Account of our trip to Kenya
After much tribulation we have decided to travel by car to Kenya…you would hardly believe the opposition we have fought with people being negative and the idea its not safe in Africa. We decided to buy a tent and try it out in Lesotho. So equipped with eighteen rand to a pound we decided the first huge item needed was a vehicle. Whether to buy a 4x4 was not an option being the fuel consumption so we decided on a diesel Opel Bakkie, which turned out to be a very good buy. So with the vehicle, Howling moon tent plus a few supplies we headed to Drakensburgh and Lesotho.
We headed towards Malealea lodge,in Lesotho its mentioned in the lonely planet and the getaway magazine as an ideal place to see the Lesotho ponies, which they are famous for. We went on a six hour horse ride into the mountains to see the waterfalls and the San paintings. We found out as we were leaving that Prince Harry stayed there when he was nineteen yrs old and did not go to bed all night. He met someone with the surname Spencer and they spent all evening drinking and talking. Its here that we heard the local choir and musicians all using home made instruments. They have there own unique way of dancing which was used in tribal days.
On leaving Lesotho we found that we had made a mistake crossing the border. We got the stamp to leave South Africa but not to go into Lesotho. You can imagine what happened….Yes we did our first bribe. It cost us 100 rand. Afterwards Colin said “Why didn’t you offer 50?“ I was just grateful not to have spent a night in a cell which he threatened us with.
Our trip was an ideal test to what we might face going to Kenya. We have spent many days updating our health insurance which we did while Julie our daughter was in hospital with Malaria, after spending ten days in Congo. We quickly learnt that the mosquitoes will be another huge obstacle to have to deal with. Plus to take the vehicle into Kenya you need a ‘carnet de passage’ which is issued through the AA. Its due to the fact there is a 100 percent tax on all vehicles going into the country. The government are concerned that the vehicle will get stolen and they will miss out on the huge tax. No wonder Nairobi is full of old vehicles choking the country of fumes. You would hardly believe it.
Our first trip towards Jo burgh was eventful in the fact we hit a storm. Lightening and thunder plus hailstone, I have never seen anything quite like it. We eventually decided to shelter under canvas used to shelter from the sun. Hence you can imagine camping tonight was out of the question.
Heading further towards Jo’Burgh we found an ideal spot to camp before heading towards the border. Supplies to be bought as once we leave South Africa things will be tougher. I will post you later.
