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No truck today, so we hired a couple of matatus for our final visits.
The visit to the AEW Giraffe Sanctuary was a first for me - as was kissing a giraffe! The images will explain.
The visit to the David Sheldrick Elephant and Rhino Orphanage was O.K., but there were no Rhinos to see today, and it was too cold for the elephants to bathe, so we didn't enjoy the expected experience.
The drive past the Kibera Slum was another first for me. This is the biggest slum in Africa, with almost two million inhabitants. We could only drive past one of the fringes, but it was enough - and we have discovered another school that I would like to visit when I return with the next group in 2009.
Final packing was done, and thanks again to those who helped with the Handicrafts, (another plug for the sale later this year!)
The airport experience summed it all up again, with us having to bribe a police officer to prevent him arresting Moses our matatu driver for no reason at all - otherwise we would have missed the flight, and Elizabeth S. and me thinking right up to the last minute that we were staying behind because there was no seat on the flight for her.
Anyway, we got off O.K. Exhausted, but safe.
Peter
After a long wait we were finally able to enjoy some food that had a little bit of an African twist… the main being ostrich meatballs. This was served at the renown carnivores restaurant. Most people tried the exotic meat, but only a handful of people decided to go back for a second helping. All of the other meats were what are usually found in England, i.e. lamb, beef, chicken etc, but they were all cooked in a traditional manor, this being over a large coal fire. The meat was server to the table on large ‘sword like’ skewers, where the waiters carved the meat directly onto your plate. It was brilliant… we were able to have as much meat as we wanted. The waiters continued coming until a little flag was removed from the table symbolizing that everyone had sufficient for the time being. Peter Swan thought that he would be the ‘last man standing’ at the end of the night, but many people were able to match him easily, especially me and the other 3 lads! People continued eating until it was getting late, therefore we had to finish the 3rd course to allow time for the 4th and 5th, which were just a good as the other 3.
On Wednesday, we were given then chance to visit the elephant and rhino orphanage and the giraffe sanctuary. We visited the giraffe sanctuary first where we were able to feed and stroke the giraffes at head level. It was amazing! Some people were brave enough to hold the giraffe food in their mouth. This enables the giraffes to ‘give them a kiss’ when they removed the food from between their teeth.
After leaving the giraffe sanctuary we then travelled about 20 minutes to view the baby elephants while they played and were fed. It was good to see how although the elephants are still being poached, the elephants could still trust the keepers. This made several of the girls say ‘aww’ as we saw the elephants playing football with themselves and their keepers. They also were wrestling in the upturned soil that the keepers provided. This was good to see as they were also teaching them how to keep cool in the wild.
Last on the itinerary was to visit the biggest slums in the world. Peter Swan was telling everybody how when he researched the slums there was about 700,000 people living there. However, our tour leader Grace corrected him saying there was now about 2,000,000 people cramped into the little tin shacks that they called their and community. It was a terrible sight! We felt privileged to think about what we have for our homes, and then compare it to theirs. It was also dreadful to see the state of their roads and wastelands. There was rubbish everywhere, not to mention the human excrement! It made me wonder what they would be like if they were able to live in the houses that the people destroy for fun in England. If they were able to have the flat roads and proper toilets that we have. To be able to have what people take for granted in England!
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