Page 88 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 11

ROAD TRIP AFRIKA

from Kajiado County through
Nairobi County to Kiambu County
then through Murang’a, Kirinyaga,
Embu, Tharaka Nithi counties and
past the equator to Meru County.
A total distance one way of about
250kilometres, and a journey which
we broke into three stages, spending
the first stage in Nairobi and the
second in a quiet little tavern called Point Lenana in the distance. Taken from Lake Ellis
Photo: Samuel Phillips
Patmos Island in Meru where, for
a little less than USD 20 we got a
clean bed, a hot shower and break-
fast for two the following day. We shadows in the forest when you be able to revisit and capture for
were traveling in our brother Mike’s stop to negotiate a particularly tricky posterity. We were informed that
car, a hardy twenty-something-year- bend. (That’s assuming no one goes people might have been rushing to
old Pajero, which, under his skilled to ‘domesticate’ the road). Even make the ascent in order to claim
handling got us to locations many the most seasoned in the group the best spots... the rush and culture
didn’t reach. After breakfast we went approached the climb with respect – of ‘modern living’ haunting us even
and joined the rest of the brave after the first few kilometers of this here in this most serene of environ-
expeditioners who intended to face relatively untapped route began to ments.
the great unknown together. claim its victims. The most impa- At some point in the journey, there
tient and arrogant were all schooled were people who were overtaking
The intended route for our ascent by this journey. others in the forest, crushing plants
was a gate recently opened by the along the way, in a bid to pass those
Meru County government through Ascending to Lake Ellis who had stopped ahead of them
an area called Themwe. Most people From the gate to Lake Ellis you due to mechanical issues – not so
who want to make the ascent in the travel approximately 20km, give much in a bid to help them over-
Tharaka Nithi/Meru area opt for or take, but it took us hours to get come their unexpected hardships.
the Chogoria route, which offers a there as vehicles kept blocking the This was sad to see – but there were
smoother ride to the gates of the road due to overheating or the need those who did stop to help and
forest but for the extreme off-road- to patiently and with all care navi- remedy the situation by offering
ers in our midst, there is no better gate the trickiest sections along the expertise at repairing or strength to
stretch of road for putting your route. But we didn’t mind all the tow our fellow travellers out of the
machine to the test than this. Steep stops, it actually made no sense to us places where they found themselves
hills, boulders, mud, corners and to rush the journey and miss all the stuck. That’s a metaphor for life’s
narrow turns will keep you fully scenic beauty that God took spe- journey I suppose – you sometimes
engaged, while your passengers get cial care to dot the landscape with. find those who would rather take
their breath taken away by the spec- Even so, many a shot were missed photos of you in your plight than
tacular scenery or have their imagi- along the way, which we hope to help you out of it, but there will
nations stimulated by the mysterious be others whose hearts are tender
towards you and your difficulties
and who will remember you, no
matter what. Why was it that no one
wanted to just be still and leave the
rush of daily living behind? It bog-
gles the mind. Especially since once
those who made it to Lake Ellis set
up their tents and then sat down
to drink, roast meat and play loud
music. Nothing much different from
what they do on a regular weekend
in town or in the city. Perhaps some

88 | Heal . Restore . Rebirth . Afrika
Driving through Mount Kenya forest
Photo: Samuel Phillips