Naivasha has been my first lone experience of Kenya. The people in and around the town have been friendly and helpful. Having several tourist attractions and being only two hours from the city it is a popular weekend break location for Nairobians. Now my volunteering was over I too was keen to see what Naivasha had to offer.
We had a 20 minute drive along a dirt track to join the main highway to visit the tourist haunts of Hells Gate National Park where we clambered down bolders and walked along the trickling water which becomes a torrant of water in wet season, and a quick visit its geo thermal pool before having lunch at Ranch House Diner. We also visited Sanctury Farm where we walked through herds of zebra, wilderbeast, thompson gazelle, and a troop of velvet monkeys as well as walking along the shore of Lake Naivasha with its abudent bird life, thankfully we did not see any hippos or water buffalo who are the most dangerous wild animals in Kenya. Flower farms surround much of the lake using the fresh water for watering and irrigation. The flowers which are picked in the morning arrive in Europe by midday for distribution further afield. We drove past workers accommodation blocks with brightly coloured clothes drying on endless washing lines, children playing in the dusty road and walkways between the buildings and the usual goats, chickens, cows and donkeys picking through garbage for discarded maize cobs. The workers on the farms work a 7 hour day 6 days a week and I should not imagine live very differently to the ladies in the shelter, very basic. Saying that everyone appears to be happy and always has time to greet and talk to you.
I know this area, although beautiful will not be right for Jay and I’s future plans, but am thankful we had the opportunity to check it out 😊. Next stop Nanyuki at the base of Mount Kenya ….
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