THE VILLAGE MARKET

The village market is East Africa’s largest shopping and recreational complex.  Set on over ten acres, houses over 140 shops, a full recreational park with water slides, a mini golf, twelve state of the art bowling lanes, a pool hall a variety of children games.  Nu metro theaters Kenya’s largest cinema complex which has four screens featuring the latest international hits.

Village market is ten minutes drive from the city centre and is located in tranquil vicinity that also houses the UNEP Headquarters.  It is designed to blend into the surrounding environment with beautiful landscaping and grounds.  The complex embodies the spirit of African marketing in an open air setting with waterfalls, rivers and gardens in every direction.  The food court offers a multi cultural gastronomical experiences over 13 food outlets provide a choice to suite every taste from Thai, Italian, Chinese and African.  The beautiful open setting of food court allows the visitor to relax in an environment ideally suited for relaxation and comfort.  A live band provides entertainment on Friday night and on Sunday afternoon, when the food court is transformed into a place for old friends to meet, families to share a meal in  a safe and secure place.  The Maasai Market comes to the Village Market every Friday.  Over 350 craftsmen traders and artisans come to sell unique arts and crafts. Just as every visitor must see London’s Big Ben or Paris’ Eiffel Tower, a trip to Kenya would not be complete without visiting the village market.  The abundance and quality of arts and crafts in unrivaled, allowing both tourists and residents to appreciate Kenya’s and Africa’s finest works.

SAMBURU AND BUFALLO SPRINGS NATIONAL RESERVE

Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserve lie adjacent to the small town of Archers post which is some 325 km north of Nairobi in Kenya’s arid Northern frontier district. This is a spectacular region of sand rivers, isolated mountains rising sheer from the plains, long droughts and sudden torrential rainstorms. It is also the best place to find dry country mammals such as Oryx, gerenuk, reticulated giraffes and endangered Grey’s zebra with their pin stripes and large dish shaped ears. The reserve also provides regular sightings of all the big cats and is visited by large herds of elephants. The bush country of northern Kenya also supports on amazing variety o birds and the presence of water and riverine woodlands in theses reserves increases this diversity. Almost 400 species have been recorded in this area including Somali ostriches (distinguished by males’ bluish legs and necks), birds of prey form the magnificent, martial eagles to the diminutive pygmy falcon, kingfishers, hornbills, rollers, bee-eaters, and game birds such as guinea fowl and sand grouse.

The scenic beauty and ecological importance of the reserve centers around the crocodile infested Uaso Nyiro River. It flows quietly between wide tree – lined banks within the reserves and forms the boundary between them with Samburu lying to its north and buffalo springs to the south. A bridge built in 1964 just upstream fro Samburu lodge links the two reserves. On leaving the reserve the river cuts deep into the ground and plunges into deep gorges in the east of Shaba National reserve. The location of Joy Adamsons last adventure.

LAKE BARINGO

As you leave Lake Baringo junction and head towards Marigat-Kabarnet junction towards the North, ten Kilometers ahead is Kampi ya samaki, a quiet and touristy town that sits next to Lake Baringo.  It is at the threshold of Northern Kenya, and its fresh waters are an oasis in the arid plains.  The lake lies in a solitude semi desert, a heaven of peace and beauty in the in the harsh, rugged but majestic surroundings.  This is the traditional home of the Njemps.

The lake which is 129 square kilometers and happens to be a fresh water lake is well stocked with fish and attracts many pelicans, cormorants and fish eagles.  Hippos populate the lake as well as crocodiles.  The lake is truly a beauty, surrounded by volcanic ranges that stretch as far as the eye can see.  Olkokwe Island is at the heart of the lake.  It is a stark rocky island that is home to the Njemps and a well appointed camp.   This is an excellent base for base for exploring the lake by boat, providing excellent opportunities for bird and hippo sporting.

Alternatively one can go bird watching on foot , whichever method you choose, you cannot lose as some 400 species have been listed in the area.   Other activities include fishing, water sports or a visit to the Njemps villages to enjoy traditional crafts and dancing.  Accommodation is available at the Soy Safari Club and Lake Baringo Country Club.

LAKE ELEMENTAITA

Lake Elementaita lies in the Great Rift Valley. It is a shallow saline lake located next to a diatomite factory
in Gilgil along the Nairobi – Nakuru Highway. There is a roadside viewpoint well signposted on the left immediately after the junction to the factory. From the viewpoint you can disembark from your car and walls along the footpath to the lake. The lake’s shoreline is perfect for picnics and walking safaris and adjoining rocky cliffs afford you a good opportunity for tougher tracks and mountain hills.

The shoreline can be approached through the Lake Elementaita Lodge which is visible on the left after the Kikopey Shopping Centre. The Northern side of the lake encompasses the flamingo camp which touches the shoreline and can be used as a base to reach the lake. Boat riding during the wet season is possible as the water volume is high. The water recedes significantly during the dry season making boating difficult. Both the Flamingo camp and Lake Elementaita Lodge offer accommodation and food.
Lake Elementaita is a great place to see water birds like flamingos, pelicans, cormorants and geese. It is an important dispersal area for flamingos and plays an important role when food is limited in other saline Rift valley lakes like Nakuru and Bogoria. During the dry season, Black lava islands situated in the lakes western park provide the only suitable nesting and breeding grounds for the great white pelicans.
A camp of internal displaced persons is also located on this arid land a few kilometres from the lake. its worth to pay them a visit during your adventures in the great rift and offer any kind of help as suggested by the  video.

Mandela Museum

In the upgraded houses of Orlando west in the South Western Townships (Soweto) in South Africa stands a humble little house that Nelson Mandela once called home.  The tiny match box house No. 8115, was Mandela’s first home.  He moved there with his first wife Evelyn Ntoko Mase in 1946.The couple broke up in 1957 after 13 years, divorcing under the multiple strains of his constant absences, devotion to revolutionary agitation, and the fact she was a Jehovah's Witness, a religion which requires political neutrality. Evelyn Mase died in 2004.  Just around the corner from the Mandela family house is the Hector Pieterson Memorial Museum named after a boy killed during the Soweto schools uprising of 1976 and which is constructed at the place where he actually fall.  A stone throw away along the vilakozi street, is where  is where the outspoken struggle icon and Nobel Laureate, Bishop Desmond Tutu, once lived.  Soweto is the only place in the world to produce two Nobel laureates.

‘If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness.’

- Nelson Mandela

The brown painted Mandela Museum is full of authentic history evoking the untold private and public life of the Mandela family.  The focal point of the small sitting room is a huge painting called Tears of Freedom.  A boxing belt from sugar Ray Leonard also hangs on the wall of the sitting room next to a photo of Mandela.  The original carpet and sofa upholstery provide a suitable backdrop for the collection of honorary doctorates bestowed on Mandela.  In the bedroom, small in size a a large bed is covered with a brown jackal skin, a symbol of Mandela’s royal roots in Transkai 

Born 18 July 1918)  served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC). In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela served 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island. Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to multi-racial democracy in 1994. As president from 1994 to 1999, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation.

In South Africa, Mandela is often known as uTata Madiba, an honorary title adopted by elders of Mandela's clan.

Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades, including the 1993 Nobel peace prize.

THE NILE UGANDA

Uganda described as the pearl of Africa , a country of shimmering lakes, lofty mountains that brook mysterious forests Bujagali Falls is one of the mot spectacular sights in the country.  It is about eight kilometers away from Jinja Town and is a spectacular scenic spot with a kilometer of raging rapids, forested islands in the Nile and lots of bird life.  The falls appear like a mountain of water.  The sound, sight of the mighty water rushing down gives you a refreshing feeling.  It is like the water is washing over you and it really can wash over you if you like.  It is at this point that most white-water rafting expeditions on the Nile start.

Source of Nile

 

Rafting on the Nile

Local boys who have grown around the area have mastered the art of rafting, so to speak and have found a way of earning.  Surrounding the point known as the source of the Nile are beautiful picnic and camping grounds.  It is a major tourist attraction and a wall endowed site for family outings on weekends and public holidays.  There is no beach on the river but one can take a boat ride with a guide.  There also crafts creative works of local artists that you can buy as souvenirs and gifts.  White water rafting is the height of adventure, if you desire a natural high, then this is the perfect thing to try.  Rafting expeditions on the Nile , starting at different points can be organized.  The one day trip goes through five huge rapids on the river.  If you daring you can row, flip and exaggeratingly go wild jumping over the Nile .  The area around Bujagali Falls has accommodation option to suit all budgets.

MAKINDU SIKH TEMPLE

The Makindu sikh temple has existed since 1926.  It is located on the Mombasa –

Nairobi Highway

.  From the main road, the Sikh temple looks like a Hindu or Islam mosque.  It origins stem from the early 1900s when many Sikhs come to Kenya to build the railway from Mombasa to Port Florence (Kisumu).

The Makindu Gurdwara  is one of the most beautiful outside India and the envy of many outside Kenya.  Opened 24 hours a day, it offers accommodation for approximately 350 people in full capacity, but only for a maximum of two nights.  They also offer food and drinks and wastage is frowned upon.  The place is run by 10 priests and 50 local people who assist in cooking and cleaning.  Located 200kms from Nairobi the Gurdwara is supported by donations.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday are prayer days.  The 1430 page Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh Bible is read throughout the three days in shifts by the priests.

Unlike most religious texts the Granth is exclusively poetic.  Anyone interested in attending the prayer sessions can as long as the person follows their rules.   Shoes are not allowed in the prayer room and everyone has to cover their heads with a scarf, which is available on request.  Sikhchism preaches a message of devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind, social justice and denounces superstitions and blind rituals.