Friday, 22 January 2016

21 1 16Hello Nairobi 22 1 16 Karura Forest

21 1 16 Good flight into Nairobi, Arrived in a very busy and bustling city. The first thing that stands out is the traffic. Stationary traffic provides a perfect captured audience for any sort of business operation selling papers fruit and all sorts. The next is the massive amount of new building all over, gated communities, shopping malls and office accommodation. There is a massive amount of new infrastructure going in.
We were met at the airport by Simon and Cecilia and there driver Francis. We weaved our way to the apartments where they live in the same compound as her sister and mother so the flat was soon invaded by little nephews and their friends. Being a walled compound with guards at the gate all the children are free to wander outside and in and out of the houses.
In the evening we experienced a power-cut so  dinner, a chicken freshly slaughtered was cooked on the gas by torch and candlelight. We were very glad to sink into bed and  recover from our long flight.

22 1 16

Today we went to Karura Forest.

This is an amazing forest of native trees on the edge of Nairobi. Good way-marked walks What struck us at first were the multitude of brightly coloured butterflies all colours very bright the emerald ones were particularly striking like jewels flitting over the forest floor. We walked along a path to a waterfall which was very spectacular and along the side of the river there was an abundance of jewelled butterflies, lacewings and dragon flies. We also visited some caves where the Mau-Mau hid out, partly hidden by a massive manikara discolor tree.
We then had a tea and chips,  
 

The intrepid explorers at the waterfall





Walking on the road in forest


Massive tree at mouth of the cave


The forestry department had put these useful labels on the trees along the trail
Francis added extra information as to which ones were good for medicine or cleaning your teeth  

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