Kenya in 2000

At the end of October 2000 myself, Ewen Tanner, Paul Moorhouse and Andy Russell visited Kenya with the intention (among other things) of climbing Point Lenana, the third highest Peak of Mt. Kenya (and the highest that is attainable without ropes). Below is a selection of photographs from this trip. If you think I've got any of the details wrong let me know        (copyright notice)
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Getting there and Day One

We flew into Mombasa and immediately got the night train to Nairobi. A swift taxi journey got us to Chogoria near the foot of the mountain. From here we hired a Landy and driver to take us to 'the Clearing' and the start of our walk. Float over the individual pictures for a description, and click on them for a larger image.

Drunk already. Manchester Airport.The night train to Nairobi.Dinner on the night train.... very Orient Express. Except for the company.The Bottom of the dirt track from the Chogoria Transit Motel to the Clearing.Mount Kenya. The summit pretty well always appears covered in cloud from down here.The line up (L-R) Paul, Kit, Andy, Ewen, oh and over on the far left is Ken the driver.Goodbye Civilization. No turning back now.The dirt track near the bandas we camped near on the first night.

Day Two

After a fairly warm day on day one it absolutely p***ed it down all night, to the point where both our tents gave up pretending to be waterproof. We decided to to move in to the nice warm bandas (huts) and go for a day walk while we acclimatized a bit more and our stuff dried out.

The plateau beyond the bandas, inside the national park.Further along the track near the roadhead.And again.A lake (or tarn) whose name I have forgotten. Looks amazingly like the lake district, or somewhere in Scotland.

Day Three

We now had to repeat some of the previous day's walk , but this time with our packs. After a while we left the dirt track to follow a path onwards and upwards towards Minto's hut, a small tin shack where we would be spending the night. On arrival the hut wasn't in to bad nick, though full of little bits of rotting food left by previous occupants. we cleared out what we could and pitched out tents inside for extra warmth as it was bitterly cold. By the morning it had snowed, and this was supposed to be a 'summer' holiday on the equator.

a pair of hommasStopping for a rest.A dramatic change in surroundings as we neard Minto's. These rocky depressions were formed by a mixture of volcanic and glacial activity. The plants are Giant Lobelia.Looking for Minto'sThe view from Minto'sMinto's Hut

Day Four

After the night in Minto's hut we carried on up over Simba Coll and down again to Shipton's Hut

Overnight snow at Minto's. Paul and Andy Delightedly tuck in to Porridge.The Mount Kenya Hilton.Filtering and treating water near more giant lobelia.Toward Simba CollHas anyone seen my elephant impression?A hyrax.

Day Five (no photo's from Six)

Leaving our kit at Shipton's we set of early for the summit, deciding to tackle the North Face. Once at the summit we went down to Austrian Hut and completed a summit circuit that lead us back to Shipton's hut. The next day we started the supposedly easy, but long trek down to the park gate and on to Nanyuki. However we got completely lost, and eventually only made it to the gate, where we got a lift from the Park Rangers to Nanyuki, and a hotel for the night.

Cutting steps on LenanaPaul peering out over the clouds.The BoysNelion and Batian, the highest summits.The twat in the hat.Claimed for BritainTo prove I was there.Paul and Andy with Nelion in the background.The Lewis Glacier.Lewis Glacier viewed form Austrian HutPaul near Arthur's Seat.Mount Kenya in the mist viewed from Shipton's Hut.Shipton's Hut

On Safari

After our Mt Kenya antics were over we took a little time out to go on safari and to go diving, and lounge on the beach. All of my beach photos are still in the camera, but here below is a selection of photos from the safari. Much of the safari itself was a little protracted; driving up to whatever animal was to be seen, who would, particularly in the case of the lions, politely ignore you while you performed whatever three-point-turns and manoeuvres were necessary to get within a few feet of it. Much better was the night we spent in the Salt Lick Lodge Hilton which had a large watering hole in front of the restaurant and guest rooms. From here it was much more easy to see the wildlife come and go and felt much more natural. Here we were able to see lions hunting buffalo, though most of the pictures are too small to be worth putting here.

You can't leave that lion there.Elephants from the hilton at night (long exposure).The guest rooms at the Hilton.A baboon and a baboon's penis.Buffalo about to be attacked by lions..and being attacked by lions.

Ewen's photos. 
I managed to sleep on Ewen's camera in a puddle on one of our first nights in Kenya, so getting any photos at all is quite a feat by the young lad. Here's a selection of the best, starting with Mount Kenya.

The road from chogoria towards the bandasPassing bags across a river near the roadhead. It was much more risky than it looks. Honest.Ha, ha, ha, ha, Stayin' Alive, Stayin' Alive!One for the ladies..The bog at minto's.The SummitHeading down from the summit towards Austrian Hut.Ewen's take on the view from shipton's.I think this is somewhere near arthur's seat. Anyone know for sure?

Week Two

As explained above, after we came down from Mount Kenya we went on safari and then to the coast at Watamu. There we stayed in a hostel owned by an old lady called Mrs. Simpson (Barbara if you knew here a little better than we did). All very traditional, with tea at 4 prompt and dinner served around the table at 8. It also happened to be next to a lovely beach with excellent diving and snorkelling. Top stuff. I don't have any photos of this place yet but here are a couple from Ewen.

Safari Lodge at Hilton Salt Lick. Only the best for us boys.Verandah at Mrs Simpson's.View of beach at Watamu from Mrs Simpson's