Thursday 31 December 2015

GPS Update - January 01, 2016 at 02:51AM

Very nice green countryside lots of hills. Emersed in tribal culture.

GPS Update - January 01, 2016 at 02:44AM

Lat+04.975833 Lon+036.516016 Alt +2060 ft (8h29m27s ago) 31-Dec-2015 05:14:59 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=04.975833&lon=036.516016

Tuesday 29 December 2015

GPS Update - December 30, 2015 at 06:25AM

All Fine No Wifi

GPS Update - December 30, 2015 at 05:28AM

Lat+04.974950 Lon+036.513133 Alt +2185 ft (0s ago) 29-Dec-2015 16:28:23 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=04.974950&lon=036.513133

27 December 2015 Drive to Moyale on the Kenya Ethiopia Border

The drive from Marsabit to Moyale was a pleasure. We left in very misty weather but most of the 250 km was on brand new Chinese tar road. Arrived in Moyale and found the Al Yusra Doshouse (guest house). This was the best available which is not saying much. We checked in and paid KS 3000 about R350. Friends we met in Nairobi joined us but decided to sleep in their vehicle right in front of the hotel ... No charge. Diner was reasonable. Chicken with rice and vegetables.
We left at 06h30 drove 3 minutes to the border and waited until 08h00 to start the process.

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Welcome to Etheopia

Monday 28 December 2015

GPS Update - December 29, 2015 at 04:55AM

Lat+05.333383 Lon+037.430183 Alt +4862 ft (27s ago) 28-Dec-2015 15:54:26 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=05.333383&lon=037.430183

Sunday 27 December 2015

GPS Update - December 28, 2015 at 12:40AM

Lat+03.523933 Lon+039.058616 Alt +3392 ft (0s ago) 27-Dec-2015 11:39:59 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=03.523933&lon=039.058616

Saturday 26 December 2015

Camp Henry in Marsabit.

Samburu Ladies on their way to town.

Meru to Marsabit

We spent the last two days relaxing at iKweta Safari Camp just outside the Meru National Park.The first day we drove into the Park. The park is very green and lush. Very beautiful with grasslands and forested areas. We saw a sprinkling of game on the plains (elephant, zebra, buffalo, Grants Gazelle, giraffe and a few warthogs), also some interesting birds we had not seen before. We took a long drive through the park to the Tana River in the south to visit the grave of Elsa the lioness (Born free movie).
The next day was Christmas Day so we stayed at the lodge, did some laundry, tidied the Mog, commissioned the electronic mapping system and did some reading up on Ethiopia. We have amended our itinerary for the first week to take in the South Omo Valley. This was based on advice from fellow travelers. Who says Tom is not flexible.
Today we drove from Meru to Marsabit. The first 80 km after leaving Meru was very hilly and very beautiful. From Isiolo to Marsabit , the much feared road from the past, was easy 200 km of brand new " Chinese " road and about 70 km of detour road that was well maintained. We are now at camp Henry and will relax here this afternoon. Tomorrow we head up to Moyale the border between Kenya and Ethiopia. They say the road to Moyale is also a brand new "Chinese" road.
Monday will see us cross the border and head into the South Omo Valley for a few days before heading for Addis towards the end of next week. Bye for now 😊

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GPS Update - December 27, 2015 at 01:07AM

Lat+02.345816 Lon+037.965466 Alt +4462 ft (0s ago) 26-Dec-2015 12:07:04 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=02.345816&lon=037.965466

Sunday 20 December 2015

Lunch at 6th Cataract on the Nile

Breakfast view

Our Lodge at Meroe

Norther Cemetery at Meroe

Spot the shower

Pyramids of Meroe 750 BC to 350 AD

Donkey powered well at Naqa

Temple at Naqa between 750 BC and 230 BC

Temple at Naqa.

Church Elder at the ceremony.

Whirling Dervishes Ceremony.

Whirling Dervishes at the Sheikh Hamed Al Nil in Omdurman. A regular Friday afternoon religious ceremony.

BOXI = TAXI

Typical public clay water pots cooled through evaporation.

Our Hotel in Khartoum.

Saturday 19 December 2015

SMS Update - December 20, 2015 at 07:04AM

We left Khartoum this AM and went to temple of Naqa and Mussawwarat Es Sufra. Sleeping at pyramids of Meroe. Very interesting.

GPS Update - December 20, 2015 at 06:57AM

Lat+16.946099 Lon+033.768950 Alt +1256 ft (0s ago) 19-Dec-2015 17:57:34 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=16.946099&lon=033.768950

Friday 18 December 2015

The Melik Gunboat.





In 1896 when Kitchener, the Sirdar (Commander-in-Chief) of the Egyptian Army, set out to re-conquer the Sudan and avenged for the death of General Gordon (who was killed eleven years before by the Mahdi rebels), he knew that not only had he to defeat a great host of dauntless Sudanese warriors, but also to overcome the huge logistical problem of supplying 25,000 men and 10,000 beasts of burden over great distances in one of the most inhospitable climates in the world. Control of the River Nile was vital.

On the banks of the Blue Nile.

Moz buying dates.

Street coffee with our guide Omar on the right.

Omdurman Souk. West Bank of the Nile.

Sanitary City a la Khartoum.

Typical street on the outskirts of Khartoum. (Check the wheels) 😀

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Camels For Sale

Tom at the confluence of the Blue Nile and White Nile

Khartoum Day 1


We left Nairobi at 23h30 and arrived at Khartoum just after 02h00. We were met at the airport and assisted with arrival paperwork and then taken to the hotel.
We surfaced at 08h00 and had nice buffet style breakfast. George, part of the family that started the hotel in 1952, worked out an itinerary and off we went with a driver and guide.
We visited the National Museum, the confluence of the White Nile and Blue Nile, the camel market, Tomb of the Madi,  house of the Khalifa and Ozone Cafe. We have been pleasantly surprised by what we experienced in Khartoum.


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Camel Market in Omdurman.

Moggie in trouble at Jungle Junction !

This is Jungle Junction, Nairobi, Moggie's B&B

GPS Update - December 16, 2015 at 05:21PM

Lat+15.604683 Lon+032.529500 Alt +1446 ft (11m57s ago) 16-Dec-2015 15:21:24 UTC http://map.iridium.com/m?lat=15.604683&lon=032.529500

SMS Update - December 16, 2015 at 10:44AM

We have arrived in Khartoum. Late arrival and a short interrupted sleep at hotel Acropole. Nice old world hotel with fantastic service. Leaving on a city tour now.