I have been very busy with book six, African Jinn, it has reached eighty thousand words. Now is the time to send it to Deirdre, my lovely editor, so she can mark it up with loads of red pen and make me feel awful! But that’s the life of an author. As Stephen King says, in his wonderful book, ‘On Writing’ it is all about rejection and fear. I am also chatting with Jake, the man who does the awesome book covers. He is very busy but has promised me that this month I should get first-round covers.
I was lucky enough to be asked to do a podcast late last year with a nice American guy called Zev Asch. If you want to give it a listen, then here is the link.
Now back to our Five Day African Safari
If you missed last month’s blog about Gede Ruins, then click here first and come back later to read the installment below.
We left Gede Ruins and started heading inland towards Tsavo East. The last time I was in this area, all the roads were marram roads, which means gravel roads full of potholes and ruts, that rattle your bones! But to our delight, those days are over, as the Kenyan Government has tarmacked to Salala Gate. We drove along the twisting road for about one hundred kilometers, following the snaking path of the Galana river. At around 1 pm, we arrived at a lovely viewing point set high above the river. So, we stopped and had our picnic lunch. The view out over the valley was stunning. We were offered some sweet bananas and tiny tomatoes by the local women sitting by the side of the road. Once lunch was over, we headed off once again toward our first night’s stop, a place called Kulalu Camp.
We turned off the main road and drove through an arid, dusty plain, with the occasional kudu watching us pass. After crossing a particularly deep riverbed, we arrived next to the Galana River. Kulalu Camp is an enclave away from the dust and the heat of the bush when you are on your African Safari you will appreciate the peace and quiet of these enclaves. We were welcomed by the staff and shown our tents on the riverside. We immediately felt the relaxed atmosphere surrounding the whole camp, as we sat under the shady trees to absorb the peace of nature. The afternoon was spent watching the far bank for any animals that might wander down to the river for a drink and listening to the myriad of different birds in the trees.
At 4.30 pm it was time for a walk in the bush as the heat was wearing off, whenever you visit an African safari camp always ask if there is a game walk-They are usually free! A walk in the bush is such a wonderful way to feel the environment. The warden was super knowledgeable, explaining everything about the footprints on the paths and the piles of spores. A whoop of baboons came to look at the strangers walking through their patch and hung around for a while. The big male making a show of himself; those teeth are something else. We walked for about an hour until the heavens opened and the rain came pouring down. It wasn’t so bad, as the day was still hot, and the arid soil needed some help.
We had a lovely Italian three-course meal for dinner, then sat on the patio and shone out torches onto the opposite bank, trying to spot the glowing crocodile’s eyes in the darkness. One of these ancient giants climbed up through the reed banks next to the camp and settled on the sandy bank next to the river and our seats!
The following day, we were up with the dawn for our first real trip into Tsavo East. But we had one treat before we entered Salala gate. We drove the few kilometers back to the main road and then headed for our adventure. Just before the gate is a small wooden hut where an old man lives. The old man took us down to the river and started whistling and whooping. Soon enough, we could see some waves heading toward us. Within a few minutes, a large crocodile launched itself up onto the beach and sat waiting to be fed. The whole idea of this man training wild crocodiles to come to his call was a bit circus-like, but everyone has to make a living! So we stood in front of Gadhafi the crocodile and had our photo taken. It always amazes me how the entrepreneurial spirit in people always seeps through. If there is a dollar to be made, it will be!
For loads of useful information on African Safaris and Africa in general just click here
If you would like to get in contact with me then click here
Below are some more useful links about Safaris in Africa- Enjoy!
Top Tips for an African Safari and Beach Holiday
African Safari Which is the Best Country to Choose and Why?
