Tag

Lake Naivasha

Browsing

Lonely quiet places sitting pretty in the middle of  endless  magical water,  breezed by cool winds blowing up wild hair and rustling palm leaves, opening up to sparkling sand on  pristine beaches  calling out your body for some sun tan, Islands are some of the most fascinating and  peaceful places to refresh your mind, holiday away or just re-establish your inner peace.

An island is a Perfect definition of getting lost somewhere in the middle of nowhere and it can never be more exotic than the peace and tranquility it brings to free your mind to wander away. It is freedom in pure bliss and magnificence.

Beautiful Island Destinations in Kenya

1. Lamu Archipelago

An old Swahili town that is far away from the mainland and bustles , resting quietly on the northern coast, sets you back to 14th century history, with great ancient architecture and cultural diversity that is a mix of Swahili, Portuguese, Turkish and  Arabic culture. It is a world of Ancient ruins and luxurious hotels outlining the sandy beaches and overlooking the sparkling turquoise ocean going  beyond the horizon. The Lamu Fort and Lamu festival are a masterpiece of all Lamu has to offer to any guest wanting a story from Lamu.

Image Source: Destination 360

Ancient Coral houses,  Little alley pathways for donkeys and no vehicles are what takes you back to the ancient and untouched beauty of this small historical town. Hop off a speed boat as you get to the island then hop onto a donkey cart to move around the quiet town as you take in the magical surrounding of white sandy beaches and endless ocean waves.

Also:

The luxurious dhow sails breathtakingly open you up to other surrounding and outrageously beautiful islands that are part of the archipelago.

Kiwayu Island which is part of Kiunga Marine National reserve presents you an opportunity aboard glass boats to see the rich marine life.

Manda Island which is the landing strip into Lamu offers great views to the ocean and magical sunset cruises

Pate Island is also a quiet beautiful island with pristine beaches.

2. Mfangano Island

The Largest fresh water lake in Africa shared by 3 countries hosts one of the most beautiful islands; Mfangano Island on the eastern section of Lake Victoria. This rocky island has magical rock art views and one of the best luxurious island resorts in the Lake. Lake Victoria offers magnificent sunset views and what surer way to take all this in than the sunset cruises around Mfangano which will take your breath away.

Image Source: Governors Camp

Also Nearby:

Rusinga Island famous for its political affiliations, one of the most fascinating fishing community and diverse rich Luo and Suba culture.It is a great place to experience the dreamy island life.  Best time to visit Rusinga is during the Rusinga Island festival in December.

Migingo Island is the infamous fishing mine that is highly on demand between the Kenyan and Ugandan government and which immerses you to local fishing communities.

Ndere Island hosts a National Park that is home to diverse birdlife and prowling monitor lizards. It offers you a great nature park tour that is refreshing from the Kisumu heat and hustle.

3. Wasini Island

Sitting on the lonely southern coast in Shimoni,  Wasini Island is magnetic due to its dolphin tours which are its main attraction at the Kisite Mpunguti national reserve. Aboard motor glass boats, cruising the coral island you get awed by the rich marine life with colorful fish hitting your boat’s glass bottom scaring your heart to skip a beat. Jumping out of the dhow sails to swim with the dolphins or just watch them splash into the air and fashionably swim in the crystal clear waters is a lifetime marine experience.

Image Source: Kifaru Tours

4. Mombasa Island

Mombasa city is the only Kenyan city on an island.  Accessible by Nyali Bridge, Makupa causeway and Likoni ferry on the south. It is a city that is rich in cultural diversity, breathtaking ocean views, magical sea waves, enticing sea food and spicy aroma, old Swahili and Portuguese architecture with a touch of classic Arabic, a busy sea port and a quiet and laidback Swahili lifestyle. It is the ideal beach city with numerous luxurious hotels, holiday resorts and fun activities to indulge in.

Also check out my experience on:  HOW TO EXPLORE MOMBASA TOWN and FORT JESUS

5. Chale Island

Pristine white sandy beaches lying out on the south coast of Kenya in Kwale county, clear turquoise water, a rich and lush green mangrove forest hanging over coral reefs is a magnet for migratory birds and sea life. Sitting quietly on this island is a luxurious hanging resort that is a perfect get away destination for honeymooners.

South coast is also predominant with mysteriously disappearing islands which pop up on low tide and lay as pretty sparkling sandy islands in the middle of ocean water and disappear on high tides.  Join a cruise for sunset dinners or some exotic lunch on these random islands.

6. Crescent Island

Lake Naivasha is thriving out of all the outrageously beautiful cottages and luxurious accommodation and campsites by this Great Rift Valley Lake.

Crescent Island hosts a game sanctuary that is home to free ranging wildlife that is accessible by a nature trail foot trip. It is accessible by both road via the sanctuary farm or by boat from Lake Naivasha. It has a great view to the lake and bird watching, a great spot to watch hippos from a distance and interact with cheeky monkeys. Also check out How to Explore NAIVASHA

Thank you for stopping by 🙂 🙂

A Dusty rough road leads us to Elsa gate, on the Wildside of Naivasha . It’s been on my Kenyan bucket list forever and finally the opportunity was here. With an imagination of Magical rocks, Gorges, a “Welcome to Hell” and awesome photos, I was so excited for this one.

14 Kms off the Nairobi-Naivasha highway turnover, South of Lake Naivasha sits a volcanic park. Hell’s Gate National Park is named after a narrow break in the Cliffs during a volcanic activity. Hells gate has been in the news for a while, you remember those Youths who went missing, and I actually thought the name ‘Hells Gate’ came from that.

Being my first time here I’d spent the previous evening just walking around Naivasha town. Just before I went to sleep, as is custom i checked my camera. But why did it have to be today of all days Lord?  Huh!! My camera had crushed and couldn’t respond to anything, I tried charging it, no response, tried turning it on, still no response. I became so angry and couldn’t even sleep that night; I was so stressed up, not just about how my camera had died but how I was going to miss out on epic photos.

I Woke up so early went around Naivasha to look for digital camera shops to repair it and none of that hustle bore fruit.

“You have to go to Nairobi for this one!” Was the response I got.

Woah..! I know that.. (I almost answered back), but I don’t have that time now. There’s no way I was solving this, so I proceeded to the Park anyway. I had already missed out on my Plan for sunrise shots at the park, and wasn’t even sure about my mood for this visit anymore. But Pause…My photos still turned out awesome (Cue..James Bond..)

We arrived at the Park around 9 a.m. and for a moment I forgot my troubles. My phone just had to be a handy “photographer” on this. We paid our entrance fees, (I thought paying for the car was expensive though), got a tour guide (also on the higher side) and started our game drive. There are bicycles for hire so you can also Cycle to the park if you want.

Our first stop was at Fischer’s tower (a volcanic plug) where there is rock climbing. The experience is quite thrilling if you are an adrenaline junkie, Ha! But don’t think about “what if the rocks disintegrate and come down falling on you.” Hahahaha! by the way am the worst person when it comes to motivation, i crush your hope before encouraging you.

They’ve done rock climbing here for years anyway, so you don’t need to worry because it’s pretty safe. I tried it out to let out my camera anger and hmmmm it was worth it.

We walked around for a while to see some wildlife and take photos of the scenery, and then drove off to the Gorge.

We could see the Central tower (another volcanic plug but not safe for rock climbing) from the entrance.

We then took a walk down through a landscape of high cliffs and beautiful gorges. It is quite a long walk that involves some slight rock climbing and you might need a bottle of water, (I regretted I didn’t have one).

This is a perfect place for artists and creatives, the textures, colours and different rock formations are just perfect.

The walk leads you to the “DEVIL’S BEDROOM” (where the devil lives) “TRUE STORY

Ha-ha! You need to see him. The bedroom is the climax of the walk; rather it’s where the gorge starts. Our walk took like an hour considering all the photo session stops. We then head back from the gorge but divert to see the hot springs, and as usual, being a Thomas I have to do the testing and the water is really really hot.

Did I tell you the part where I slid and almost fell.

Okay! Please don’t laugh.

While on our way back, we had to go down a rock, which wasn’t high by the way. By now I am a professional rock climber I believe, (after I went up rocks without a rope in Baringo and several rock climbing with ropes here) so I grab the rope and start tracing my steps down.

I miss one step, slide and then swinging like a monkey on the rope I swing off to the other end of the rock without rock steps. My heart stopped I swear and I thought “this was it”, “Hell for sure”. The only thing I remember was I didn’t let go off the rope (Our tour guide congratulated me for this) otherwise I’d be speaking with broken ribs or legs right now. So I slide downwards off the rope while trying so hard to find step cracks on the rock. And get down safe but scared to death.

Just so you know am not trying rock-climbing soon “Unless it’s Mount Kenya”.

Huh! But I always forget these self-promises. Thats why i don’t make new year resolutions anymore.

After that scary experience I guess you can now tell, that walk was officially over.

While on our way out we come across these two blacksmiths (father and son), I can’t remember what they were making, but we interacted with them for a while and I took secret photos of them (One thing I’d love to really conquer is my fear to ask strangers if I can take a photo of them), that would actually be a plus for my career. Anyway every Persons livelihood is different and when you travel you get to see how life doesn’t really come on a silver platter.

So we head out on the western side via Olkaria gate, through the Olkaria Power station. I really wished we’d be taken for a Geography trip to Olkaria while in high school, but it never happened. And up to now I didn’t even know Olkaria was in Hells gate until we arrived here. For once, I hadn’t Goggled about Hells gate before my visit. Olkaria is made of 3 Geothermal Power stations that generate power from the area’s hot springs and geysers.

I admire the huge pipes setting and the belching white plumes of geothermal steam from the ground. I ask quite a number of questions, Ha-ha but the only one I remember is why the pipes are constructed with corners and not straight like the oil pipeline.(When you go, ask that too) Ha-ha!

We stop over at Olkaria, and there’s a geothermal hot spring sulphur spa which is perfect for pool lovers. It’s made of hot milky white water which has therapeutic benefits and rich in sulphur which is good for the skin. The cost is just 400 Ksh for citizens. We enjoy the swim for a while then head out back to Naivasha for Late Lunch.

They have camping sites at the park by the way and if you wish to spend your night out in the wild its quite a perfect place. Till next time………………………………….

Have you been to Hells Gate or Olkaria? What was your experience like?

Love and Love.

From me and my small monkey friend.

Beautiful scenes of lush green grass and the yellow barked acacia offering shade to the littered wildlife on the roadside is our welcome site. One of my weird habits is making sure I don’t dine in my place of accommodation and if I have to then it happens once when am super exhausted from a day of adventure.

Well this is usually not easy, especially if you ain’t a foodie like me and always fall hungry just when you are about to sleep, or remember you didn’t eat when you are leaving and you are so behind schedule.

The good side of this is you get to sample many hotels in your few days stay, you just need your accommodation sorted, and then you can have a whole list of away places to visit and your meals whenever and wherever you see good food or feel hungry.

The Downside is you come across a heavenly place than where you are staying and then you wish you can shift, but then you already paid for the whole week stay in your former place and you are tied to your funds, that’s what we call real discipline and self-control. Well, wishes are just that; “Wishes”, sit Order for lunch, eat and move along. Happened to me once in coast and I had to pay for a single night in a different resort just to let the cursing go, get over it and move on. It was the exact feeling you get when you see a classy fashion piece that you can’t afford.

Here it was happening again, Lake Oloiden was one of those hard choices you have to make.

On our drive back to Naivasha from Hells gate, at a distance we saw this isolated beautiful small lake. I actually thought its part of Lake Naivasha, so I asked our guide. “That’s Lake Oloiden and yes it was part of Lake Naivasha before but it’s now separated by around 200 meters, do you want to go?” Yes of course I answered with no hesitation.

Lake Oloiden “meaning Salty lake” is a few Kms from the Olkaria gate if you are coming from Hells gate and around 25km from Naivasha. It’s quite a secretive place located past a small Maasai center and not so popular to the outside population but the Maasai community around here holds it in so much regard.

It has an underground inlet with volcanic ash which makes it salty. It is a home to a few hippos, and a variety of bird species and surrounded by a number of wildlife species like the Warthogs, Giraffes, Gazelles, Zebras and Baboons just to name what I saw .

We didn’t get to see any flamingoes on our visit though we were told it’s a great home of flamingoes which move here especially during the wet season when the water level in Lake Nakuru increases.

We walked around the lake enjoying the views and interacting with the locals.

Boat safaris are available to the lake, but the scenery and quietness is just quite everything if you are looking for a private escapade. There is the Oloiden campsite where you can pitch camp for the night and I think a weekend here with friends would be perfect. “We should have camped here,” Just wishes. We grab some fish with Ugali for Lunch then head off.

The best of places are the Unknown.

Thanks for stopping by.

Love and Love.

I finally stayed away from coast this year, probably the only promise I remember making and I’ve kept, then I crossed borders for the first time and I can’t be happier. Taking long drives to make memories, getting blisters in the name of adventure, walking long distances to find the perfect views, waking up so early just for sunrise shots, Bracing the cold water just to take the perfect photos, organizing trips with friends who then back out and I go solo anyway, risking life just to climb rocks, getting super sick due to fatigue, to meeting a lot of new faces who’ve ended up being friends. I’ve been to interesting places this year, made great memories but most important of all I’ve learnt that the best of places are the best kept secrets and it’s you as an individual to create your own adventure and fun.

Some of the ten beautiful places I’ve been to this year are:

  1. JINJA Uganda.

2. River Nile Source.

3. Hells Gate National Park.

4. Lake Elementaita.

5. Crescent Island Naivasha.

6. Lord Egerton Castle.

7. Chebloch Gorge Baringo.

8. Kerio Valley.

9. Kariandusi prehistoric site.

10. Lake Oloiden.

2016 AT A GLANCE.

People do this, I don’t know how many lie or whether it’s true, but am doing this not because everyone else is but because for me this year needs a review. I don’t believe in Christmas anyway so by now you know am not a cliché. 2016 has given me so many opportunities, taken me places I didn’t know I’d go and opened many doors for me.

I Settled in Eldoret this year by the way and that’s one thing am so glad of doing. My friends here make life so much more interesting and lively that I’ve only been back to Nairobi once this year. I even forgot how my wardrobe and shoes look like. In 2016 I have learnt to appreciate life more, value anything small I have, love humans more, be dedicated and work hard, give more(charity makes me so happy) , let things that hurt go easily but above all I’ve learnt to hold onto my happiness, love myself more, be selfish on giving out my heart easily and laugh more. The people who’ve made this possible in every little way are appreciated, they say you never really forget that person who saved you from drowning and well that’s just it. Hey.! my humans, am so glad you all are my ‘squad’. Actually I believe friends are at times the only family you have because I’ve seen this work when I didn’t have anyone else.

Its routine I should have done Christmas posts but well am not everyone else, and why should I anyway when all I did for Christmas was isolate myself, sleep and watch? Anyway back to the point. I do believe in a new year. I know this is having double standards since it’s just a change in calendar but look, my Birthday is a few days(if you take away the year of January) and it sounds fresh to me and gives me more reason to psyche up for 2017. I’ll be turning 25 in two months and the pressure for what I need to achieve by then is building up.

This year I didn’t have any resolutions made, perhaps I was just repeating all the 2015 ones. But it’s been a good year and full of Blessings to me. Am not sure if am making any for 2017, but am sure I’ll pray God opens more doors for my dreams.

Someone asked how many are crossing single to 2017? And I thought, “But I’ve crossed single to every New Year all my life.” Who even thinks of, or asks that? But maybe my only resolution should be to have a baby; almost all my peers do… Huh. Okay maybe 2018 resolutions, 26 won’t be so late after all.

While am eating cake and Milk for supper and writing this article. I am super glad I finally started my own blog. It’s been over, one year debating whether to or not, written articles and edited photos that finally have ended up lost, Civilization is just messed up at times. My friend Mike (who also did my blog and is an IT Guru) has been with me on this all through the almost two year’s idea, (Hi M…J). He also does apps (some of the famous ones in Kenya) and designs websites, so you can halla. (mimickeyim@gmail.com)

I also fell so sick this year and for a moment I even gave up on myself and thought I was really crossing to the other side (something my friends keep telling me, I should never come to that state again). Guys who have headaches all their life, God bless your souls, I don’t know how you do it but it shall be well.

I also followed so many amateur photographers, awesome bloggers especially travel bloggers this year and I realized the world has so much to offer (I’ll share their handles on a blog post later). For once I stopped following Djs Hahaha! Life. But then I’ve had little time to listen to music and I’ve kept playing 2 playlists on my desktop the whole year. I even don’t have a clue about musician’s gossip anymore like I used to.

I am an avid reader of blogs and any creative content on social media and I hope to read more in 2017. I don’t read books by the way; reading for exams in school crushed my interest for books. I have a shelf of books that I have read the first 5 pages at most and stopped when I realized am reading a page over and over. I am a super fan of creatives, good art pieces, and amazing designs I hope to discover more in 2017.

Okay. I’ve run out of ideas on what to write and since I don’t want to lie. Let me say THANK YOU and THANK YOU to all my readers. You guys make me wake up at 2 a.m. to write my travel experiences. Read more and follow me more in 2017. Good things up the sleeves in 2017.

Blog posts will be up on Mondays and Fridays, Oh. And guest writers are welcome on the blog. If you have an awesome travel experience hit me up on mail (clalffina@gmail.com). If you read this to the end or if you schemed through to the end well Thanks for stopping by and always come back and on your way out you can always leave a note for me on the comment box. As I cross over I look forward to more,greater and better adventures on my diary next year.

I WISH YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND GODS BLESSINGS IN 2017.

Can people stop being dogs on Snap chat in 2017 ? OKay, Bye.

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

Love and Love,

CHECK OUT  Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel

🙂 Like everyone else who lives in Nairobi, “Ticks Naivasha off bucket list” Who am I kidding, Not me really cause I’ve been here thrice now. I don’t get how people travel to just tick off destinations. Most of the places I’ve been to, I have gone back and got totally new and different experiences, or wish to go back.

There’s just something about memories and experiences of travel, that immediately you leave a place you want to go back to explore more, or even have the same experience over and over.

Well let’s get back to Naivasha, mainly known for quick weekend getaways from the City. It’s just two hours’ drive away and you land in a series of luxurious resorts and campsites then you realize you have been so poor in choices all your life, “Ha-ha”.

If I was doing an advertisement, this is where I’d score an A cause I’d put in a whole hour to tell beautiful stories of most of them. That said, I guess by now you get my point, ‘your weekend homes are perfect and you are spoilt for choice’.

Like most offshore resorts I’ve been to its interesting how the entrances always have this “You can never guess what happens here at the back” feeling and Like Mwewe camp, Lake Naivasha Crescent camp is one of those. We really wanted to do a shift tent camp on this trip but the weather wasn’t friendly and from my camp experience before, the cold at night is not so friendly outside, so that idea was out.

Well it’s time to take a Boat ride to Crescent Island.  I’ve never been 2 meters away from a Hippo before and “wuueh” as scary as that can get, wait until it suddenly emerges from water and splashes water on you then you realize you have a screaming talent. By the way I never screamed when the Olpejeta rhino hit our car, dumbfound shock, my friend.

There are also a variety of bird species here and the Kingfisher is monster of them all. You need to see it catch fish, and you’ll feel sorry for how the eagle misses chicks.

The outstanding thing about this lake is the dried up yellow barked acacia standing in the water with quite a story you need to go find out.

Crescent Island Game Sanctuary is home to some wild animals but purely no predators, and a walk here among the animals is so refreshing.

Besides you have the monkeys jumping from branch to branch all around you and playing hide and seek games with you to make your walk more interesting.

Our evening boat ride took us to the one of the most beautiful islands I’ve seen. And if my future half is reading this, “can we get that house up there for our vacations, apart from the Maldives Christmas holidays”. Dreaaaams, Okay.

I know I’ve said I love water masses before and cold water is why I hate swimming, but these fishermen were not even aware of the cold weather. Clearly bread doesn’t come on the table easy, but again they seemed to have fun at it. Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake and hence a great source of income to the surrounding community.

Now that I think about it, “Aren’t they scared of those huge hippos that emerge out of nowhere in the lake”

Outside the camp a few miles from Crescent camp we have a ‘public beach’ where the fishermen sell fish to tourists. They also have bike riding and Camel rides. Did I ever say am so scared of being on an animal, “Ha-ha” there’s this time I thought horse riding was fancy so I tried. You can’t guess what happened, I screamed the hell out immediately it started moving and as much as the guard told me to relax I couldn’t hear any of it till he had to let me down. That was the best day for my small brother; he laughed his heart out leave alone the people staring at me.

I know I love wild animals, but ‘weeh’ in life there are things you don’t play with and we all have phobias,  right? But am planning a trip to samburu and camels are involved. Let’s wait see what happens.

Have you been to Naivasha before? What was your experience like? What activities did you do?

Love and Love.