A picnic to remember
I don’t know where to begin. It’s Saturday and I’ve been invited for a picnic and a hike in some caves located in the Rift Valley. According to my Lonely Planet Guide to Kenya, “The Rift Valley’s fertile floor is dotted with large freshwater and soda lakes, is alive with some of Kenya’s most spectacular wildlife.” I check to see when this book has been written. The authors of the book must have been to a different part of the valley then me. Because what I saw today was anything but fertile and I didn’t see any large freshwater lakes. I did see some beautiful gazelles, a lizard, some cows and a few birds. Oh and on the drive back I saw a family of apes crossing the road. Very interesting. In a nut shell today was an unforgettable adventure. Craig (my supervisor) had been to these caves many, many years ago and wanted to take his family there. So I went along because who could resist an adventure like that. It was very interesting because Craig has lived in Kenya for a long time and has seen how the landscape has changed. It is very troubling to hear and see the effects of deforestation. We drove past fields of crops that produce very little or nothing at all because there is not enough water. Instead of seeing a grassy valley there was nothing but clouds of dust. The effects of deforestation has huge implications on the land and ultimately the people. We have no idea. In fact this is an issue that is, I would say could be more devastating then AIDS. I know that’s quite a statement but really if you think about it what good is a land that won’t produce any food or water to feed the people that have survived AIDS. Anyhow I am getting off topic. We drove down a pot hole filled road just to get to an even bumpier road. It was like going 4X4ing in the back field. At one point we picked up two tribesman who offered to guide us to the caves. I felt like I jumped into a National Geographic magazine. These are people that probably only eat one meal a day, live in a small hut of some sorts, wear bright clothing, and have holes in their ear lobes the size of a loonie. I don’t say this to be offensive, etc but merely to describe something I have not experienced before. Well after probably a good hour we meet a group of men and boys. Well we were not allowed to drive any further because it was their land. (but it really wasn’t, at least that’s what we found out later) So our guides took us down another really bumpy road to another access point. After getting out and walking not even 10 minutes we met the same group of men and boys. Well I couldn’t understand what they were saying but I sure could tell by the tone in their voice and their body language that this was not a good idea. It was an interesting confrontation that even Craig had not experienced before. Needless to say we did leave, had our picnic under a tree and drove back to Brackenhurst. I think everyone was disappointed but not me. This will remain for me a picnic I won’t forget.

P.S Driving in Kenya is a lot different because we drive on the opposite side of the road with the driver on the right side of the vehicle. Still feels odd.