Sweat, tears and the lion king

Greetings from a grey and chilly Nairobi... and apologies that I’ve take a couple of weeks off the blogging scene (like you’ve even noticed!)

That is not to say nothing has been happening...quite the opposite in fact as not only have things been gathering pace at work (http://gskpulsevolunteers.com/author/kimberleyburbidge/) but I’ve had two jam-packed weekends of physically and socially strenuous activity both back in the UK and on Kenyan soil.

Two weeks ago it was the 80th birthday party of my wonderful Nan, Pauline Hoolighan back at my parent’s house in London. Pretty in pink she wowed us all with her speech, anecdotes and dancing – she bears a striking resemblance to the Queen apart from the remarkable jet black hair that she has sported for a long as I can remember – I sincerely hope I’ve inherited those genes. (wink wink! nudge nudge!)


Quite an occasion and a fantastic opportunity to catch up with all my family and relatives...although it made the wrench leaving for the airport on Sunday night a little tougher than my first departure. I also managed to pack in a magical trip to Glyndeboune for La Boheme – magnificent, although sleep deprivation after a night in cattle class enhanced my emotive response to the opera (cue rivulets of black mascara down my face).

Back in Nairobi I threw myself into work and the organisation of a weekend excursion for Garret, Dorothy and our two new PULSE companions – Helen and Sibel. We opted for a local trip to Mount Longenot, a dormant volcano located in the Great Rift Valley, 60k out of Nairobi. Having made the trip out of town it seemed churlish not to throw in a stay at Lake Naivasha for a spot of hippo observation (and listening), plus Hells Gate National Park for good measure.

Longenot was, as expected, pretty challenging and the steep trek to the crater rim, then the peak and then the full loop back around the rim is not for the faint hearted, or those with vertigo. Over a period of hours we sweated, scrambled, slipped and stumbled our way to the peak and back with some cracking photos to prove our presence...and some amusing moments to reflect on. (Some of my colleagues managed wonderful impressions of the soaring snake eagles to lift the mood key moments)

We were just off the mountain when it began to rain... talk about timing, as the rain here doesn’t take any prisoners when it gets going. Tusker baridi sana (very cold local beer) for all as we headed to Camp Carnelly and our eco-banda. Rustic but functional...and there was no arguing with a cold/off cold shower to remove the truckload of dirt embedded in our clothes, hair and fingernails. Epic pizza for dinner at the bar, some TERRIBLE pool playing and early bed ready to catch the hippos at dawn. (Although they made their presence felt my waking my several times during the night with their noisy grunting).

The morning brought a magnificent breakfast, hippos-galore on the lake and a rare sunny day for our bike ride across Hell’s Gate. As the inspiration for the backdrop of the Lion King I had high hopes for Hell’s Gate – known for scenery and rock formations, rather than animals, you can walk and cycle at will, making for an entertain ride across the park to Hell’s Gorge. (Cue repetition of the line ‘stampede...in the gorge...Simba’s down there’ cue more tears as we know that Mufasa dies thanks to the machinations of his evil brother, Scar – ignore me if you don’t know Lion King off by heart).

The gorge was indeed spectacular; hewn out of rock by recurring flash floods it required more clambering and scrambling to clear narrow clefts and huge fallen boulders. Having visited the Devil’s bedroom, kitchen and bathroom (read: hot sulphurous springs that you can boil an egg in) I jumped back on my unusual bike (minus gears or effective brakes - but couldn’t waste the opportunity for more training out the Nairobi smog) to head back across the park, before the return drive to Nairobi....during which we all conked out...absolutely shattered.

Superb superb weekend – amazing to find such stunning scenery so close to Nairobi, and an amazing opportunity for a workout! We definitely ‘felt the burn’! Back home all that remained after a welcome hot shower, was to watch the Lion King (obviously), cry some more and rest before the week began.



For more insight into a great week at work please read my work blog http://gskpulsevolunteers.com/author/kimberleyburbidge/ and watch this space to find out how we’re celebrating the start of the Olympics Nairobi style (there will be fancy dress...because I’m involved) so watch this space, but know that I’m very sad not to be with you in the UK feeling the real atmosphere of London 2012.

Kim x


Disclaimer: I work for GSK, currently serving as a PULSE Volunteer with AMREF in Nairobi, however the opinions you read from me here are totally my own.

Ridiculous running and heffalumps...

 As we head towards the one month marker I feel compelled to share my latest escapades in Kenya.

On the work front things are still taking their own time – not quite the corporate pace I’m used to but I am trying to be patient! Garret and I are chomping at the bit to really get started, but getting all our stakeholders aligned is critical so watch this space...

Socially last weekend was not quite as flair as the previous one. No jet-setting around Kenya to watch polo. That said it was an action-packed weekend in Nairobi complete with more animal encounters and excessive exertion under the Kenya sun (which magically shone for the one day where I was scheduled to run a half marathon – typical).

So Saturday kicked off with a trip to the David Sheldrick Elephant and Rhino orphanage. Cue super cute photos of young elephants, and elbow-battles with the other tourists desperate to get their perfect shot.

Joking aside the orphanage is amazing – every elephant and rhino has a tragic story behind their orphan status (poaching, injury, human intervention) yet they all get rescued and brought to Nairobi with the aim to rehabilitate them as they heal and grown up. The elephants are awesome...all running into the ‘arena’ to be bottle-fed by the keepers before playtime. They love a good game of footie and, like humans, there are definitely some naughty ones!! Trying to lift your skirt with their trunks, or slamming into the back of each other so one falls down...only these are huge elephants so the repercussions if they fall your way are a somewhat higher! Anyway, pretty awesome..if slightly touristy.

Then it was off to a local entertainment park...off the tourist trail (thank goodness), but host to parties of Kenya school kids, church groups and local families touring the crocodile farm complete with an Africa-shaped boating lake, some rickety fairground rides, a giraffe and a few ostriches. Random random Mamba village!

Still, it gave me the opportunity to kiss another animal (spot the recurring theme) and I also cycled around Africa (the lake) on a floating bike – 10 mins total, no passport required. Not bad for a day in Nairobi...although we’re rapidly running out of local weekend activities.

Sunday was a completely different adventure. Coerced by a friendly American and fellow althlete, Angela, who I met in our apartment gym I entered the Sotokoto Nairobi half-marathon 3 days before the event. Not exactly ideal preparation! It is true that I have half-marathon experience, but since arriving in Nairobi I have run once...for 25mins... owing to security issues and general lack of opportunity (running next to a congested, polluted road for miles dodging litter, ditches and pedestrians is hardly an attractive prospect).

Our small running team post-event!

That said I am not one to refuse a challenge so I entered for a mere $10, collected my luminous yellow shirt (which only seemed to come in tent-size) and I accompanied members of the USA Impala Running team to the event (The Impalas are usually based in San Francisco, but several had flown in from Tanzania, Mombasa and Kisumu especially for the event!! ...which tells you something about the calibre of the team I was running with...or rather behind).

Built like whippets rather than a St Bernard (that’s me) they put in some exceptional performances given the high altitude running and crazy heat. One of them completed it in 1.28, and has a PB of 1.18...crazily impressive running!

 In all honesty I was just glad to take part and to finish in a respectable 1.48. In true African style it started 1.5hrs late..and was therefore at least 10 degrees hotter, so I drank about 2 litres of water en route, threw a further 2 litres over my head and was grateful to cross the finishing line with only minor sunburn (ridiculous calf tanline which is too horrific to post a picture of). I can honestly say that I beat some local Kenyans, (some whom weren’t wearing shoes) and many of whom dropped out - yes really! My prize is that I am walking around like a geriatric today and am the proud owner of a giant neon yellow t-shirt! Good experience overall, but one which I would warn against undertaking lightly!

Hope that all is well in the UK...and if you have any feedback about my blog, or any news then please get in touch. xxx

Getting out of Nairobi...

As I enter Week 3 in Kenya I am very pleased to have finally made it out of Nairobi at the weekend – at cities go Nairobi is not the best.
At present it is grey, polluted, cold and full of traffic so I was thrilled to be able to escape to Timau (Central Highlands) at the weekend for a polo tournament. For this I am immensely grateful to my new cousin Ed (really Josh’s cousin) and his girlfriend Nonnie for taking me under their wing and inviting me along... am not sure how else I’d have broken into the Nairobi ex-pat scene.

So, it was a pretty jet set weekend flying off on Saturday and back on Sunday...although the polo here is rather more low key than the Cartier style events that many of you will be used to in the UK.

Ed flew us up to Timau (we waved at those struggling along the gritty dirt roads below) and I spent the next two days watching various levels of polo (some amazing...some rather less so) against a backdrop of mountains and fields. Pretty glorious, although Mt Kenya failed to emerge from behind the clouds to complete the scene.

The evening brought a Wimbledon themed party which I was gutted not to have the right attire for. Unfortunately I didn’t pack my tennis whites so I had to improve and dress up as the net (basically me wrapped up in a giant mosquito net – which had the double advantage of keeping me bite-free all night!). Overall a very fun evening, complete with drinks and dancing for the whole family...although I’m glad I didn’t have to saddle up for an energetic match on the Sunday morning!

After a long week at work it was great to see another site to Kenya, the polo scene is a pretty tight, but welcoming community which whole families get involved in. Unfortunately I won’t be getting more involved due to a lack of budget and horsemanship!! Congratulations to Ed though, whose team won their category..although they do have the most minging colour of T-shirts to deal with (see left)

So it’s back to work this week, trying to move forwards with our project at AMREF. To hear more about how I’m doing at work (although progress is still relatively slow), please see my ‘professional blog’ at http://gskpulsevolunteer.wordpress.com/author/kimberleyburbidge/