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Sunday, 27 October 2013
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Sunday, 6 October 2013
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Saturday, 28 September 2013
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Monday, 6 August 2012
The Story So Far... - Friday 3rd August
Following a leisurely breakfast
in the restaurant we made our way to the jetty and our boats for a ‘cruise’ on
Lake Naivasha. The boat skippers were not only experts at handling the very
narrow, canoe-shaped craft, they were also very good at spotting the abundant
bird-life on view – ranging from the beautifully coloured Malachite Kingfisher
to the elegant Purple Heron and the very distinctive Pink-Backed Pelican. But,
the real treat – particularly for those who had not seen one before in its
natural environment – was the first sighting of a hippopotamus rising from the
depths – just fifty yards from our boats. Awesome! Then more heads began to
pop-up and it became apparent that whole families of hippos were in the water.
We could all have spent all day watching these magnificent animals, but we had
to move on for the next part of the cruise – a close encounter with Fish
Eagles. Small pieces of bamboo were placed in the gill slits of a six inch fish
so that it would float; then a shrill whistle from one of the boat skippers brought
an eagle out of the trees with its talons extended. In a flash the fish had
been taken from the surface of the lake and back to a tree for a light snack!
It was then back to Fisherman’s Camp for us to take a last look at the resident
Vervet and Colobus monkeys before boarding the bus for the next stage of our
journey. Some hoursam later, we arrived at Nyeri and the Batien Grand Hotel,
after many renditions of ‘ten green bottles’, ‘the twelve days of Christmas’
and ‘ten in a bed’ to entertain us (and keep us awake). Unfortunately, Mount
Kenya (en route) was shrouded in cloud and we were unable to see its summit.
But, we were just able to make out some of its outline. Another fabulous day in
Africa!
Lawrie Smith
District Chairman
Sunday, 5 August 2012
Friday, 3 August 2012
The Story So Far... Days 5 and 6 - Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th July
Saturday 28th
Saturday morning we were all up bright an early to pack up camp and load up the bus for our long haul road trip towards lion hill in Nakuru, before we checked into our hotel we got the tickets for tomorrows safari as the entrance next to our hotel didn't sell the tickets.
At the hotel we put up the kenyan kids tents and then a few of us went down to the onsite club room and danced to african rap music with the kenyan kids and played a few games of pool before going to bed.
Written by Josh Creighton
Explorer Scout
Sunday 29th
Hello mummies and daddies, today we had to wake up earlier than ever before!!! it was 5 o'clock in the morning to go to the 'Nakuru National Park'. It was a good thing that the entrance to the park was right next door to 'lion hill hotel' which was were we stayed overnight so it was not a long distance at all. When we got in side we immediately saw some water buck and some pretty cool crested quail.
A little while after that we came across a single spotted hyena which was very good because they are nocturnal animals so it was quite a surprise. We also saw a very endangered species of black rhino and there are only 2300 left in the wild. We later on saw many zebra, Thompson's gazelle, cape buffalo baboons, impala and other species of monkeys all of which were pretty amazing.
After the safari we went on a extremely long road trip in the bus, it was between 7-8 hours to Kisii and the safe house, the scenery was stunning. We had a very well earned dinner at Nyakoe hotel then bed.
Written by Tom Goody
Explorer Scout
Saturday morning we were all up bright an early to pack up camp and load up the bus for our long haul road trip towards lion hill in Nakuru, before we checked into our hotel we got the tickets for tomorrows safari as the entrance next to our hotel didn't sell the tickets.
At the hotel we put up the kenyan kids tents and then a few of us went down to the onsite club room and danced to african rap music with the kenyan kids and played a few games of pool before going to bed.
Written by Josh Creighton
Explorer Scout
Sunday 29th
Hello mummies and daddies, today we had to wake up earlier than ever before!!! it was 5 o'clock in the morning to go to the 'Nakuru National Park'. It was a good thing that the entrance to the park was right next door to 'lion hill hotel' which was were we stayed overnight so it was not a long distance at all. When we got in side we immediately saw some water buck and some pretty cool crested quail.
A little while after that we came across a single spotted hyena which was very good because they are nocturnal animals so it was quite a surprise. We also saw a very endangered species of black rhino and there are only 2300 left in the wild. We later on saw many zebra, Thompson's gazelle, cape buffalo baboons, impala and other species of monkeys all of which were pretty amazing.
After the safari we went on a extremely long road trip in the bus, it was between 7-8 hours to Kisii and the safe house, the scenery was stunning. We had a very well earned dinner at Nyakoe hotel then bed.
Written by Tom Goody
Explorer Scout
Saturday, 28 July 2012
The Story So Far... Day 4 - Friday 27th July
We started off the day with a brilliant day with cereal, toast and such things. Typically, I woke up just in time for breakfast...barely. And then we were off to another suprise day for the Harambee Kids, to see both the elephant and giraffe sanctuarys. First off were the elephants, none of the kids had seen elephants before and as someone who had been to the sanctuary I was able to pay more attention to how the Harambee kids saw it. It was INCREDIBLE! The only 2 looks we saw were happiness and confusion and they loved it as did the rest of us, once we got past the barrier of explaining these were only baby elephants they were even more amazed and we had a great time watching the elephants roll about in the dirt and occasionally squirting water towards some rather squeamish explorers, we also got to meet a the blind rhino Maxwell up close which gained a great response.
A quick carpark side lunch and a little bit of shopping (mostly in KFC for some of us), and we headed off to event 2 of the day, the giraffes.... The kids sat through a presentation from the staff and were incredibly silent for a group of 30ish kids, and then it was time to feed the giraffes, not satisfied with feeding by hand some of us decided to follow the lead of the instructors and feed them from holding the pellets between our lips, certain people (Our esteemed District Comissioner Tom Nixon)
seemed to enjoy this more than others but it provided great entertainment for us and the Harambee kids. We ended the day with a meal provided by the staff at the campsite and some brilliant singing and dancing by the Harambee kids to say thank you to us. A truly moving day enjoyed by everyone and another wonderful reminder of how great and important the work that Harambee are doing along with any groups that go over.
Further highlights included some very brave monkeys/foolish humans, a brilliant meal time tv program that was based in a courthouse (great hand motions going on), and elephants making their moves on some of us humans (particuarly Michael)... Almost the end of camp at Rowallen and the best way to sum it up is, its like camping in England...but with added monkeys.
Written by David Heathcote
Scout Network Member
A quick carpark side lunch and a little bit of shopping (mostly in KFC for some of us), and we headed off to event 2 of the day, the giraffes.... The kids sat through a presentation from the staff and were incredibly silent for a group of 30ish kids, and then it was time to feed the giraffes, not satisfied with feeding by hand some of us decided to follow the lead of the instructors and feed them from holding the pellets between our lips, certain people (Our esteemed District Comissioner Tom Nixon)
Further highlights included some very brave monkeys/foolish humans, a brilliant meal time tv program that was based in a courthouse (great hand motions going on), and elephants making their moves on some of us humans (particuarly Michael)... Almost the end of camp at Rowallen and the best way to sum it up is, its like camping in England...but with added monkeys.
Written by David Heathcote
Scout Network Member
Friday, 27 July 2012
The Story So Far... - Day 3 - Thursday 26th July
We got up and some of us had very cold showers. We split the street kids into teams and gave them different coloured tshirts to give them a team identity - we have Simbaz, Chui, Dubu Tibu and Ngoma Boogaloo. The first big contact was doing the human knot, with them being very comfortable with us being jam packed together. We wrote names on their t-shirts so it was like putting a face to a name and starting to build a relationship with them.
We did an Olympic games, starting with an olympic torch relay where each team could show off their different things. When we did races, there was a competitive element but collectively everyone enjoyed it together. Team Simbaz won quite a few of the races, but not a run away victory. When you took a look around, there wasn't a face without a smile.
Lunch was so funny when Garry lost his banana to a monkey. We are sharing the field with lots of monkeys, so we have to shut tent doors and have the monkey stick/chaser ready.
Bingo was funny, especially when they didn't quite understand when to shout Bingo!, so they did it whenever they got a number. They all seemed to really enjoy it and it was good to teach them a different. There was a bit of banter between Denise and Tom, and all the street kids got really involved with it.
We played Olympic football in the afternoon, where most of the Simbaz enjoyed watching from the sidelines as the Kenyans were much too good for us. We were cheering them on and when one of them, Brian, saved a goal he a huge smile on his face.
It was good to watch those who haven't been before getting involved in the songs and the skipping because that was me three years ago. Again, playing some of the games was a learning curve for me with different rules and ways of playing.
Written by Sarah Burtt
Simbaz Team Leader
We did an Olympic games, starting with an olympic torch relay where each team could show off their different things. When we did races, there was a competitive element but collectively everyone enjoyed it together. Team Simbaz won quite a few of the races, but not a run away victory. When you took a look around, there wasn't a face without a smile.
Lunch was so funny when Garry lost his banana to a monkey. We are sharing the field with lots of monkeys, so we have to shut tent doors and have the monkey stick/chaser ready.
Bingo was funny, especially when they didn't quite understand when to shout Bingo!, so they did it whenever they got a number. They all seemed to really enjoy it and it was good to teach them a different. There was a bit of banter between Denise and Tom, and all the street kids got really involved with it.
We played Olympic football in the afternoon, where most of the Simbaz enjoyed watching from the sidelines as the Kenyans were much too good for us. We were cheering them on and when one of them, Brian, saved a goal he a huge smile on his face.
It was good to watch those who haven't been before getting involved in the songs and the skipping because that was me three years ago. Again, playing some of the games was a learning curve for me with different rules and ways of playing.
Written by Sarah Burtt
Simbaz Team Leader
Thursday, 26 July 2012
The Story So Far... - Days 1 and 2
Having left the "Mummies and Daddies," we made our way to the Lewisham Civic Suite in Catford. We enjoyed a nice reception and then continued our journey to Heathrow. Two flights later, not much sleep and having made a friend in Abu Dhabi, we had arrived in Kenya.
We were met by Jimmy at the airport, loaded up the buses and headed for Rowallen. Worried that the kids might be here before us, we made camp quickly. Some people went to get more equipment and food, some stayed behind to make a fire and get to know some of the street kids. In typical Kenyan time the group eventually returned with food.
After eating, we carried on with setting up tents. We were so knackered that by the time we'd finished the tents, we collapsed into them!
Written by Elizabeth Foster
Scout Network Member
Look out for The Story So Far... tomorrow!
We were met by Jimmy at the airport, loaded up the buses and headed for Rowallen. Worried that the kids might be here before us, we made camp quickly. Some people went to get more equipment and food, some stayed behind to make a fire and get to know some of the street kids. In typical Kenyan time the group eventually returned with food.
After eating, we carried on with setting up tents. We were so knackered that by the time we'd finished the tents, we collapsed into them!
Written by Elizabeth Foster
Scout Network Member
Look out for The Story So Far... tomorrow!
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