Picked up by Gamewatchers driver in a 4 wheel drive jeep. Driver Moses, very engaging. He said I packed very light "especially for a lady". (Yet I barely stayed within the 33 lb total limit for all bags - this limit is set by the smaller aircraft between camps - so what are these other chicks doing?) We had about an hour in the car as he crazily navigated Nairobi traffic. He invited me to ask him anything. So I did.
It was an overcast morning, surprisingly chilly (I'm getting worried I'm not prepared for cold here, advice was you need one fleece jacket).
Kenyans drive on the left, as it was once a British colony. Crazy crazy drivers, really thought we would crash several times. No signals or stop signs, didn't seem clear who had the right of way. But here's the thing: everyone seemed relaxed, happy to let people merge in. Lots of traffic, people walking. He said many are walking from Kibera, a massive slum (2 million people?). The slum residents walk to the middle class neighborhood to find day work. 60% (I believe just in that slum) are unemployed, no government assistance. Also no minimum wage.
His tribe is from Lake Victoria (one of 44 tribes in Kenya). His dad has 5 wives, his mother had 8 children
When he decided to marry, he had to offer his wife's family a dowry. Several cows and $1,000. He also was responsible for paying for the wedding (and making all the arrangements). A giant affair in his home village, 2,000 guests. His dad helped out with the extra needed food by offering to have more cattle slaughtered.
Traditional Kenyan Food (which I won't see in the camps as they cater to Europeans): corn is a staple, mixed with water to make a paste? beef, chicken, fish, veggies like green. Don't use spices
Kenyan beer
Drove to Nairobi national park. Near the gates looks modern, like Yosemite. But once you pass this it becomes s game preserve with rough roads. It's crazy this is right next to the city. A good place to start out a safari because it is near Wilson Airport (where the small prop planes are).
Moses was supposed to just drop me off at camp but we went on a mini game drive. Saw just on that first drive:
Giraffes
Zebras
Wildebeest
Warthogs
Buffalo
Dikdiks (miniature deer)
Suni (another miniature deer)
Antelope
Checked into camp. Offered juice and coffee (amazing Kenyan coffee!) had a few hours to settle in before lunch at 1pm, afternoon Game drive, then a 5:00pm visit to Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.
