Nairobi - Day 2 Another Change in Plans

A new day and in an unexpected place - Nairobi. The new plan included doing safaris in Kenya, not Tanzania because of the political unrest.

Today, the plan was to meet with our driver/guide, Victor, after breakfast and he would take us to the Nairobi National Museum. There we met with a museum guide that took us through five halls with some very interesting exhibits.
1. Hall of Kenya with photos showing Kenya’s rich history and culture
2. Cradle of Humankind exhibit with the Turkana Boy fossil.
3. Bee Exhibition
4. Hall of Kenyan Mammals with life-sized animal models
5. Hall with hundreds of stuffed Birds of Kenya

Right beside the museum was a Snake and Reptile Park. We wandered around this park looking at the live fish, snakes (mambas, vipers, boa constrictors, puff adders, cobras) as well as tortoises, and crocodiles of Kenya. The snake pit was really fascinating and full of all kinds of snakes and lizards. Somewhat creepy…

We drove through the Nairobi’s slum area called Kibera. It’s the largest slum in Nairobi and one of the largest in Africa, with a population estimated to be well over 170,000 people based on the 2009 census, though some estimates range up to over one million people. It faces issues like poor sanitation and extreme poverty. So sad that people have to live like this.

The highlight of the day for all of us was a visit to the Nairobi Giraffe Centre, where we could interact with several endangered Rothschild giraffes, by hand feeding them from a raised viewing deck. They are such gentle animals and it was a joy to watch them in this caring place. Warthogs with two very small babies wandered around under the giraffe’s feet. (Pumbaa and Timon).

We had a late lunch under a new and attractive palapa restaurant next to the Centre. We have learned that meals take a long time to make as the food here is made from scratch. Usual waiting time is 1 hour but the food is tasty and healthy.

We met Paul at the hotel after our tour and wouldn’t you know it, our plans have changed again. Since Tanzania has gained its power and internet back, things are back to normal again. Stores and banks have opened and our tour planners feel confident that we will be safe so we are heading back to Tanzania to continue with our original tour. The tour in Kenya has been put on the back burner.

So, Victor will drive us to the border and someone else will be there to meet us to take us to Arusha. About a 5 hour journey by car.

We are going with the flow and are truly taken care of. What an amazing company we chose!Read more