Time to get away from it all

A lodge overlooking a waterhole, on the slopes of Mount Kenya, on our own as a family - a perfect place to recharge after a hectic April...

Mount Kenya, clear from cloud cover on a beautiful morning.  We learned that the Akamba people called it 'Keen-ya', meaning 'ostrich' because of the white snow on it's peak, interspersed with black rock which gave it an ostrich's colouring.  The first explorer to find it (Kampf), wrote down the name, which later was read as 'Ken-ya'.  Many didn't believe his find because could snow really be present at the equator?!  Around 50 years later another explorer, Thompson, confirmed it.  The mountain gave the country its name.

An underground tunnel to a hide brings you eyeball to eyeball with whatever is down at the waterhole

Apparently, if you meet a buffalo who is not happy to see you (most of them), you should lie on the ground rather than run for it so there is less chance of their horns making a hole in you - easier said than done I imagine!

Sadly it was too muddy for the elephants to come and visit (in dry season they come most days) but we still enjoyed soaking up the views and the peace from this lovely balcony.

The food was also impressive (although we were so stuffed by our last day we could hardly enjoy it!)

A cheeky Sykes monkey steals a packet of crisps from an unsuspecting visitor - not good for them but very funny to watch.

A waterbuck enjoying a drink.  We also saw bushbuck, genets, a marsh mongoose, suni (smallest antelope), tree squirrels and nearly a leopard.  We were woken in the night by the game wardens who keep watch and wake those who have asked - but we couldn't see him.  The stars were beautiful though!

One of the highlights of our three day stay was a nature walk with the very knowledgeable Peter.  Did you know that an elephant's skull is a honeycomb of bone, so that it isn't too heavy, and its brain is held in a cradle of bone on the left side?

Halfway around on our walk we were given a surprise tea-party!

This Fireburst Lily flowers BEFORE the rains come, when the ground is still dry and no water has been released to trigger its flowering - amazing!

This plant (Canary Creeper Tree) has many traditional uses, including as a natural mosquito repellent.  Just planting this around your home should ward off flies and mosquitoes.

 Some enjoyed a relaxing spot of painting, whilst others played cards or (tried to) read

Our two nights passed all too quickly and the journey home was an adventure in itself on the less-than-safe roads - but there is always lots to see