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.