Tag Archives: hiking

Namunyak Conservancy – A De Brazza Baraza

42 Replies

Some of you with more time on your hands than you know what to do with might stay up nights wondering how some of my travel ideas come about. Sure, sometimes it takes months of planning but sometimes things unfold in the simplest way possible; like this email I received…

Mr. T: Hi, I took a quick trip up into Namunyak last week and visited a really cool little campsite which is being developed by Museums of Kenya.  The really cool part though was their research work on the rare De Brazza monkeys which they have been studying there for a number of years. I am hoping to plan a trip up that way later this year to explore more around the Mathews/Namunyak region. It is big though so will need to give it a few days… are you keen?

KC: Yes! A thousand times yes!

I know, I really should play a bit hard to get sometimes, if I was a lady of the night I wouldn’t make enough cheese to feed a mouse. So thats how 9 explorers, 3 cars, 2 dogs and a mountain of supplies find themselves in this part of Kenya to expose sample its many secrets.

namunyak-mathews-range-samburu-kenya-81

Continue reading →

The Chyulu Hills – Living In The Hiker’s Paradise

31 Replies

The first time I visited the Chyulu Hills back in 2012 it was with a spring in my step and and a gleam in my eye….and things did not go completely according to plan. My aim to get to the top of the hills did not happen, I had the wrong car, the weather was really bad I and had under-estimated what it would take to get up there; it was a fun but humbling experience. But since then this particular destination continued to haunt me, so I had to give it another shot and see what these hills, unimpressive from a distance had conspired to hide from me…

chyulu-hills-national-park-camping-kenya-4 Continue reading →

Naibunga Conservancy – The Untold Story

28 Replies

As a traveller and sometimes writer I am obsessed with the stories that are not being told about Kenya and if you have been reading this blog that theme is pretty obvious right across the board. I do not desire the obvious. I am constantly plagued by the thought “Surely there must be more than marketing leads me to believe there is?” You’re about to find out just how true that is.

naibunga-conservancy-laikipia-camping-kenya-73

Sunrise at Wakumbe Hills

Continue reading →

The Ndoto Mountains – Northern Kenya (Part 3)

22 Replies

Our expedition wanders ever deeper into the hinterland but we do not tire. We are energized by the curiosity of things to come and are fuelled by wanderlust, snacks and diesel. The forth day of our adventure finds us in high spirits, we have found our travel rhythm and it beats to a strong and steady drum. If you haven’t already, you can see how far we have come to get us here in Part 1 and Part 2 of our journey. In the meantime what do the days ahead hold in store? More than we can imagine…

ndoto-mountains-samburu-marsabit-kenya67

Continue reading →

Camping On Mount Ololokwe – 12 Years A Slave (Part 2)

33 Replies

If you’re just catching up, i suggest you read Part 1 here first.

I survived the night, pretty obvious huh? For a minute there I didn’t think I’d make it through what I can objectively say was the worst night in a tent in my life (and I’ve had many).

The morning begins with almost no clue of the what transpired the night before, almost as if the mountain means to apologize.

ololokwe-samburu-camping-kenya-21

Continue reading →

Camping On Mount Ololokwe – 12 Years A Slave (Part 1)

34 Replies

Its difficult to explain the power of an idea. It dwells in our consciousness; sometimes relegated, sometimes ignored, but never forgotten. Ever present in the back of our minds, dominating our thoughts whenever we we have a moment to day dream.

I first saw a photo of Mount Ololokwe about 12 years ago and my imagination was instantly captured by this massive mountain emerging seemingly out of nowhere from the desert plains. In many of my travels such as during my elephant encounter in Samburu, and a most relaxing trip to Sera Conservancy among many more, she seemed to continually taunt me and was a constant reminder of the promise I once made to myself.

I had to spend a night atop this mountain.

Aerial of Mount Ololokwe, the red circle shows our campsite. Photo Credit : Marcus Harvey Photo Credit Aerial of Mount Ololokwe, the red circle shows our campsite. Photo Credit : Marcus Harvey  Continue reading →

Camping In Mukogodo Forest – A Curiousity Rewarded

22 Replies

According to stats if you do not draw in the reader in the first two lines of an article, then there is a 90% chance they will not read on. I’m willing to take that risk this time around. This article I write for the traveller, not for the reader. For those who the open road is an inspiration to adventure as opposed to a fear of the unknown. For those that look at a map of this great country Kenya and see it as an open invitation to new experiences and possibly a new way of thinking. So if by some stroke of luck you’re still reading allow me to take you to a place that greatly rewards that curiosity.

mukogodo-forest-camping-kenya-12

Continue reading →

Nandi Hills – Much More Than Tea

8 Replies

“When you go back tell them we are here; we are waiting for them.”

Words  often heard from people in places in Kenya that have so much to offer the Kenyan tourism circuit but do not get the visitors, domestic or otherwise that they so richly deserve.   For some reason during my visit to Nandi County, this time they hit very close to home. Nandi is not only about tea, there’s much more to see.

nandi-hills-rock-bears-golf-club-hotel-accomodation-bongoje-reserve-kenya-17

Continue reading →