Our final 10 days before this epic journey comes to a close. We travelled back from Tsavo, stopped off at Muhaka the main camp to do some washing and freshen up before we moved onto Kaya, in which we participated in forest conservation. It was about a mile down dirt roads from Muhaka, and the newest of the camps, built when we arrived for Camp Kenya. They had set up tents for us to sleep in like in Mwaluganje. In my honest opinion, this was by far the most boring camp. The projects consisted of planting baby trees, foraging in the sacred forest (sounds like something out of Avatar) for seedlings and clearing weeds and unwanted shrubs. The forest was protected by the community and we were told to be respectful when walking through. Our camp was on the boarder of the forest.
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| Walking through the sacred forest with our guides, looking for seedlings to replant |
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| Front of a house on the edge of the forest |
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| Where the trees and seedlings were kept and planted. We were tasked with the mission of getting rid of the dead plants. Chris and Sam found a different way of 'destroying' them |
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| Our third attempt at making fudge. This was better the last two but still didn't set properly. Looked more like ice cream sauce |
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| Our filing system for the plants |
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| After 5 days of being in Kaya, we returned to Muhaka for the final 5 days. To be honest, it never really felt like we were going to leave. We had been there for so long and grown so close, it almost felt like home and everyone felt like family. The 3 monthers had continued with the community toilet while we had been away and it was looking very impressive. They had bricked up the sides and now we had to start on the foundation. 15 feet of pure awesomeness. |
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| The start of the foundation |
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| We decided that before we left we needed another party and decided on a toga night. The girls also cleared one of the unused bedrooms and made it into a party room and decorated it..as girls do. It was SUCH a good night. Everyone was in an amazing mood. |
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| Chris and myself decided to make a challenge, for anyone who was up for it, to . Well i say challenge, more of a who wants to be sick challenge. We bought mustard, chillies, cinnamon for the contestants to eat and see if they can survive. There were 3 contestants who nobley stepped up to the plate. The challenge consisted of a tablespoon of mustard, a chilli from the local market (and they were not your average chilli) and a tablespoon of cinnamon. Not for the faint hearted |
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| Although they suffered throughout the task, as shown, they all came out victorious. It was very funny seeing there expressions as they completed each stage |
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| One of the guys had the idea of cooking our own dinner, so in the spirit of being in Africa, we bought a goat from the local village. One of the cooks agreed he would slaughter it and cook it for our dinner. The goat stayed with us for 2 days before we cooked it. We all gathered one afternoon for the event, which is quite disgusting. We were waiting to see something be slaughtered. However we were told that only 2 people could watch, due to religious reasons. The end result was incredible. The cook seasoned the goat and barbecued it. It was the best meal of the trip and it fed the whole camp with seconds! Thinking we should try this back home |
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The side of the the toilet a day before we departed. Before we left, we had completed the walls. All that was left was painting and putting the roof on it
We went out the last night and didn't get back in until 4 in the morning. It was a very eventful night, especially with one girl having a seizure, but i knowing our group i always knew that it would be. Ended up sleeping on the couch in 'The Crucible' (main area of the camp). The Cranleigh boys (Sam, Alex, Sammy D and I) had a flight to Zanzibar at 10am that morning. The time that i hadn't really thought about all trip, was here. The time I had spent here had flashed passed. We were leaving about 6 hours before anyone else. Had our alarms set and had packed just before we went out that night. It was very surreal finally saying goodbye. We didn't get the chance to say goodbye to everyone as they were all sleeping, but the majority where there. We heard our truck pull up outside and we quietly walked to the entrance of the Camp. There was lots of sobbing (on the girls part) and it was quite depressing. The people who basically became family, we were saying goodbye to. But thats life, you move on, another stage of my life was over, but another one was waiting for me. I can't put into words how amazing those 2 months were. I am feeling emotional just writing about it. It really was the experience of a lifetime and i would do it over and over and over again. As we pulled off, we lent out of the jeep, waving frantically as they got further and further away until they vanished round a corner. Camp Kenya was all over...
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