It's been a crazy start to the week so this is the first chance that I have had to write about the weekend just gone.
On Friday, the 12 of us boarded 2 Safari Vehicles in Machakos and headed to Masai Mara for what would turn out to be a weekend I will never forget. It took 9 hours to get there over smooth roads, bumpy roads and roads that can hardly even be called roads.
On the way, we stopped at a viewing point at the Rift Valley; it was awe inspiring. It was so beautiful there are no words to describe it. I had to take a moment to take it all in.
We arrived in total darkness at approx 8pm and after being shown to our tents (which were huge with beds in!) we cracked a tusker or 2 and tucked into dinner.The 9 hours of travelling frustration soon melted away!
The next 2 days were surreal. We started early both days 6.30-7am and headed into the park to see if we could find any animals. We were not disappointed!! There were elephants, zebras, antelope, vultures, lions, wart hogs, mongooses or mongeese whatever the plural is, hippos, crocodiles, wilder beasts, buffalo and many many more including birds that I couldn't even name! Basically it was the whole cast of Lion King and a few extra friends!
On Sunday, before we left, we visited a traditional Masai Village. They welcomed us with a dance and surrounded me chanting, screaming and jumping... it was more than a little scary! We got to go inside a house, were shown how they make fire and guided through how they live. It was very interesting and a little eye opening. After that we headed home over the same smooth, bumpy and non-existent roads but this time it took a mere 6 hours!
For this week my sub team have been heading into Nairobi every day. The city is great and the meetings have been really informative but the traffic is hell. I have been to Bangalore and this is worse! For a 50 minute journey it has regularly taken 2 1/2 hours and on a couple of occasions over 3 hours. Tomorrow I get to work from the hotel in Machakos which will be a good change.
We have an interesting weekend planned. Friday we visit a local University where we will discuss everything from IBM, soft skills on how to pass interviews to democracy. Saturday we are splitting into groups and I will be heading to Nairobi to visit an elephant orphanage, giraffe centre and the national park which is located in the city - the only one in the world I believe. Sunday we will all be back together to hike in the hills around Machakos and get a better look at the town we have been calling home.
Sorry it was a long one, I promise they will be more frequent and shorter from now on!
RA
#ibmcsc #kenya4
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