A VSO volunteer works with the
local community around here and one of the programmes she is linked with is this
luxury lodge that supports the Masai community through contributing profits and
also providing training in hospitality etc. The advantage to us was we got a
weekend away at a huge discount. The lodges are great and in the middle of a
vast bush land. We could see for miles from the small hill that the lodges are
set up on and as far as the eye could see there were no vehicles or people.
True isolation. The lodges are made of timber and raised of the ground the
outer wall is missing so you get the most of the view. Including the loo – a
poo with a view!! The room I was in had 3 beds, 2 singles and a double.
Apparently as the oldest I got the double bed. The bonus for this was you could
chose to wheel it out onto the balcony and sleep under the stars. What a unique
experience, elephants 100 yards away, monkeys in the trees etc and the stars and
moon above you as you lay in bed.
Slumming it sleeping under the stars!! :)
Sunrise before the bush walk
Saturday morning, after coffee
watching the elephants by the watering hole,
we set off on an early morning
bush walk. 2 groups of 10 with 2 armed guards and 2 Masai in each group.
We walked up the dry river bed as this was the best place to see animals. After
a few small things and footprints of lions, leopards and elephants, we finally
spotted a herd of 18 elephants 40m away – awesome to be on foot and seeing
this. I even managed a decent photo despite my trembling hands! Eventually the
big boss of the herd decided it was time we moved on and who were we to argue?
Giraffes, DikDiks warthogs, etc. were spotted over the next hour or so and then
a late breakfast in the bush.
Catalogue shot!
The view of the watering hole at breakfast
My footprint next to an elephants - i'm not scared?
I think he wants us to go now!
Taking tea - only in a china cup of course!
The sundowner beer crowd
Getting carried away
Back at the lodge we chilled out
by the pool and then went for a sunset drive and beer on a hill before
returning for dinner and a Masai dancing display. Yes I did have a go but
thankfully I have not seen a photo yet!!
Sunday an early bush drive and
then home via Isiolo and Nanyuki.
Please look up Il ngwesi (http://ilngwesi.com/)
and if you want a unique and exclusive luxury trip away in isolation this is
the place. It is not cheap (can’t get you the VSO discount sorry!) but it is
for a good cause. To give you an idea of the exclusivity two of the names in
the guest book were someone called William Wales and a lady called Kate
Middleton – apparently they are quite famous?
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