Mount Kenya - Day 9
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February 2, 2016 - Naro Moru (2000m)
Had a relaxing breakfast except for one exciting moment of inattention where a monkey snuck into the hut and tried
to make off with the bowl of sugar. I chased the creature off, but the sugar bowl was tossed in a spectacular
fashion, spraying granulated sugar over a wide radius around our breakfast table. We took the tablecloth outside
and shook it out in the grass, after which the resident monkeys spent the rest of the morning with their faces
pressed against the ground trying to lick up the sweetness. The hike down to the park gate was an easy road walk
for two hours. The road was under construction and I believe that I saw the most advanced engineering employed
on this this road than I have on any other in Africa so far. Someone must have plans for a fancy hotel in the park
or something for such extravagance on a forest road. After dodging a grader being driven by a maniac, we reached
the park gate and the wardens congratulated us on our climb. I tipped the porters and cook, after which David gave
a cute speech of how we had started out as strangers but now were friends. One of the gate guards took a group
photo of us and the we all boarded a mattatu for a bumpy ride down to the town of Naro Moru. This road
obviously does not receive any of the $80 per day park fees for improvement. The ride took a while sice the driver
kept stopping to say hello to friends on the street, and we also picked up another fellow with a bunch of empty
bottles who needed a ride into town. After driving by many hovels and shacks of the town, we arrived at the
gated area of the Naro Moru River Lodge where we are staying tonight. Despite the early hour (11:00), we could
check in and have a well needed shower. This place is very pretty and quite the oasis compared to the poverty
outside. After a fancy, but inexpensive lunch in the restaurant, we explored an adventure challenge trail which
had various obstacles however they were somewhat overgrown by the jungle. Eventually we turned back before
completing what we assumed to be a loop as we were not really dressed for a long hike in the jungle. We spent the
afternoon sitting by the pool with a beer, a civilized way to finish our Mount Kenya adventure.
A water buck watching me drink my morning coffee.
The hike today was down a messy construction of a road (to nowhere).
Walking one of the most advanced engineered road in Africa.
Our bus off the mountain.
The whole crew at the gatehouse.
The End
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