The Trip to Samburu

We are now at the Samburu National Game Reserve.

Just after breakfast Sunday morning we got in our vans for the long drive here to Samburu. It was approximately a 5-hour drive. We did stop once at a local craft market, mostly for a bathroom break. It was interesting to see the various hand-carved statues of zebras, lions, etc., but we weren't about to buy anything on our first day that we would have to lug around with us all week. (Actually, we hardly buy any souveniers, much to the chagrine of our kids and the local hawkers. For more information, see my posts from our China trip in January.)

Everywhere our van stopped (for gas, to enter the Samburu park, ...) we were beset by hawkers selling silver bracelets, bracelets with small dangling giraffes, and similar items. We tried to explain that we already had as many giraffe bracelets as we could possibly use (namely zero, but we left that part out), but to no avail. At one point, we resorted to pretending not to speak English. But I don't think they bought it, possibly because Frances was speaking Chinese and I was speaking German. One hawker named "Ali Baba" made me promise to buy a $1 bracelet from him when we pass by on the return. I will eitther have to buy the bracelet, or hide on the floor of the van on the way back. The problem with buying anything from them is that as soon as you do, you are beset by the entire crowd of hawkers. We witnessed this happen to other hapless tourists. Maybe Frances and the kids can tell Ali Baba I was eaten by a hungry jaguar. But I bet even this would not stop them. ("Would the lady like a beautiful bracelet for the funeral?")

Finally, we arrived in Samburu. We are at the Samburu Serena Lodge, which is very nice. We have our own detached "house" that is built in the style of local native houses. I was told that the only differerence is that our house is build of stone, has stone floors, electricty, running water, indoor toilets and showers, where their houses are built of mud and have none of the other amenities. But really, other than that, they are virtually identical...