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Day 14 - Travel to Nairobi

Carys

Another long day of travel today as we left sunny Watamu for Nairobi

It was up early (for me and foy, anyway) for breakfast before checkout, and then sitting around for a few hours before our taxi arrived to take us to the airport at midday. A very smooth journey to the airport, and a suspiciously quick process through security and check in, and we had plenty of time to sit in the airport. Unfortunately the cafe’s card machine was broken so we scraped together the last of mam’s cash to get some drinks and snacks to help pass the time. We also got some chocolates from the airline on the proviso that we took a photo with them… keep an eye on their socials I gusss!

The plane was delayed by half an hour or so but we finally saw it come over the horizon - and it can’t have been on the ground for more than 30 minutes during which the previous passengers got off, we got on, and we were in the air again! I downloaded some meditation stuff to listen to so felt a lot less anxious this time around - alongside a smoother journey anyway and we landed in Nairobi!

We once again got let down by the taxi that we’d booked so went with one of the airport taxis - and after a Very Hairy drive through Nairobi at rush hour we finally made it to the hotel - comfort to the max! Dropped our bags in the room and went to get some food, then just relaxing for the night in the rooms before an early early start tomorrow - with a hopefully more reliable taxi driver!

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Day 13 - Egg swallowing!

P.s. Milking Puff Adders is after the main post

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Day 13- Sssssnakessss!

Tracy

It wouldn’t be a trip to Watamu without a visit to the Snake Farm….

Carys and Foy wimped out and had another long lie-in missing yet another breakfast but I managed to persuade Bethan that it would be a good idea.

We messaged George our friendly Tuk-Tuk driver and he took us the couple of miles up the coast to the farm which had just opened.

It’s a snake ‘farm’ rather than a ‘park’ as they harvest the venom.

We were shown around by Zachariah who had worked there a while and who was incredibly knowledgeable. I hadn’t realised there were different types of venom - puff adders have cytotoxic venom which attacks the tissue and doesn’t necessarily kill you unless you get poor care, whereas a black mamba produces neurotoxins which will kill you quickly if you don’t receive anti venom.

Needless to say there were plenty of puff adders and mambas on show, along with cobras!

Zachariah fed a sand snake a fresh egg and it was incredible to watch the animal swallow it. I’ve got some video that I’ll try to upload in another post.

At 11 they ‘milk’ the snake venom. We were protected behind glass but there were about 4 of the staff manoeuvring a puff adder into a plastic tube (it’s easier to handle), then they pin the head down, pick it up and aim it at a collecting device. Fascinating to watch.

Luckily they didn’t get any of the snakes out for you to hold, but we did get to touch a lizard that had recently been caught. And they also had a couple of monitor lizards and crocodiles.

After all that excitement we couldn’t do anything else for the afternoon but chill by the pool, and read. Cocktail of the day is Bucks Fuzz - fine by me - and we all took advantage of 4 o’clock pancakes.

It’s our last night tonight before making our way back to Nairobi tomorrow and UK bound on Friday.

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Day 13 cont - Milking Puff Adders!

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Day 12

Bethan

She’s back baby!

After what was essentially a 3h Kenyan version of Bali-belly yesterday morning, a long sleep and not doing a lot, I’m back up and running (figuratively) today.

Here’s a round up of what everyone did.

Mam got up early and decided to walk into Watamu town to find a cashpoint. The guys on the front desk at the hotel were more than willing to act as an ATM, but wanted 10%, so we politely asked how far the nearest bank was instead.

Took less than an hour and it was only a mile or so down the road, but even by 8am it was getting hot hot hot, so flagged down a nice tuktuk man called George who brought her back safely. He knew where the hotel was because he said he used to work here before covid hit and lots of people got laid off.

Mam and I went for breakfast early, and I saw a tiny little lizard on the way! Pics below and my size 9 flip-flops for scale.

After breakfast, it was the usual routine of back to the room, put our swimming cossies on, and slather ourselves in suncream.

They have a little boutique/souvenir shop on site, so went to grab a few bits this morning before heading over to another laborious day of lying by the pool doing absolutely nothing. Life is tough.

We’re back up at the room now, showered and sunburnt, and mum recons the most exciting thing we’ve done today is swap beds. I had the double for a few nights and it’s “mother’s turn now”.

Carys and Foy were up a bit later and missed breakfast (see day 11.5 for details) but thankfully, tea and coffee is served all day.

They decided to have a day on the loungers on the beach, full of gorgeous white sands and sky blue seas!

Warys bumped her head on one of the wooden umbrellas and fashioned herself an “ice hat”, which was basically ice cubes in tissue, held in place with her peak cap. That’s one way to keep cool I guess…

They’ve gone off for a date night (OooOoo) to a local Italian place not far down the road, with the help of tuktuk George again. Foy donned his new shirt and Carys put a face on. Awwh.

Mam and I are staying in and going to try and get the pizzas in the hotel. The place doesn’t look open but we’ve been told you can still order from there. Results to follow.

If anyone is also wondering about my date, it went fine thanks. Just went to a few local pubs/bars and was back by midnight-ish. Have decided to call it off though - Charles was sweet but kept mentioning how much he wanted to get married. Dim diolch.

Edit: we found the pizza!

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Day 11.5 - Acrobats!

After nearly sacking it off and going to bed, we stuck around for the post-dinner entertainment and glad we did! Really f’ing cool acrobats, all hench - Foy even got involved at one point!

(Pics aren’t the best quality but you get the idea!)

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Day 11 - Dossing

Foyez

Today started (and in the main, ended) with Carys having a post breakfast massage, whilst I dossed at the pool. A near enough 75 minute massage cost less than £15, so might check it out tomorrow.

I had counted clothes wrong, so requested a laundry service for a grand total of two shirts.

Not a lot happened.

Not a lot happened.

Around 3pm, I had caught so much of a tan that I decided to change my name to Mo and pass myself off as from the Indian sub continent.

Me and Carys checked out the fancy restaurant at the resort - bookings only, a la carte style - none of it really appealed to us so we are going to a local Italian place in the nearby town. When in Kenya, do as the Romans do and eat pasta.

In light of this exciting development, Carys won the right to pay for dinner tomorrow after losing a few very aggressive games of Irish snap.

Literally nothing happened.

Nothing happened some more.

We saw a huge gecko (normal gecko shown behind it for scale). I ate four pancakes with chocolate sauce and went up to have a nap around 5ish.

Bethan wasn't feeling her sharpest today, but some napping and food sorted her right out. Tracy spent the day reading, swimming and being disturbed by the aforementioned aggressive game of Irish snap.

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Day 10 - Chillaxing

Tracy

So after our first full day in Watamu we’re all a little red from lying out in the sun but chilled and replete, the food here is very good.

We slept well last night, lulled to sleep by the noise of the fan and the sea. There’s a constant wind so even though it was 24 deg overnight it never got too warm.

Bethan and I had morning coffee on the balcony and pancakes for breakfast.

Foy and Carys joined us after their disturbed evening. When they got to their room last night there were loads of insects on their bed and they ended up changing rooms overnight. It has all been sorted today.

I had a lovely chill overlooking the sea for the morning and had fun taking photos of the lizards and beautiful flowers around the place.

After lunch I ventured onto the beach for a walk as the tide was out. It’s always a bit nerve racking as there are guys on the edge of the beach waiting for you to come down to sell you something. I was befriended by Daniel and his mate Freddy who showed me a family of moray eels who live in the rocks. They get fed by the locals so don’t move far. The two guys run snorkelling boats off the coast so asked me to consider a trip, which we’ll do.

Did some serious sunbathing, pool swimming and reading the rest of the afternoon washed down by a couple of strong rum punches.

Bethan went off to join in the darts games that were going on, then after a walk on the beach with one of the guys running the games has ended up with a date tonight…

We’re now all sat in the bar having a snifter before dinner being serenaded by a lovely choir.

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Day 9 - Travel to the Coast

Carys

We were up early this morning with James our driver arriving at 6am to take us to Nairobi, and after some goodbye hugs with Grandad and Muthoni we were on our way! We were rewarded for our early morning with a stunning sunrise over Mount Kenya, so worth it really!

After a few hours drive with a coffee pit stop on the way (decaf who?) we arrived at Nairobi airport and processed through terminal 2, which was essentially just a big structured gazebo with suspiciously lack security (maybe cause it was a domestic flight?). After getting through security it was time for another coffee and for B to teach us all a few rounds of Crash to pass the time. Finally it was time to board the smallest plane I’ve ever been on - propellors and all - it was not my favourite. As soon as we’d got used to it it was time to land; and we finally arrived in sunny Malindi!

Mam had asked the hotel to arrange a cab for us from the airport which didn’t turn up, so instead we got a lift with a lovely taxi driver called Michael. Can confirm the roads in the coast are just as mad as the ones in-land!

We arrived at Turtle Bay and were sent straight for lunch as time was nearly up, and after some tasty food we were shown to our rooms. Quick shower and unpack and we were back out to catch the last few hours of sun for the day, chilling at the pool and making the most of the all-inclusive drinks! It’s definitely quiet season here, we think there are more staff than guests right now!

Mam and B spent some time trying to explain the concept of a white wine spritzer; it hasn’t quite sunk in yet, updates to follow

A bit more chill time and another shower ( it’s hot!) it was time to change ready for dinner - another tasty meal. A few more drinks around and some time chilling listening to the ocean and the wind in the palm trees and it’s time for an early night all around

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Day 8

Bethan

My goodness, time really does fly when you’re having fun.

Today was/is our last day up in the sticks with Grandad - we head back to Nairobi tomorrow to catch a plane down to the coast.

Slow morning (what’s new!) and we spent some time packing our cases and sorting out what we want to take with us down to Malindi. It’s a medium size plane down to the coast, so we can only take a certain weight down with us. We’ve all downsized drastically and are just taking a weeks’ worth of stuff in two cases rather than all our stuff in four. We’re going to pay a bit more so our nice taxi man tomorrow will drop the spare cases at Brenda’s Nairobi apartment to keep safe.

Once we did that, I was going to shower, but apparently we had to leave for 11:30. No one told me anyway.

This time, we turned right on the main road to Naro Moru village to visit St Phillip’s church, just up on the hill.

This was the spot the late Majesty Lizzie prayed at and planted a tree, three days before she became Queen after the death of her father when she was visiting Treetops in 1952 - another famous landmark but wasn’t on the list this time. It’s the big one just to the right of the door.

Any other time, it wouldn’t necessarily be top of my list of things I’d want to do or see, but given recent events, it felt like something special to go see.

Anyways, we got there and the gate was shut. Wicked.

Managed to get a few pics through the hedge while Grandad and Foy looked at the car engine. Apparently the engine temperature gage is also now playing up and was telling us it was about to explode. False alarm though!

Turned around and went back up towards Nanyuki to our favourite watering hole, the One Stop, for lunch.

Most of us had lovely curries and a chicken pie.

Foy, in true Foy style, had pancakes and honey - I think this is the third time he ordered pancakes for lunch and the waitresses thought it was hilarious. But hey! If it ain’t broke!

To be fair, he did also get a salad to take home. Glad he’s getting some vitamins in somewhere.

Back to the house for 3ish, and in good time too, as the heavens opened. It’s been very very very dry here recently, more so than usual, so the rain was very welcome and helped freshen the air.

We got some ice cream from the shop on the way home too and invited Muthoni and her two children to join us for a sweet treat!

The kids are so lovely, and I gave them a few bob each for doing such a good job of looking after my Grandad. I have it on good authority it’ll mostly be spent on sweeties and colouring books!

Rest of the eve has been spent showering and sharing what last cans of White Cap Lager and Savana Cider we have left in the fridge.

I had a chat with my bestie Anya (shout out to you hun!) for a while and gave her a virtual tour the house, and we even managed to play a few games of Rummikub with Grandma online, who’s back on Anglesey - the magic of technology will never cease to amaze me.

Early night for us today, alarm set for 5.15am🤮

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Day 7 - A Tale of Two Days

- Tracy & Foy

The Fab Four split up today so there are two sets of experiences to report on.

Tracy

We all spent a very lazy morning waiting for 12 noon here, 10 back in the UK as it was Green Man ticket time! We had 5 devices on standby, all logged in to the ticketing site ready to hit refresh-refresh. I was going for Settlers with an elusive gold dust campervan ticket and the girls were going for the normal weekend ones. In previous years it had been an exciting but frantic 10 minutes, but this year it was entirely different. The ticketing web site crashed under the volume when there was still 10 minutes to go, Bethan was the first one to get to a queue page when I was getting errors so I gave up on Settlers and we just kept fingers crossed on Bethan’s queue.

Finally, after an anxious wait, Eureka! She got through and we managed our weekend tickets and a campervan ticket for me! Deep sighs of relief all round. Feedback on GM social media pages has not been good with many having more issues than us.

The youngsters then went off in the car to One Stop and Nanyuki, and Dad and I spent the day together. I checked out his printer when he thought it had an issue, checked the water levels in the collection tank, made us some lunch then I recorded Dad talking about his early life and family. Dad’s a great raconteur so it wasn’t hard to record 50+ minutes of story telling.

We had some heavy rain this afternoon, and I was worried about the others getting back safely, but they did bringing lots of coffee back with them. Goodness knows how it’ll all get into their suitcases!

I brought a large lump of mature cheddar out with me, and Dad’s favourite supper is now a cheese toastie done in the frying pan.

Foyez

Onwards to the second story of the day. Today was very much a chill out day of exploring and pancakes.

We started off with a trip to One Stop for breakfast (read: lunch) where I had some pancakes and a large amount of maple syrup. Following that, I tried to get a haircut from a place next to the cafe but the barber was nowhere to be found. Whilst annoying, this is the hallmark of a good barber - if he is reliable, it won't be good.

Leaving B to drink wine and read her book, me and Carys braved the car into Nanyuki. Whilst being a firm believer that 'a car is a car' (four wheels, transmission and a steering wheel), I really did miss power steering. We stopped off at the mall car park, and after some cavorting around, did some souvenir shopping (which included an awkward conversation and transaction with the local opticians - if you know, you know). Carys bought a cool kikoi and then we went and bought about five bags of coffee beans.

We braved the journey back to One Stop, had another coffee and a salad to go (I need vegetables in my life). Out of nowhere, Steve the barber rocked up and asked me if I still wanted a haircut and shave. I decided to scrap the goatee and simply keep a moustache. I did try a handle bar moustache the night before the flight last week, but then I looked in the mirror and saw 50 year old me question my life choices when looking back on this holiday. Anyway, turns out, razor shaves aren't a thing in Kenya (or at least not at that place!) but he still freshened me up - remaining stubble can be rectified with a quick shave at the hotel. Then I'll be 100% ready to sit on a deck chair next to a pool and read a book.

There was a couple of very cute cats at the One Stop, and I am pleased to say that we will be returning there again. A sixth bag of coffee was purchased, then we went home. Nice catch up with Granddad where he touched on some of his childhood stories - mainly during the Second World War - and then I decided to give hand washing a try. I can confirm that a) my clothes are clean, and b) my dainty hands which have never seen a day of work in their life are not cut out for this.

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Day 6 - Ol Pejeta

- Carys

What a day!

We were out early this morning to get to Ol Pejeta before it warmed up too much, and we’re so glad we did! When we arrived the first stop was at the equator for obligatory photos at the marker, and got some stunning pics with mount kenya in the background. We then went on for animal tracking to see what we could find!

There were more Buffalo, Zebra and Gazelle and Impala than you can shake a stick at, even got a Zebra crossing! We had a lot of fun trying to remember which gazelle was which, what the difference was with an Impala - but we got there in the end!

B and mam did a really great job of driving around, we only had one hairy moment where the track was a bit muddy and flooded, so it took a bit of time to figure out the best way around. Cue mam standing out on the road trying to work it out while we tried to keep an eye on some buffalo and Elephants nearby…not scary at all! Foy spent a lot of his time hanging out the window with the binoculars as official wildlife spotter - a lot of Impala (or was it a Gazelle?)

The real highlights were revisiting Baraka the blind rhino which Bethan was happy to be reunited with, the magnificent elephants and the chimpanzees. Early in the morning we stumbled across one in a pond eating some grass - the elephant in the early morning sun shimmering on the water was really special (video in previous post!)

Then, after giving up hope for a little while after unsuccessfully finding any Lions or Giraffe, we came across a massive herd of elephants of all ages right next to the road! Some careful driving to give them plenty of space meant we were just metres away from them, really a once in a lifetime.

At the chimpanzee enclosure, we even managed to visit the dam that Grandad had designed many years ago, which was still standing and working exceptionally well!

A quick stop in the supermarket on the way home and we’re back at grandads, a very chill evening ahead with a stir fry, ready for a lie in tomorrow!

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Day 6 - Ol Pejeta

Pics part 1

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Day 5 - Epilogue

Also forgot to mention, the bug bites have begun.

31 in counting for B

2 for Foy

1 for Mam

0 for Carys (birch)

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Day 5

Bethan

OH MY GOODNESS ME.

As you can probably tell by the sheer amount of photos, we had a great day.

It was all a bit last minute and wasn’t really part of any plan we had, but we worked out we had an extra day up with Grandad, so Mum was Googling for things to do locally, and found an animal orphanage that was part of the Mt Kenya Conservancy.

For 2000ksh each (about £15), we had a guided tour around the facility from a very knowledgable and friendly guy called David. He knew all the animals’ names and the stories of how they ended up there - some were born in captivity, others were brought there by various local farmers or the Kenyan Wildlife Society after being found injured in the wild.

I’d be here all night going though all the stories, but we particularly fell in love with the Bongo, Elizabeth, the Eland, Cathy, the warthog, Wilbur, and the Cheetah, who’s name began with an M but none of us can remember. I think we were more distracted by the fact it was purring and came over for some pets. Foy and I even let it lick our hands! I think there’s a video in one of the pic posts below.

What an amazing and special experience that none of us will forget for the rest of our lives.

This blog really won’t do it justice, but I would highly recommend to anyone who finds themselves in or around Nanyuki/Mt Kenya, this is a must do.

After we spent a good few hours making new friends, we headed back to a place called Shop 14 for an ice cream and try to unpack what we’d just experienced. Would also recommend stopping there for the gelato after thoroughly washing your hands.

We quickly stopped by Agnes’s house, Brenda’s mum, for a water and juice and went back to the One Stop for dinner, which was also lovely. We were getting a bit chilly (no, really) so they brought out these super cute frog-fire things! Pics also below.

Back at Grandads for around 6pm, and now we’re chilling and packing to get ready for another bumper day of animals tomorrow at Ol’ Pejita Conservancy - proper safari time!

Expect even more pics then.