Exploring the Mara with Kibaria Travels

Travelling is my thing, actually it makes me alive and always motivated. The idea of exploring new places, meeting new people and different cultures never ceases to amaze me. I have always planned my travel meticulously, that is; finding that perfect place to travel to, who to travel with, where to get accommodation, mode of transport and the best places to visit at destination. It is always a tedious process.
This time round I figured out it is the year of going beyond my comfort zone. I decided to find a group travelling and join, in the process I came across the Kibaria Travel tour to the Maasai Mara and I had a wonderful time.

Cost of Travel

The cost was 9800 Kenya shillings approximately 95 US dollars. The cost covered transport to and from the Mara from Nairobi, one day accommodation, full board meals; dinner, breakfast and lunch, free photography, and game drive in the Mara. The package also included a visit to the Maasai Villages.

Booking

I came across Kibaria Travel tour to Mara on Facebook, made a call which was promptly answered and questions answered to my satisfaction. I booked my tour with 3000 Kenya Shillings approximately 29 US dollars and the rest I paid 5 days to the material day. I would say the process was smooth and a call back to confirm my payment had been received was an exceptional service. In most cases am used to an e-mail or a message, I was up to a good start.

Pre- tour

Two days to the material day, I was added to a Whats App group meant for regular updates about our trips, what to carry and what to expect. Good thinking, not many groups do the same, in the past I have had to call to find out on the expected weather, what to wear, time for pick ups and the like. I would say the updates were good and it also gave me the opportunity to guess the number of my new tour mates.

Day one, the material day.

I arrived at Kencon a few minutes late to the departure time, as a matter of fact a call from the crew on my whereabouts as I was trying to locate our truck and I knew I was keeping everyone waiting, true to my fears 90% of my tour mates were already in. I would say, time keeping was good, I did not have to wait, make calls and wonder when the truck was going to show up  or when the departure would be. Time of departure was 7 am, thanks to me and a few like me, we departed a few minutes late as we picked two more tour mates along the way. Below  is the truck we used, an overland truck with open sliding windows for the best view. I would say, I was very lucky, with my lateness, I managed a window seat. I love window seats, you get to see a lot as you travel.

The Rift Valley View Point

A short stop at the Rift Valley view point and a few shots for keeps. I pass through this place many times but I have never stopped to take the view, the view is breathtaking. The view point is past Limuru and just before the descent to Mai Mahiu. You will not miss it, there are always tourist trucks at the place most of the time taking in the view. This is one place I would recommend you take time to see, and of course do not forget to take that awesome pic for keeps.

Lunch at Narok

After the View Point was a stop at Narok for a quick lunch, I needed this considering the time I woke up, I did not have time for a decent breakfast. Narok is a famous stop over for a quick meal or snack for local travelers and tourist alike. There are various eateries where you can get a decent meal and the famous Kenyan Nyama Choma, for those weary of your culinary, the Naivas Supermarket has hot meals ready for you. It is a perfect time to pick up a bottle of water and any snacks you may need on the way. Since I had a craving for some Githeri, I found my way to the supermarket and at the packing counter I thought I would get some eggs and sweet potatoes as well, as it turned out, the attender packed me two sets of Githeri which I discovered once I was inside  the truck! Lesson number one, confirm your package before you leave the shop!

The Drive to Mara.

I do not know about the others, it was a long drive for me with all the anticipation. My wondering eyes soon got tired and I was asleep for a while till I was woken up by bumpy drive, well it woke up everyone. You know the first time when you meet people and you do not have much to talk about, get tired of going through your phone and checking the terrain outside, the best next thing sleep. The road to Mara from Narok is smooth most of the journey but you will experience a few bumpy places, always brace yourself for those.

Arrival at the Mara

We arrived at the Mara Gate, the Sekenani Gate at around 3pm going to 4pm . The Mara has 4 Main Gates and voila here we were. Did I tell you one thing you never forget when touring the Mara is your ID or Passport?, Now you know, you will require one of this to register your entry. The good thing about travelling in a coordinated group, the registration is done by the group coordinator, saves you the hustle right? And of course it gives you that time to take that memorable pic, how else will you keep the memoirs?

The evening Game drive

Perfect timing, we were in time to take a  game drive before checking in for the night. After the registration, we were off for the game  drive, the big moment. The pictures below will speak for themselves.

Checking in for the night

To be honest, I was a bit worried about our accommodation with the package, I have always believed hotels in places like the Mara were very expensive. My fears were laid to rest when I came across to G & G hotel at Talek in the Mara, I will leave a link for  you to explore more. I had my own cottage, the room was spacious, the bedding up to standard and the washroom was the best of all, very spacious and clean. For those who know me, you know how much I love space, and you have your own balcony, as a matter of fact too big a balcony. You can entertain a group of ten in such a balcony. http://bit.ly/2MB7qd1. .... and a swimming pool for those of us who love water.

After one hour of freshening up, we had a buffet dinner with pumpkin soup as a starter. It was a two course meal. I love pumpkin soup, you should try this when you have an opportunity to.

The Bonfire

This was the climax of the tour, the bonfire. Have you ever had an engrossed discussion where you and  everyone else forgets about their phones and mute the music for a better participation? A situation where you do not want to miss a thing, where you do not notice the passage of time? Well, this is an understatement, I wish I would have better words to explain it but it will not bring the experience near to reality. We bonded, learnt ,argued till time would not accommodate us any more. Next time when you have a get together, try to put those phones aside, mute the noise of music and bring the discussion alive. This was an experience of a lifetime, I will forever hold it close to my heart.

Day- 2, the visit to the Maasai Village

Day 2 was more fun, than day one. The ice had been broken, we were  more free with each other and more group pics in the early morning as we got ready for breakfast. Breakfast was set outside near the pool a perfect setup to the music of the birds and the fresh air of the Mara. After breakfast, we checked out because we were not planing of coming back to the Hotel after the Maasai Vilage visit. I would say the food was great and more than enough. The staff were amazing and friendly.

 At the Maasai Village we got to experience the maasai culture, dance and access the Manyattas, I had only seen the Manyattas from a far and in pictures. It was a good experience to go inside and actually realize they are not as small as they look from outside. They serve their purpose perfectly well, you want to satisfy your curiosity? make a point of visiting one. It is one thing to learn on how to build a fire without a matchstick, gas or electric power, but is is another experience altogether to see a fire from rubbing two pieces of wood.  The Maasai village is a well neat community, depending on one another and the cows are kept within the homestead which is made up of houses build in a perfect circle.

The Mara Departure

There comes that time when the goodbyes are inevitable, leaving the Mara was one of the hardest thing to do but had to be done. We saw more wild animals on our way our of the Mara to our new destination where our lunch was waiting for us. It was a late lunch an I was happy to have a full meal again.At the stop over, a buffet delicious lunch was waiting and as usual more than enough. To crown the tour, a birthday cake for the July Babies was waiting for us courtesy of Kibaria Travels. How many people do remember your birthday? I do not know about the male gender, but for the girl child, you remember my birthday, you make my day and imprint unforgettable memories. The choice of the lunch venue was great, there are curio shops were you can get souvenirs in case you forgot to get one within the Mara with all the excitement. All in all I had a great time, made new friends and learnt that I did not have to travel with someone I know to have an amazing trip.

CREDITS
All photography courtesy of Kibaria Travel
https://www.facebook.com/KibariaTravel/

And of course not forgetting our amazing photographer Peter

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William Hills Hike

I arrived at the Bata shop near Hilton Hotel Nairobi CBD at 0706hrs, six minutes late at the meeting point where I met Jackson the organizer of the Hike by Kenya Outdoors. Jackson showed me to the van parked opposite the Bata shop where I met my hiking colleagues for the first time. We were not a big group, but from my understanding it is the smallest group the Agency has ever catered for, 14 in total. The number for me was not an issue, I was excited for the hike it has been two years since my last hike and I was looking forward to this one, besides it was my first time for the William Hills.
As promised we left Nairobi City a few minutes to 0800 am, we took the Waiyaki highway through Westlands via Limuru towards Narok. I always took this road on my way home to Kisii, seen the numerous Hills of the Mau Escarpment along the way but knew nothing much about them. Now I had an opportunity to attach every hill to a name and get to hike one of them.

The Arrival
We arrived at The Soldiers Catholic Church which is a long Narok Mai Mahiu Road where we were joined by John who was to be our guide for the day, a very Jovial and knowledgeable young man probably in his early thirties. He not only knew the names of the hills, but the history behind every hill. William Hill was named after an English explorer/elephant task businessman who was attacked long before independence by the locals. William was buried on that Hill and so the William Hill. I would have loved to see the sport where he was buried but never got to ask that question, I will make a point of asking the next time am there.

Journey begins
The arrival marked our end of vehicle travel and the beginning of foot travel. After a short introduction, we set out for the hike. We took a slopping flat road on our left about 10km to the base of the hill. I call it a sloping flat because when on it ,it is flat, from the hill summit you can see how it slops gently to the base of the hill.The weather was convenient, neither too cold nor hot and the sun was behind the clouds. It had not rained and we had no fear of wet surfaces, perfect day for hiking. We walked for about 02 hrs to the base of the hill, near a river and the first sign of settlement in the area most likely because of the source of water. The area is part of the great Rift Valley and is prone to dryness most of the year round. We were in luck to enjoy the green scenery during this wet season. The settlement has a few buildings not more that eight, one of then an Anglican Inland Church, and a village hotel (not the typical hotel you have in mind) it is more of a shade but the lady there served us with the nicest mandazi and tea with a smile. We waited here for other group members who had lagged behind before we started the ascent.

The Climb
The first few meters and was reminded that the last time I did a hike up a hill was two years ago. I was not unfit, but I was not as fit as I used to be back then, more so the sun had decided to come from behind the clouds and bit down on us. More water is what I could think of, I was however able to to keep up with the leading pack. One hour up the hill and we came across a flat of about 1km strech, we went slightly down to Osotua Capmsite. We had a break here before we started up the Hill once again.

Osotua Campsite

The hill was more steep here and the climb slow as expected. I was not as fast as I was before, a few steps and a rest, the best thing about the climb was the scenery behind us. The view of the rift valley was breath taking. This is one of the most exciting part of hiking, the scenery, it is one thing I can never exchange for anything. On our way up we met five teenage boys coming down the hill, I guess part of locals residing downhill , they were quite amazed as to where we were headed to up hill, a clear indication that not many hikers come over here.

The Summit
I finally made it up the hill to the Summit and the satisfaction of every hiker was written all over my face, and the view? I cannot put words to it, it was simply amazing. We took our snacks as we waited for the others. I came, I saw and conquered. That is how my passion for hiking was re-born after two years off the field.

The descent
The descent was faster and shorter on the opposite side of the hill. On this side there was more live, houses and farms. We made our way to the road through the farms to our waiting van by the road. We had one last stop in Limuru for a late snack before we were back to Nairobi. We arrived Nairobi at around 1900 hrs, tired but content. William Hill is one place that should be in your bucket list when visiting Kenya.