Sunday, 10 Apr., 2011
We returned yesterday afternoon from a 3 day safari to Lake Victoria and region. Thursday morning we left with Pastor Gideon driving, a local youth, Mohamed, Eva and Dick and drove first to Homa Bay where we met another local man, Nixon, at the hospital. He was there to pick up his father and take him to the much larger hospital in Kisumu for treatment, then to Bungoma. It was lunchtime so we had fried, whole, tilapia with chips at a local hotel. The bill for the 4 of us was just over $12.


Ruma National Park -

After lunch we drove to Ruma National Park. The park is considered remote, and after driving on the roads I know why. The Kenyan Govt. recognizes that non East Africans have more money so entrance fees were 100 shillings, (12 cents each), for them and US$20 for us. However there was a 7 km trail we drove and saw baboons, giraffes, wildebeests, and a huge water buffalo in the natural setting they have occupied for thousands of years. Very interesting!

Giraffe at Ruma National Park


Fishing on Lake Victoria

After the park we drove to Mbita where we spent the night. It wasn’t fancy at 1400 shillings for 4, ($18), but it was clean and the beds were comfortable. The next morning we drove to the car ferry located n the same town to take the ferry across Lake Victoria, then drove to the city of Kisumu. We checked into the ‘New East View Hotel’ which was somewhat higher quality than the night before.

While waiting for the ferry I met 2 Dutch medical students who were on their way to a large orphanage with the director to pick up a Dutch boy they had discovered there. Apparently his mother had died and authorities knew nothing about him or his family so placed him in the orphanage for care. The girls had contacted the Dutch and Kenyan governments about him and arranged for his release into their custody and transportation back to Holland. (I don’t know his age but believe he was quite young.)

In the afternoon we visited the National Museum of Kenya. They had both live and static displays and we saw crocodiles, a selection of snakes, and a replica of a Luo tribe family compound. We had a guide for this visit which, as usual, was well worth the cost.

Supper that night was again tilapia but done in a delicious sauce. (Sorry Bruce, I didn’t take a picture.)


The leopard at Impala Nat. Park likes to be scratched

Saturday morning we went to the Impala National Park in the city of Kisumu and on the shore of Lake Victoria. Again we were pleased to have a guide, Linda, who made the visit so much more interesting and informative. After our visit we headed back to Bungoma and Robin’s Nest Orphanage

I’d love to be able to describe everything we saw and experienced on this trip but there just isn’t room. The few photos included may give you a glimpse, but if you want more you’ll have to talk to us when we get back and suffer through the slide/video presentation I plan to make.

Jan Suffock was to arrive from Australia Sat. night for 2 weeks but they had car problems about ½ way here from. The car still wasn’t fixed Sun. night so another one was sent, which developed problems. She planned on taking a bus if it wasn’t fixed by 1pm Monday. The roads are not good so will be a slow trip. This is the same car and driver we are hiring for our safari starting April 24. We hope the car runs well for us.