Our week in Kenya started with an overnight journey on the optimistically named, but deliciously romantic Nairobi-Mombasa overnight express train (the destination and implication of speed being the optimistic bits). While dinner is served in the dining car, the steward makes the beds, and you wake up in the morning travelling through the open plains of the Tsavo national park. Ok, so the creaking of the ancient carriages, and challenge of the squat toilet on bumpy track bring you back to earth, but considering this is the only operating passenger train in Kenya, its a pretty cool experience! Its notorious for massive delays, and having to get a taxi for the last hour, but we were lucky we got there, and almost on schedule at around 14 hours.
We then spent an amazing and relaxing 3 days at a secluded lodge on a beach outside Mombasa (Tijara Beach) with Rich's cousin Jonny and family. It had all the best things about a family holiday, including witnessing Joe's (nearly 2) cracking choice for his first 2-syllable word: TANKER, and also Bella's (4 and a half) swimming a width unaided. Sharing G&T time with Jonny and Kate watching the roaring waves of the Indian ocean break on the reef was also pretty special. We also squeezed in a couple of scuba dives, the highlights being several turtles, a box fish and octopuses, despite low (8-10m) visability cos of the season. What a place!
Our week in Kenya started with an overnight journey on the optimistically named, but deliciously romantic Nairobi-Mombasa overnight express train (the destination and implication of speed being the optimistic bits). While dinner is served in the dining car, the steward makes the beds, and you wake up in the morning travelling through the open plains of the Tsavo national park. Ok, so the creaking of the ancient carriages, and challenge of the squat toilet on bumpy track bring you back to earth, but considering this is the only operating passenger train in Kenya, its a pretty cool experience! Its notorious for massive delays, and having to get a taxi for the last hour, but we were lucky we got there, and almost on schedule at around 14 hours. 
We then spent an amazing and relaxing 3 days at a secluded lodge on a beach outside Mombasa (Tijara Beach) with Rich's cousin Jonny and family. It had all the best things about a family holiday, including witnessing Joe's (nearly 2) cracking choice for his first 2-syllable word: TANKER, and also Bella's (4 and a half) swimming a width unaided. Sharing G&T time with Jonny and Kate watching the roaring waves of the Indian ocean break on the reef was also pretty special. We also squeezed in a couple of scuba dives, the highlights being several turtles, a box fish and octopuses, despite low (8-10m) visability cos of the season. What a place!
No comments:
Post a Comment