Scroll down for posts about Arusha and the Serengeti :)
Hello all,
After two awesome days in the Serengeti (check out that post - the photos are amazing!) we arrived back in Arusha and Rob and I went to the Meserani Snake Park, part of the campsite complex. This park was set up in 1993 and is used to create anti venom for a clinic nearby that people come from miles away to use. Africa has so many deadly snakes and we got to see all creepy ones in the park. Highlights included a python that could eat a person (we saw a photo!) and the black mamba, which is the fastest snake in the world moving at 20km/h while half its body is still up off the ground. I'm very glad this was the only place we saw them because if they bite you, you've only got 20 minutes left to live! A man took us around giving us information and also showing us birds that had been rescued (owls, eagles and a vulture) and then crocodiles, monitors, a harmless snake (which I held - yuck!) and some tortoises. We held them too and they were heavy!
Last night we had some drinks at the bar as a group. The campsite we stayed at had a really cool bar with hats, graffitied t shirts and more hanging from the roof from 20 years of tourists. We made our own one to hang, and I also saw a Collingwood jumper and a cap from the cricket club my dad has played for. What are the chances!
Today we left at 7am and crossed into Kenya. Last year they brought in a rule that no plastic bags are allowed to be taken into or out of Kenya, so we had to spend half an hour going through our bag unwrapping everything. I've now got ripped clothes I was going to throw out protecting souvenirs. It is what it is, but seems like a really stupid rule to me. I'm all for limiting plastic bags, but imposing $40,000 fines or four year jail sentences on people found with bags seems ridiculous to me in a place where various diseases are rife, there's currently a political crisis and god knows what else. The funniest part was as we drove to Nairobi we saw people burning tyres on the side of the road - not very environmentally friendly!!
We also noticed how developed Kenya was compared to every other country we've been to. They've all been so different, but if I had to pick, I think Zimbabwe was my favourite!
But anyway - time to wrap it up. Tonight is our last night after a month over here. I've never been on a trip where I've simultaneously been so excited and had such an awesome time, whilst also counting down the days to come home. We've been to six countries, travelled nearly 8000km and seen and done so much.
It's been hard - boiling hot days, hardly any sleep in the tent, endless mozzie bites, packing up tents in the pouring rain, and I think I'm probably more tired than I am during the school term. The other thing is this is the first trip since we bought our house, and for the first time I have had to think about money and whether I will have enough left in my account to withdraw. This is new to me and I don't like it, but considering we have been in Africa for more time than we've been living in our new house, I'm sure it'll settle down a bit money wise in a few months.
But at the same time we have had some amazing experiences I'll never forget. The animals we saw, Devil's Pool, the rhino walking safari, ballooning, Vic Falls, playing with the beautiful kids... I could go on. I would love to come back to more of Africa one day (Botswana, Namibia, Uganda, Morocco and Egypt to name a few!), but I don't think I will be camping!
We are currently relaxing in the hotel while it pours with rain and thunders outside. We leave "Nairobbery" as our guide Elton called it tomorrow morning at 10am and arrive home on Saturday night. I'm really looking forward to my bed and to everything being clean!
Thanks for reading and I'll catch you all on my next adventure - New Zealand in April!
Love to all
Claire
Xoxox
No comments:
Post a Comment