I slide my freshly manicured feet off my beaded mtumba sandals and step on the hot sand. I close my eyes and get lost in the feeling of my skin caressing every grain. I can feel beads of perspiration building on my nose and upper lip. I desperately need to take a bath, but that is going to have to wait. I want to enjoy every second of this moment. I need to enjoy every second of this moment. So I grab a serviette and pat dry my sweaty face. I am parched. I would give anything to get just a sip of anything cold. But that too is going to have to wait. Everything will wait as my whole being soaks in the dry heat of Turkana.
It is hot in Turkana (or so I read/ hear). See, I haven’t been to Turkana yet. I have, however, vividly visualized (both in my head and a little bit on the paragraph above) how this trip will be. It is just what hodophiles do. We envision trips we would want to go on before we even plan for said trips. Oh, by the way, a hodophile is a person who loves to travel and every hodophile has a travel wish list.
Below is my top 3 post-COVID 19 travel destinations.
CHALBI DESERT
The Chalbi Desert is in Turkana county, Northern Kenya. It is near the Kenyan-Ethiopian boarder. If internet photos are anything to go by, it is simply spectacular! Get here either by road or air. If you pick the former, you’ll get to enjoy a road trip across counties: including the very famous Nanyuki. If you use the road, they (the lucky people who have visited before us) say you will need a tough four-wheel drive with the right tyres. If you want to fly, the closest you’ll land is the airstrip in Sibiloi. Get ready to feast your eyes on herds upon herds of camels.
Accommodation rates start from $20- $1,110 a night! Carry lots of water, sunscreen, and antiperspirant!
TAKAWIRI ISLAND
How I went to Rusinga and never found out (until later) about Takawiri still beats me. Who wouldn’t love a beach? Moreso, a beach that combines turquoise blue water, white sands, and palm trees on an island? This picture-perfect, privately owned island is in Mbita, Lake Victoria, Western Kenya. We can call it ‘West Coast’: it has a nice ring to it. Lake Victoria is home to 19 islands. So obviously, there will be a lot to do and see. I will probably spend most of my time lounging on the pool beds on the beach. Cocktail on one side of the pool bed, fresh grilled fish on the other. Either fly to Kabunde Airstrip in Homabay and have the resort arrange pick up, or travel by road to Rusinga Island and take a 45-60 minute boat ride to Takawiri
Nightly rates startfrom $ 23. Remember to carry sunscreen.
NGARE NDARE
I am even ashamed to admit I have never been to this beautiful forest that is at the foothills of Mt. Kenya. The forest links Lewa conservancy to Mt. Kenya. It boasts of waterfalls, a variety of birds and wildlife. Raised 10 meters above the ground is the 450 meters canopy walk that I can’t wait to go on. There is so much to do here: Forest camping, bird watching, canyoning, swimming at the majestic waterfall, gathering enough courage to go on the canopy walk. Forest camping rates start from as low as $20. There are also hotels or Airbnbs that offer both expensive ($100) and inexpensive accommodation. Please note that this is not the terrain for sandals, you’re welcome!
A wise man by the name Gandalf said in The Hobbit: An unexpected journey, “The world is not in your books and maps, it’s out there”
Author: Violet Mwihaki
FursaAfrica Editor.
The Review
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