Page 84 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 12
P. 84
MY AFRIKA
HIKING NGONG HILLS
A TALE OF THREE LESSONS
Samuel Phillips
Life's lessons never stop, learners are the ones who do.
here is always something which is a few kilometers from Nai- you pay to enter, if you are using
new to learn in our every robi, the capital of Kenya. the main gate, but because I could
day life. And sometimes, see the hills in the distance from the
Tthe things we learn are Living somewhere in Kajiado coun- back of the house, I figured there
not necessarily that we didn't know ty in a place called Kiserian naturally should be a way to get there using
them before, but that most often, birthed in me a desire to go on a the back roads. So off I went.
they come as new learning or a re- hike to Ngong Hills, which was not
minder of the things we have come very far from where I lived. Well, so As I walked using the back road,
in contact with but which we have I thought until I put my feet to the unsure of the path to take, but using
forgotten. road for a good early morning hike. the placement of the hills I could
see in the distance for navigation,
Those who know me know that I Watching the sun set over Ngong the only path before me that made
love morning or evening walks. Not Hills from the rooftop of my sense based on the direction of the
because they are good for physical apartment almost every day, I was hills was definitely going to take me
health, but mostly because that's deceived to think that the walking through the bushes and farmlands.
how I have come to learn most distance from my place to the hills That was cool for me really, because
things. should not be more than thirty it was a beautiful opportunity to
minutes or at most one hour. But I walk through the bushes with the
Ngong Hills is one of the many definitely was about to find out that natural and refreshing smell of
tourist sites in Kenya and it's well was not the case. green life.
known for its collection of seven As I walked into the footpath
hills and the beautiful landscape On this particular morning I made through a farmland I saw a lady in
which is part of the Rift Valley up my mind to finally walk the dis- front of me going towards the same
system. tance to Ngong Hills. Even though direction I was going. I walked up
Ngong Hills is in Kajiado County, Ngong Hills is a tourism site where to her to ask for directions and she
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