Sweetwaters

We just got back from a nice tented camp near Mt. Kenya. This is such an interesting and diverse country. So many different kinds of people in a land with tremendous variations in landscape and environment. From busy Nairobi to the sun-drenched coast to frontier-like regions of the North.

We left Nairobi on Saturday at 8:30am and arrived at Sweetwaters Tented Camp at 12:30pm. Sweetwaters is located inside of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. The ride was long but the sight of Mt. Kenya nearing in the distance captured our attention most of the drive. Sweetwater is north of Nairobi, so it isn't any where near Maasai Mara and Serengeti. We were just expecting a retreat type camp with good food and comfortable beds. Turns out its in the huge conservation area, filled with wildlife. We went on two different game drives one in the afternoon on Saturday and another on Sunday morning at 630am.

The morning drive was amazing. We were two of the only tourists in the park so it was perfect for spotting wildlife in their natural environment. We saw at least 20 graceful, giraffes nibbling on Acacia trees still wet with morning dew; two muscular, male lions on the hunt for Cape Buffalo; and countless gazelles, impalas, and wart hogs (Mere's favorite). Unfortunately, no elephants.

We also stopped by the Rhino center where they have rescued a 3-year old White Rhino from Mozambique. We learned a bit about the project from the drowsy rangers that woke up to greet us. White Rhinos are rare in East Africa, which is home to the African Black Rhino. I can explain the differences at some later date. So the rangers are trying to introduce the rescued Rhino into the wild. They are often hunted for their tusks, particularly at night, so they are under almost 24-hour surveillance in the parks. We gave them a few shilling for hosting us so early in the morning.

We also visited the Chimpanzee Sanctuary that Jane Goodall created as a rescue facility for Central African chimps. Chimps are often hunted for bushmeat as well as other uses in C. Africa, so the program goes around rescuing chimps from gift shops where they are used to allure tourists and from dangerous bushmeat traders.

Both places were really interesting and truly memorable.

Here's a link to Sweetwaters: http://www.serenahotels.com/kenya/sweetwaters/home.asp.

Here's a link to Mere's photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/meredithbraden/