Buffalo Springs National Park is our next destination. With last strength we make it to Isiolo in the Gadissa Lodge, 15 kilometers from the lodge our bearing gave up. Now, some good advice, because at the end of the world it is difficult to get spare parts for our vehicle.

Sibille and Wolfgang have also arrived, and a mechanic who takes a close look at the problem.

The problem is quickly identified, we need new wheel bearings and the housing must be welded. Not so easy. With luck we could get new wheel bearings, Wolfgang is a mechanic and supervises the proper installation and soon we are ready to drive again.

In the National Park motorcycles are not allowed, so we do a two-day trip to the park with Wolfgang and Sibille, with our van. We have to smuggle Tara, what we managed, and after the gate, we see our first elephants.

We are excited because so much luck we did not expect. We watch the elephants for a while, and on the game drive warthogs cross our way.

After a short drive, even the long-necked gerenuk was crossing our way. Gerenuks are gazelles and only found in Buffalo Springs National Park.

After the heavy rains of recent days, the Ewaso Ngivo river, the bridge to Samburu National Park was badly damaged, so there is no way for us to cross. But we still see Grevy’s zebras and lyre antelopes.

It’s getting late and we set up our bush camp. Sibille and Wolfgang will sleep in tents, Alexandra makes a bush walk with the armed guards of our night camp.

The new morning greets us with beautiful giraffes, what more could you expect from life.

The reticulated giraffe is living in northern Kenya, as opposed to the southern Masai giraffe, which has a different pattern. At the moment, here is mating season, so we can observe how couples tie their necks around each other, the prelude to the actual mating.

Previous

Next

The next morning we leave the Omo region and Turmi and drive through a beautiful landscape. Our goal is the Kenyan border. From the border onwards on Kenyan side it is dangerous in many ways. On the one hand, the Moyale road is difficult, on the other hand, there are always reported serious robberies.

But for us it is the only route to Kenya, as the route along Lake Turkana via Omorate can not be done without four-wheel drive.

We have a noise at the vehicle, but cannot localize it maybe a shock absorber, or a wheel bearing, but it does not help to know, for up to Marsabit about 1,000 miles from here, there is anyway no village to be able to fix it, so only hope remains.

We see our first marabou storks, a sure sign that we penetrate deeper into East Africa. We liked Ethiopia very much, we’ll visit it again in the near or distant future. You cannot make plans in Africa there are too many unknown factors.

The border crossing into Kenya was no problem and now we drive on the frightened Moyale road to Marsabit and Isiolo. We hear many horror stories and, moreover, the rainy season has started, which makes things not easier. We are lucky not being forced to drive in convoy, although it is reported of robberies. The track allows a max of 20km/h , so it will take us for the 500 kilometers distance – with a lot of luck just two days.

It is difficult to drive because heavy trucks have left deep ruts and we must always balance the van on the higher parts of the road not to slip into the ruts.

After 14 continuous hours of driving we reach the halfway town Marsabit and promptly drown in mud in the flooded town. With the help of the sand ladders and many helpers we can free ourselves and reach after a violent spin on a curve in the mud, Henry’s Camp Site.

At the campsite we meet again Cape Townian Joachim and the two German motorcyclists Wolfgang and Sibille.

We wait here a few days until the weather improves, enjoy Henry’s private Bakery and cheese and make a walk with Wolfgang and Sibille to the market of Marsabit.

At the market of Marsabit, there is an abundance of goods, other than in Ethiopia, and we stock up our supply with some food to survive the next 250 kilometers.

Previous

Next