15/01/2022
Alert - long post!
Some time in the month of December 2021, I felt I had entertained some people richly endowed with negativity longer that they were welcomed.I needed to ‘detox from the negative energy’ and redeem back my faith, courage, passion, zeal, energy, stretch myself and just see if I can navigate in unfamiliar l/new territory (foreign places) and thrive.
From Nairobi at midday, I hit the road, driving alone. First stop -Namanga boarder. I had lunch and afew niceties with a stranger or two at the restaurant. One gentleman asked if I was on transit and my response ‘am going to Amboseli National Park’. “ At this time?” he exclaimed! “its just 50km from here not too far.” was my ‘naive’ response.
Just so you know, I have never been to Amboseli before. So it was pure adventure, alone! I hit the road towards Amboseli National Park from Namaga at around 3:15pm. Its an all weather road. Was still excited! Saw afew maasai women by the road side about 2 km into the weather road ‘rough road’ and a Subaru forester with some 2 ‘Mzungu’ white couple coming from the direction of the park passed by.
About 4 km from Namanga town, a tourist land cruiser overtook me at high speed. Could not much even half of it. I was enjoying the adventure driving at 50 km/hr per hour. Why would I want to spoil my bliss? Then about 7km from Namanga town, I realised the rubble weather road could not allow me to keep up the speed. I slowed down to 20km/hr.
I drove while listening to some music from my favorite radio station and some Christmas carols. About an hour into my journey from the boarder town, radio switched to Tanzania stations while I received notification from the Office of Kenya High Commissioner to Tanzania’s office welcoming me to TZ and requesting me to register at the High commissioner’s office. I got welcome text messages from Vodafone Tz and Airtel Tz.
Another hour went by since the tour van had passed. Am now 2 hours deep into this journey. I had not seen any other vehicle on this road nor a human being. Just afew birds, antelopes and Girraffes. I tensed! I kept driving on this weather road towards the park. Remember am alone, driving to a destination I have never been to, the radio is broadcasting Tz stations, and both my cell phone lines seem to have TZ reception (both celphones are on pay plans so can not make calls while roaming, I need to make pro arrangements ) no sight of human being, no sight of any other car…and am deep into this 2 hours and counting…
By now I know am too deep in to it to retract and return…..
…..to be continued…..
