Kenya > Camping near Mount Kenya

At half past six, I’m jolted awake by the alarm. I quickly jump into the shower. The hot water tap works better than the cold one. To get a comfortable temperature, I mostly turn down the hot tap, leaving only a small stream—just enough to wash myself. In the breakfast room, I meet up with my fellow travelers again. Everyone slept briefly but well. The receptionist has some trouble giving change when we pay for last night’s beer. This will probably happen more often in the coming days. Zak, the driver, is loading the luggage into the truck. Sylvia also introduces herself—she is the cook for the trip, or “chef,” as Patrick calls her. Once the food for the coming days is loaded, we leave Nairobi at eight o’clock. The city center of Nairobi, with its high-rise buildings, gradually turns into neighborhoods of shanty homes. The gap between rich and poor around the capital is extreme. Various stalls along the roadside sell all sorts of things. Every shilling earned counts. Patrick points out that this area of Kenya produces a lot of fruit. He points to the pineapple plantations and coffee bushes. The road is fairly passable. They are widening it, and one side has just been resurfaced. Probably safari trucks pass through this area often. No one looks twice at our bus. Some children wave shyly as we drive past. Halfway to Mount Kenya, we stop briefly at a handicraft market—a hall full of African souvenirs. There are also some very large wooden sculptures of animals I still hope to see. I walk to the back where there is a toilet. I’m not very interested in the souvenirs, but I buy a cola at the shop.

Kenya - Overnight stay on the slopes of Mount Kenya

The price—100 shillings, about 75 euro cents—is not bad for this location. We continue driving and turn off the main road. The road gradually climbs. On the horizon, I see Mount Kenya. The snow-covered peak is in the clouds. The campsite for today lies on the mountain’s slopes. The truck is parked and the luggage unloaded. I grab a tent and follow Patrick to the grassy area beneath the trees. Patrick demonstrates how to set up the tent. It’s mostly straightforward, except for untangling the poles. I chose to sleep in my own small tent. I don’t mind sharing a hotel room with a travel companion, but a little extra space in the tent is nice. I pitch my tent, lay the sleeping mat inside, and place my luggage within. I still have some time before the optional nature walk begins, so I lie down on my mat in the tent. The short night takes its toll. Just to be safe, I set my alarm, but it isn’t necessary—I wake up on time. At three o’clock, George is ready. He’s a local, somewhat older guide who accompanies us into nature on the slopes of Kenya’s highest mountain.

Kenya - A trek through the nature at the foot of Mount Kenya

Along the way, George tells us about the plants growing near the trail. Some are poisonous, while others have useful applications, he explains. We see a few birds and a monkey. We also have views of Mount Kenya. After two hours, we return to the campsite. We didn’t see anything particularly special during the walk, but it was nice to wander through nature. As dusk falls, I head to the bar. A delicious cold beer tastes great. Gradually, all the travel companions gather here. Around seven o’clock, dinner is ready. The sun has set, and it’s dark. I put on long pants and a warm sweater. Because we’re sleeping above two thousand meters, it’s quite chilly. The crew has lit the campfire. Around the fire, we eat potatoes, chicken, and vegetables. It tastes excellent. After dinner, Patrick explains the chore roster. Everyone is assigned to a team: one team helps cook, one washes dishes, and one cleans the pans. The groups rotate daily. Today, I was assigned to cook, which is already done. After dinner, a group of us return to the bar for one last beer—at least for me. At nine o’clock, I head to my tent. I crawl into my sleeping bag and quickly fall asleep to the sounds of nature.