Landed Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after customs clearance meet the tour operator we booked with Watamu safari Italy. There are presented the Italian speaking guide and driver. The terrain we deal with the tour is a big Land Rover, sturdy, spacious but offers little visibility ahead. Fortunately the roof is opened and from there we can observe the nature of the parks. The guide talks about an Italian rather uncertain and it is absolutely unprepared for animals but it is also true that this tour has cost far less than we spent with an Italian agency. The safari will start only tomorrow, for tonight there will be a night in a tented camp in Nairobi. Contrary to what we expected, however, the Upper Hill is by no means a tented camp but a camp with tents and a few wooden hut here called bandwidth. We hope that this type of accommodation is very basic just waiting for tonight to start the tour. We have dinner in the inn of the camp kitchen with a pizza which calls for more than an hour, luckily we had enough to eat moderately on the flight. The Hill is a Upprer frequented mostly by backpackers and here we meet an Italian who is participating in a tour bus overland party, which reinforced the Middle East will reach Cape Town in South Africa. Let's go to bed with the help of the torch which I brought from home, I will also be useful during the night to go to the building where the shared bathroom. Given the situation we avoid both the shower and put on his pajamas. I sleep in a band with my neighbor, the pair of friends in a military tent. Fortunately, although not without a mosquito net with holes in several parts therefore almost useless.

Masai Mara

Wake up at dawn and then gradually, without even having breakfast, to the Rift Valley. Nairobi is situated on a plateau overlooking the Rift Valley, a long fracture in the earth that starts at the Dead Sea in the Middle East and ends in Mozambique. We see the Valley from a vantage point before descending down the plateau. Dominates the landscape profile of the volcano Longonot where you can see the crater. I went down into the valley we head to Narok where we stop for a few minutes, then head for the Masai Mara. From Narok start our journey on a dirt road full of holes that barely a few guys with a shovel trying to cover with gravel in exchange for some money that stretch from the driver's window. Fortunately, our terrain is rugged and the holes are quite muffled by the cushions. Along the way we see the first reserve for the giraffes, wildebeest and a few bewildered some Masai villages. Arrived at our half of the Reserve is surrounded by Masai women who try to sell us their handicrafts such as statues and masks. Here you need to buy a long negotiation, the Masai always start from a very high price, it is up to us offering to balance it with a downward and typically there is a favorable deal for both. Immediately after entering the reserve we stopped to visit a Masai village. The village leaders are asking 10 euros per head, the guide explains that serve to maintain the school and the medical center. The village is surrounded by a circular fence of branches of acacia trees intertwined that provides protection against wild animals. Inside the enclosure there are several small huts whose walls are made of animal dung. One small slit allows light to enter. We enter one of these huts by a narrow entrance, to greet us was the landlord who speaks of his wives and tests of courage that one has to face to become a Masai Moran, ie a warrior. The tests of courage are easily seen by looking at these people, the lobes of the ears are cut and dangling showing colorful decorations, a few missing front teeth and how, but this is obviously not visible, the men are circumcised. All mutilations without anesthesia made to demonstrate the value of pain and contempt of men and women. There are many children in the village of voluntary tortures unaware that their culture imposes on him playing in the shadow of one of the few trees. They are like children all over the world, we take them by the hand and make a circle, one of them comes to me in her arms. Adults can show us how to make fire by rubbing vigorously with a piece of wood then we offer a rock their dance collective based on the jumps, the one who manages to project higher is the strongest and on occasions has the privilege of to choose first among the women of the village. We leave and go to the Masai Sentrim Camp where there are two overnight stays. Here we are greeted by singing a happy song in our honor reserved for the tourists, "Jambo Bwuana" rhythmic beating that found in the hand. It is not just the dusk we had planned but the structure is not bad. Our tent is about the size of a normal hotel room, it's on a permanent structure of stone and has a large bathroom with shower. The beds are large and equipped with soft linens. Inform us that the electricity supplied by a source is limited and that the sockets are active only for a few hours. Stowed our luggage we go to lunch in the large hut that houses the restaurant. The building has no walls and opens onto a clearing in which there is a swimming pool. We are just guests and buffet lunch. Not that the variety is lacking but if you exclude foods that may hurt at these latitudes there is very little to choose from. Finished eating and after a short rest in the tent we set off for our first game drive in the reserve and the first sightings. We visit an area of ??gentle hills, where we spot gazelles, mice, kudu, impala, zebra and buffalo. Our big day will be, however, sightings of a lion crouching in the bush, we see a leopard in the distance and a cheetah with her cub lurking near a tree on which he has made sure of a kill. For those of us imagined the Masai Mara as a zoo is sure to be disappointed, but realistically if you consider that these animals live in absolute freedom of an area of ??more than 1500 sq km then you can also understand why the sightings are hard. This is still one of the finest reserves in Africa, the extension of the famous park in Kenya, the Serengenti. Return to the camp for a short rest in a tent, a young waitress Masai, beautiful but without the two front teeth, covering them with the system, the beds mosquito net. In addition to the buffet dinner, pasta and pizza are also expressed. The pizza in particular is cooked on a special metal tool which burns coal and you can choose your favorite condiment. All Camp is in safari style, the environment is attractive, the soft light. After this wonderful day we retire to our tents.

Masai Mara

During the night it rained and we had to cover well because despite being near the equator, Masai Mara is high and there is a strong temperature between night and day. After breakfast we approach the game drive to reach the broad savannah of the reserve where we see the most classic of African landscapes, expanses of grasslands and occasionally some rare tree. It is the period of the great migration, but the animals there. Our driver is connected by radio to warn his colleagues that the sighting of a family of lions on a side street where we run. In fact there are many, about twenty puppies and adults who do not seem disturbed by the presence of numerous safari vehicles around them to photograph them. These are not the only lions of the day, shortly after we find ourselves in close contact with a lion crouching in the shade of an acacia, slowly move from here to take care of his group of puppies from a camouflaged bush sheltered by a tree. A little later a big lion with a thick mane walk unmolested in the bush and found a little shadow crouches to the ground. In fact the females have to hunt while the male controls the territory. A lioness lies in wait for hunting but despite that we stop to see it in action does not pass from the area any prey. But the reserve is full of antelope, gazelle, kudu, impala, topi, buffalo, waterbuck and African, but not see them anywhere in that area. Deep down we are satisfied that there is prey around because I would be very sorry not to see the death of one of these live animals. We also see the first elephant on our trip, then reached the banks of the Mara River from its banks we spot a group of hippos. These gigantic animals are basking in the sun on the opposite bank of the river and partly in water. Not far from them is a big crocodile. In spite of this reserve is famous for its numerous lions easier to spot the animal is the zebra, we see everywhere. Completely absent wildebeest migration in the period of the great mass punctuate these savannas. Picnic lunch under an acacia in a magnificent landscape, the typical savannah of the collective. We spread a blanket on the lawn and eat what we have prepared the Camp. Not too far from us there is a lioness sly but we are close to the terrain where we could in case of danger to rise on the fly. We return then to our dusk just in time to avoid a strong equatorial storm. It rains incessantly and our tent barely seems to retain the strong gusts of wind. And 'nice too, is part of a journey of unexpected based on the adventure calculated. Towards evening, Masai is the girl who takes care of the beds and put make up for the screen, tells us explicitly that he would like even our sexual attention, we limit ourselves to a proper tip, and a compliment. Taking advantage of a brief respite from the rain we go to the restaurant for dinner so we retire to our tent for the overnight stay. It 'been a busy day, as well as the Masai Mara for his animals fascinated us for the picture-postcard landscapes. As we fall asleep again knows rain violently.

From Masai Mara to Nakuru

We wake with the sun, go to the restaurant for breakfast and leave for the long drive to Nakuru. The first part of the route runs along the dirt road full of holes and covered the first two days leading up to Narok, where we stop. Then the road becomes paved but bad in many places the asphalt is missing, in other holes are abysmal. Honestly, it was easier road. Nairobi to the plateau of a quick detour to a road that we walk for the first time and in excellent condition, in these latitudes we have no difficulty to define a highway if you are traveling in both directions of travel. From this ribbon of asphalt in the distance we see the lake Naivasha and the smallest Elmenteita then arrive in the town of Nakuru. We expected as planned to stay in a Lodge and instead we find ourselves in a common area of ??the hotel in an anonymous city. The exterior of the hotel, the lobby and restaurant are of a good standard but the rooms are cramped and dilapidated plexus are also in the course of work. We are the only customers of the restaurant and for the first and only time during this trip we offer a la carte meal. Although this is the usual difficulty in reconciling a taste for good food with protection for our stomach because of diarrhea in these parts is predictable but inauspicious. Despite the room of this hotel is the only trip of this television is equipped with a disarming sadness to the point that instead prefer to go to sleep immediately after the game drive. We go to the nearby Lake Nakuru National Park where, despite a gray day, we are greeted by the abundant and spectacular birdlife that inhabit the lake. What dominates this stretch of sea water are mainly pelicans and pink flamingos. To be precise, this is the place in the world with the highest concentration of flamingos, which cover the surface of the lake. If the water is the domain of birds, the shores are visited by one of the largest colonies of white rhinos in the world. These gargantuan beasts, which are not actually white, grazing around Nakuru at all disturbed by off-road tour. From a hill you can enjoy an overall view of the lake while on the dirt roads that surround you are face to face with groups of baboons fed green regardless of our passage dealing with the side of the road, we spot a hippo in the lake while the giraffes walking through the vegetation of a different variety from several views to the Masai Mara, these are the breed is known by the Rothschild and the different design of the skin. Before leaving the park we also note that the ubiquitous zebras in Kenya are as common as we have horses. While we are about to release a ranger informs us that not far from there is a lion wandering lonely when we toss and turn to go and take photos in peace. Then we go out and go back to the Park Hotel where surprisingly we find that in the meantime came a large party of Germans,
We have dinner, buffet, and this time we retire in the room saw that tomorrow morning we expect the longest leg of our journey. Meanwhile one of my mates rang our tour operator to complain about the poor quality of the hotel, thanks to this call will get good accommodation in the following days and a free excursion to the sea, better than nothing!

Amboseli

We get up which is still dark, we have breakfast in a deserted restaurant and we leave at dawn for the transfer of our longest tour in Kenya. Let's back near the lakes Naivasha Elmenteita and then let the Rift Valley and Nairobi we climb the plateau. In addition to the length of the journey now worries us because we are forced to move from the chaotic center of Nairobi. In fact in the capital are the disorderly traffic that is known, fortunately our driver is a real pro, does not have intimidated and unable to fight their way through the row of cars. It seems that here there is a lot of respect for the highway code and road signs are optional negligible. Fortunately the road is to arrive in Nairobi that the direct south are of good quality and Capital after the traffic is minimized. At Namanga we stop for the physiological needs, the "motorway" Kenyans are crumbling sheds large, whitewashed, within which a set route to reach the bathrooms forces you to pass a number of craft stalls souvenirs. The price of this merchandise are always exaggerated despite lengthy negotiations with respect to local economic level. The bathrooms are often no more than a pit which disperses excrement directly into the ground. According to our guide, among other things recently, we had to travel from Namanga a difficult road but luckily the last year has been asphalted and get a walk Amboseli unexpected result. We cross a small section of the park and once we realize that the bosses here are the elephants, in numbers very important. If we see herds anywhere even if we stop intrigued by a family of ostriches. Unfortunately, despite the beautiful day on Kilimanjaro is completely enveloped by the mist. We leave the park and soon after we arrive at our accommodation, the characteristic Kibo Camp. The dusk is very beautiful, is full of tourists and a typical safari-style setting. The tent is assigned to us is not as great as that of the Masai Mara but decent and comfortable, there is a shower with hot water supplied by a solar and electric light is on but for a few hours after we have a candle available. The beds are small but comfortable and provided with regular fly. After lunch buffet in a large hut in an African game drive to begin when two of my companions to give up too hot. Once in the southern highlands and far from the equatorial heat is felt. As we explore the off-road encounter a variety of Amboseli elephants but also in vervet monkeys, baboons, buffalo, waterbuck, zebra, gazelles, Masai giraffe and wildebeest. As in other parks, we see two animals that are beyond our passage it is impossible to fit them with our camera equipment: the hyena and warthogs. The puddles in the park are home to many water birds and hippos. Unfortunately, continues to hide the main reason for our presence Amboseli, Mount Kilimanjaro. Another disappointment is due to the fact that we wanted to make the next morning balloon safari, but places are limited and we remain outside. Leaving the park we are surrounded by the usual sellers Masai also present in this area. Returning to camp we enjoy the evening atmosphere of Kibo made of soft lights, lanterns and fireworks. After dinner we sit together with other tourists around a campfire surrounded by a circle of large stones. A group of Masai offers us his dance accompanied by chanting and his stories, unfortunately in English. The Masai are not the only one of the 42 tribes of Kenya to have maintained their ancestral traditions but they are the best known because their location is in an area heavily frequented by tourists. Around the fire we become acquainted with a former American model who has also worked in Italy for a fashion magazine and in Africa for a humanitarian project. Also seeing an outpouring of love and a young Kenyan elderly Italian, we had heard about this type of male prostitution involving our countrymen in the face but trovarcisi makes a certain effect. It 'been a pleasant day, we go into the tent before they come off the light. Before returning a waiter came to our tent with a spray of DTT, the precautions against malaria are always welcome. Exchange two words with this guy, as I observe the night sitting on a chair in the savannah of the terrace of my tent. I asked him if tomorrow we will see the Kilimanjaro, she says that during the night there will be a magic and the clouds disappear, we hope he's right.

Amboseli and Tsavo West

We get up at dawn and when we open the zipper of our tent we see the grand spectacle of Kilimanjaro from the clouds finally cleared. The waiter was right last night, tonight like magic most of the haze is gone. Let's start off the game drive and this time our group is full. We can see the classic image of Africa, a herd of elephants at the foot of the great mountain. Kilimanjaro Amboseli here gives the best of itself is beyond the border in Tanzania. And 'the highest mountain on the continent and with its almost 6000 meters also the highest peak in the world between the isolated, that is, between those that are not part of a mountain range. We return to Kibo Camp just in time for breakfast to depart for Tsavo West. For the transfer we will use a shortcut, a dirt road where there were frequent acts of banditry and therefore we will be accompanied by a military armed with machine guns we loaded up the jeep in a noistro villkaggio the border with Tanzania. Along the way we enjoy excellent views of Kilimanjaro, whose profile has now become crystal clear, now the mountain is displayed in all its grandeur. The peculiarity of this famous mountain lies in its perennially snow-capped even though we are just south of the equator. The military is with us in plain clothes to avoid arousing suspicion. We cross an area of ??young lava flows that cover large areas of black sign of geologically recent eruptions. The strange atmosphere completely devoid of vegetation Shetani reminds me of what I saw many years ago on my trip to Iceland. Besides, from here you can see the nearby Chyulu Hills, which are nothing more than volcanic hills. We enter Tsavo West and salute the soldier who escorted us. Mzima Springs, where we stop then we go from our midst for a brief walk in a forest riparian accompanied by an armed ranger. The Mzima springs are unusual in practice is the point where the water from the Kilimanjaro come to the surface forming two lakes separated by a strip of land beneath which flows an underground stream. When you walk between a pond and the other feels the earth shake under their feet for the passage of water. In many lakes live freshwater fish and some ippopopotamo. A curious structure with glass windows can see the bottom of the lake as we were in a submarine. Let us return to our half and get on the dirt road that leads up and down between the Ngulia Lodge for lunch. The Lodge is very nice, has a great restaurant without walls overlooking the bush and a swimming pool situated on a natural terrace that dominates the savannah below. The Lodge is located on a hill because of Ngulia. The room is decent and the window overlooks a pool where the elephants drinking from. In the afternoon, my friends are tired and discouraged from the heat, only I'm leaving for a game drive expected. Tsavo West has a dense vegetation it is difficult to identify the animals, but lead me to Ryno Sanctuary, a protected reserve where there are several blacks rhinos. Unfortunately, probably because it was too hot, I can not even see a rhinoceros, and even other animals commonly seen are reduced to a few specimens of zebras and antelopes. The landscape is challenging, in some places reminiscent of the American West, seems to be in Arizona. Returning to the lodge I reunited with my friends on the veranda near the restaurant where many are awaiting the arrival of a cheetah. The staff of the Lodge was placed on a wooden perch and a piece of meat every night is a cheetah to eat him. We wait patiently from 18.00, but the cat seems to desert the appointment. Are rather close to the pool a couple of elephants. it's dark but there is a beacon to illuminate the scene. When all we think about the flat rate of cheetah and we go to the restaurant for dinner, here come the animal that catalyzes all the attention on his deeds. It 'a show even just watching him eat, get on that perch and twist elegantly as only an acrobat would know to do to swallow that piece of meat. When the cheetah is fed and goes up to us to dinner. We just have to retire to our rooms and store another busy day on the slopes of Kilimanjaro began and finished near the mouth of the cheetah.

Tsavo East

On waking we have breakfast in the restaurant of the Lodge Ngulia then begin our transfer to Tsavo East Tsavo is the largest Park in Kenya and one of the largest in Africa, is divided administratively into two, the West where we are right now and the East where we go. Released from the West along a stretch of the main arterial road that connects the two of Kenya's most important cities of the country's capital Nairobi with the port of Mombasa. We go to Tsavo East from Manyani Gate and almost immediately we see that many define Mudanda Rock-like monolith that lies at the heart of the Australian desert, but I can not see any resemblance. Unlike the ripple and bushy West, the East is flat and has little vegetation, the element that immediately catches the eye is bright red earth. Contrary to what I thought here we see several different species of animals and we just happen to spot the lions. We arrive for lunch at Voi Wildlife Lodge, absolutely the best accommodation of our trip to Kenya. It 'a luxury lodge with a veranda that overlooks a lake where many animals come to drink, especially elephants. There is also a rich bird life that frequents these waters regularly. The Lodge has a large restaurant, two swimming pools, a gym, sauna, massage room and a bridge that ends with a gazebo overlooking the lake dwelling. The buffet food is much more good and more varied than that found by other parties. The room is spacious and elegant, a fully glazed wall overlooking the lake and offers continuous viewing of the animals that drink. After lunch we stop to watch from the terrace of the Lodge the many elephants that come and go to the lake. We are not alone, there is also a group with which we are aware of Piombino. The Game Drive in the afternoon I make it with only one of my companions and three foreign tourists who were stranded for a fault in their midst and who requested a ride to our guide. Among other things, having to go get them so I also see the little Lion Hill Lodge is located on a hill, overlooking the savannah below. With their back to see the lions have been sighted in the morning and meet other animals already seen in previous days as zebras and antelopes. This Park is the kingdom, however, especially the elephants, there are many schools and you see everywhere. Riaccompagnamo our guests and also the guide who will sleep at Camp Ndololo then we return to our beautiful five-star Lodge. In the evening after dinner we witness an amazing spectacle from the veranda of the Voi Wildlife. In the silence of the African night coming to drink a huge herd of buffalo, and many are neatly into the water line that never seems to end. One unexpected spectacle of nature alone would have earned this trip. After this wonderful vision that made us look like in a documentary we retire to our room for the overnight stay.

Watamu

After breakfast we took the road to Watamu. During the ride in the park are still many animals that we sight, including the usual assortment of lions for three days always occupy the same place regardless of the dozens of media tour to observe that lurk. Tsavo East is very popular because it is closer to the coast and most of the tourists coming to Kenya mainly to the sea at least one day devoted to a short safari in this park. Personally I do not consider the Tsavo as nice as the Masai Mara but it's definitely enough to get an idea of ??a safari in Africa. On leaving the park we met a long column of vehicles coming from the tourist beach resorts that are about to enter, are almost all Italians. Let's go on the banks of the Galana River, where a crocodile accustomed to tourists and excited by a local exhibits opening his mouth, but here it really seems to be a circus. The road to the sea passes through the Arabuku Sofoke Forest where there are numerous villages of huts along the road. Arrived in Watamu we reach what will be our accommodation for the next 5 days, the Ascot Hotel. Here we unloaded our luggage and the driver greeted the guidance that we leave a tip then take place in the flat. We rented for 4 nights a terraced house with a veranda overlooking the swimming pool, living room with kitchenette and two bedrooms with bathroom. The next house is owned by the people of Piombino known yesterday at Voi Wildlife Lodge in Tsavo East Residence is an elegant property built by a Lombard Liss composed of many apartments (and houses) that were then sold to tourists and Italians. The owner has kept the restaurant, casino, bars and handles the rental of apartments sold on behalf of the owners. The owner of the complex is a very active man and is the representative of the Italian Embassy in Nairobi in Watamu. The pool in front of our accommodation is surrounded by sunbathing on camp beds and there is also a masseuse available. Put our things are going to do an inspection on the nearby beach in one of three bays around in Watamu. We realize now that the biggest problem will repel the invasion of the beach boys who persistently try to sell you anything. To ward off a would-be refugee from Somalia as a shadow that follows us we are forced to pay but the music does not change substantially, it has avoided one another. And if you have the impudence to ask one of them for information is very difficult to get rid of him then. The beach is a white iridescent annoys the view that without glasses, when stepped on the sand under your feet crack but unfortunately it is full of algae. The water is clear and warm and the temperature is similar to that of an Italian in August. Towards evening we returned to assist the fishermen in another bay. They come with their sailing boats overloaded with features large reddish fish. The phenomenon of the tide here is very evident, that the first was a wide beach is completely covered by water, that was a strange mushroom-shaped hill became an island, the landscape is constantly changing. Returning to the residence meet near a dilapidated travel agency a guy who gives us a tour for tomorrow, we will give you the answer later and will be affirmative. Today we skipped lunch and we allow ourselves a wonderful dinner at the restaurant dell'Ascot. It 'the same owner to advise a hearty grilled fish and seafood accompanied by baked potatoes and a thin flat bread freshly baked, all very good. Let's take a brief tour of the country which is a poor village of huts made of tin, some built of coral, and some restaurants for tourists, but there seems to be a curfew at 22.00 because we are the only ones to walk. The center of Watamu is in stark contrast with the surrounding bays are located on the shores of the famous all inclusive resorts. We just have to return for overnight stay, we will sleep tonight without a mosquito net because it seems that we do not need it.

Gedi, the Griamas and Malindi

We eat breakfast at the restaurant where we dell'Ascot the only guests. Unlike the Lodge in recent days where you eat breakfast buffet here is served Italian-style, on the table yourself, toast and jam, is not as abundant, but good. Soon after we come to take a taxi to the excursion last night with the beach boys. He will guide us. The first stop is the ruins of Gedi, an ancient city abandoned swahili. The place is more interesting for the environment and for the ruins of itself. There are trees, species never seen before and some monkeys that climb through the ruins. We continue then to a secondary road that passes through a forest and we stop in a poor village where we buy candy and notebooks to children who meet during the journey. For this reason we stop at an elementary school where children dressed in identical aprons follow the teacher's lessons under a tree. Others repeat the words aloud in a hut without walls completely. Do not get distracted by our presence that attracts children but many others around us to receive candy. The next stop takes us on a Griama villages of the tribe, a people living in huts with mud walls and roof of coconut leaves. Many houses have no walls, however. The inhabitants seem to laze in the hot well because there's nothing to do but to fetch water with the tank at the public fountain guarded by a guy who gets to pay with time of receipt. The tribal chief is not happy with our visit, asked for and obtained from our beach boys some money. Here is a absolute poverty but certainly do not starve because the trees are full of fruit. A mother shows us the body of his little burned plenty of boiling water. We take the dirt road until the end of the forest, then continue with an asphalt road up to Malindi. Here we visit a warehouse where many artisans produce artifacts of wood and its large exposure. Then we take a panoramic tour of the taxis in the area for tourists and discos along the seafront where you can see in the distance, the so-called beacon of Vasco Da Gama. The lighthouse is actually a cross of white stone, Portuguese sailors used as a reference point, from here on after the circunnavigato Africa needed to face the Indian Ocean to India. We stop even for a short walk to the market in a very dirty and messy where the merchandise is piled up for no apparent logical criterion. Watamu we return to the main road back to our house. Avoid the lunch and the afternoon one of my companions and I do a long tour of the village until the post office. Then we take a tuk tuk for Blue Bay where we join up with another of our companions. Let's take a swim in the bay where you overlook some All Inclusive Resort frequented almost exclusively by Italians. Leaving the beach we are "bothered" by two young local girls who ask us if we want to have sex with them, politely refuse. The woman in the group remained in the sun by the pool at the Residence, we reach the three-wheeler, and together we go to dinner at the Restaurant dell'Ascot. Same menu last night and the same delicacy. Take a walk to digest Watamu, is earlier than yesterday and there is still some tourists around, there is also a restaurant in a village with my husband, who are guests of a resort. They tell us that there is good food and booked for tomorrow night. We return at Ascot for the overnight stay.

Watamu Water Park

After breakfast we take part in the excursion at Ascot that our tour operator has offered to repay the bad accommodation in Nakuru. We are to pick a taxi to the Residence and lead us to Blue Bay where we take a boat to the so-called "Blue Safari". Excursion involving many of the guests All Inclusive Resort, all Italians. Actually there is also a pair of Italian and Swiss among other things we've seen is that the Masai Mara to Nakuru, the third meeting we break the ice and make their knowledge. Took off we spot a group of dolphins that emerge from the water with their fins. Then we go in the Watamu Marine Park, and we dive into the sea for a short snorkelling on a coral reef. The place is not very good even if we spot one of the few corals present different surgeon fish. The water is low and it is difficult not to touch the coral with his knees. The equipment was supplied by the organization but there is sure to keep your fins. We move back in the boat in a fjord articulated a mangrove forest that borders defined Creeck Midas. You see along the way canoes and fishing boats. Inside the fjord there are some islands that are mostly strips of sand in one of these outcrops, and we see a reversal of flamingos. We descend on a small island of white sand and mangroves where there is a hut with no walls where the roof is covered with the usual coconut leaves. Here, the organization welcomes us with a grilled fish and shellfish which are exhibited when the lobsters. Lunch sitting at a long table, accompanied by the cheerful songs of the young organization. I then separated from the rest of my teammates to join a pair of Italians in a short hike on a primitive canoes carved from the trunk of a tree. The canoe is propelled by a guy with a stick makes pressure on the banks of the canal that we follow. Another guy tells us instead what we see. The channel is surrounded by mangroves where you see massive fruit bats hanging in the water there are small barracuda and other fish. After the short trip I met my beloved, on the island where we had lunch, my companions and then resume the boat back to Watamu. Back at the Residence we relax between lounging room and pool until dinner. We had booked dinner at the restaurant in the country the night before but one of my companions went on ahead and learned that the owner has not purchased the fish because we did not let the down payment, something inexplicable given that even he wondered. Unhappy return for dinner at the restaurant tonight where dell'Ascot also try the pizza, among other things, not bad for these latitudes. We just have to retire for the overnight stay..

Sardegna 2

Dopo colazione insieme al mio compaesano ci trasferiamo in taxi al Parco Marino di Malindi. Da un porticciolo saliamo su un battello e prendiamo il largo. Raggiunta la barriera corallina facciamo un tuffo in acqua per osservarne coralli e pesci in un ambiente molto più suggestivo di quello dell'escursione di ieri. Terminato il breve snorkelling proseguiamo per la così detta "Sardegna 2", una serie di banchi di sabbia bianchissima che emergono dal mare durante la bassa marea. Il luogo è meraviglioso, la bellissima giornata esalta il contrasto tra le varie tonalità azzurro-verde del mare e il candore della spiaggia. La prima fermata ci consente di osservare da vicino le stelle marine, anche qui in mezzo all'oceano non siamo risparmiati da venditori di cianfrusaglie a cui si sono aggiunti anche coloro che vorrebbero affibbiarci spiedini di pesce e crostacei appena pescati. Dopo un breve trasferimento la sosta sul secondo banco di sabbia permette all'organizzazione di cucinare il nostro pranzo su griglie spartane appoggiate a terra. L'incantevole luogo è affollato da numerosi battelli stracarichi di turisti, gran parte dei quali italiani. Mentre le aragoste cuociono la marea cresce e i piedi dei barbeque vengono sommersi dalle acque insieme ad abbondanti porzioni di sabbia. Pranziamo sul battello perchè nel frattempo "Sardegna 2" stà scomparendo sotto i nostri occhi. Rientrando i vari battelli finiscono con l'accostarsi e sotto l'impulso degli organizzatori finiamo per cantare tutti insieme "Jambo Buana", il tormentone musicale swaili di questo viaggio in Kenya. Mi godo il momento così spensierato in un ambiente paradisiaco, sicuramente uno degli episodi topici di questo viaggio africano. Rientrati a Malindi prendiamo il taxi e dopo una breve sosta in un negozio di souvenir in città ci trasferiamo a Watamu ricongiungendoci all'Ascot ai nostri compagni di viaggio. Ceniamo al ristorante del Residence insieme alla giovane coppia ticinese con cui abbiamo fatto conoscenza.

Nairobi

Dopo colazione il titolare dell'Ascot ci accompagna con la sua vettura all'aereoporto di Malindi. Lo scalo è piccolissimo, praticamente una casupola dove attendere il volo e una pista di atterraggio. Con un piccolo bielica della Compagnia Fly 540 raggiungiamo in circa un ora Nairobi.All'aereoporto Jomo Kenyatta della capitale depositiamo i bagagli e prendiamo un taxi per il centro dove visitiamo il mercato centrale coperto, facciamo una breve passeggiata, scattiamo qualche foto dei grattaceli e ceniamo nel ristorante italiano "La Trattoria" insieme al taxista. Rientrati all'aereoporto recuperiamo i bagagli e aspettiamo di imbarcarci.

Il rientro in Italia

Con un pò di anticipo prendiamo il volo delle 00,55 della Kenya Airways per Roma. Arriviamo verso le 6 del mattino. Qui io e il mio compaesano ci separiamo dai nostri due compagni di viaggio e rientriamo a casa.