On to Lake Nakuru National Park

The next morning we checked out of the TreeTops Lodge and descended the hill station to Lake Nakuru National Park. On the way we passed a spot where the Equator  is. Next stop was at a lovely waterfall site where a few nice lodges were also available for the night. From there we moved on to the Lake Nakuru National Park - where if we were there at the right time we would be able to see a lot of pelikans etc. However due to the rainy spell these birds had made off to different locations. We saw a few rhinos but from quite a distance away though. We put up for a night at the Lake Nakuru Lodge.

 

 

 the waterfall where we stopped ( taken with a different camera)

 

 lodges at the waterfall

 

 a chameleon lizard on my arm and hand

 

 some long-distance shots of the rhinos at Lake Nakuru

 

A Night at the TreeTops (3)

 

We did not see any of the big 5 animals at the TreeTops. None the less it was a nice experience to have a chance to stay at a historical lodge whose recent visitors were none the less, Prince William and his lovely wife, Kate Williams.

 

A Night at the TreeTops Lodge (2)

The TreeTops Lodge was made famous because many of the British Royal Family members had stayed here. The most famous was of course the Queen herself. Elizabeth was a visitor here many years ago - she came to this lodge as a princess and her father died durig that time thus making her the Queen as she left the lodge back to be crowned in England.

 

The Lodge itself is a wooden structure but with comfortable sleeping quarters with modern facilities. There are several viewing points and we were told that we will be informed if any of the animals like the leopards, lions etc were to descend to the lake for their salt licks during the night.

 

We did not think that the animal sighting alarms were made at all that night - or perhaps all of us had slept through the very cold night.

 

The next morning we were able to see many wilderbeests coming to drink and soak in the mud at the lake. 

 tea or coffee?....

 

 

A Night at the TreeTops (1)

 'TreeTops' is a famous salt-lick where animals come out at night to drink at the lake. This site is located in north Kenya - it took us almost a whole day to drive up from Amboseli Park in the south - stopped for lunch in Nairobi - then up north to the mountainous area where the Treetops is located. The area is reminiscent of Cameron Highlands or Fraser's Hills somehwhat. These series of pictures were taken at the lodge where we were first registered upon arrival - and from here we were taken by land-rover on a narrow muddy path to the salt-lick where the famous 'Treetops Lodge' is located.

  

 

 

the set of pictures below came from another camera

 

 a Chinese Sichuan lunch in Nairobi

 

 at the reception Lodge for the TreeTops

 

 

 the gardens very much like those at some of the Fraser's Hills bungalows

 

 lovely and cozy lounges

 

The Masai Village Craft Market

The Masai Village had also put up a little craft market on a field adjoining their village. Every household put up their crafts - mostly bead-works, book-marks from leather with Masai paintings and designs, textiles, jewelleries etc. The women-folks tried very hard to make sales to us.

 

We collected a few souvenier items and tried haggling out for a bargain. After managing to offer and get their agreement for almost half of the oroginal  prices they gave us - we decided to pay them their original prices as we felt the trip to the village itself could not be valued in terms of money for its worth of information and hospitality.

The Masai Village Doctor

The Masai Village Doctor is a traditional medicine man, of course. He spoke in a surprisingly good English. He gave us a good and comprehensive description of the medical services he offered and the varieties of medicines at his disposal most of which were based from the shrubs and herbs from the neighbouring area. There were medicines for infections, for fertility, for family planning and of course, aphrodisiacs.

 

He also instructed one of his Masai boys to demonstrate how they could start a fire using their very simple and primitive wooden tools.