Sleep in today, bags out at 8 am and on the road by 9. Only travelled 5 minutes when we stop for photos at Thompson falls which is 74 metres in height. Our view point of the falls is right across from where we stayed last night. It was a bit cold last night but we had water bottles again which were great!
Only a short stop and on the road again. Pass through many small townships with the usual stalls by the side of the road. Another stop this time for a view of the Great Rift valley which was formed by tech tonic plate movements. This rift runs for over 7000 kms stretching from Northern Syria to Mozambique. It travels through the Jordan river valley and Red Sea continuing through Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and ends in the Indian Ocean at Mozambique. The rift has created a very fertile valley. The drive around the rim of the rift was scenic. Around 11 we stop by a tea and coffee plantation. We learn how the tea is grown picked and graded. The top young leaves are picked in a group of three off the stem. The smallest is the best and this is graded as 1 the next smallest is graded 2 and then the next 3. Grade 1 is used to make black tea by fermentation after drying and shredding. Grade 2 is used for green tea and grade 3 for white tea. After the tea explanation it is now for the coffee story. While tea has no season and can be picked every couple of months when the young leaves sprout, coffee beans are harvested once a year. While at the tea stop one of the transit vans pulls up and at least 20 young children get out with two adults! These vans are everywhere and pick up passengers who are standing by the side of the road. In Australia they would be probably licensed for 12 passengers maximum. Here it is as many as can fit. We have seen then hanging on while standing in the sliding doorway.
Back on the road and shortly after we reach the major city of Nakuru. It is the third largest city in Kenya and it covers a sprawling area. There are a mix of shacks by the side of the road selling everything to solid brick stores. It is very busy and hectic, occasionally there are some donkey drawn carts going along the road which cause chaos with motor bikes vans and cars trying to overtake and dodging the ones coming head on. As we get deeper into the city there are what look like compounds. A 2 metre high brick wall some with razor wire or broken glass on top. Behind them appeared to be solidly built housing, which we are told are private homes and the security is to keep criminals out. By 12.30 we arrive at Savora Lion Hill. It is a beautiful setting overlooking the lake, the rooms look a bit old but are comfortable enough. Lunch was delicious with a wide variety of everything including desserts. We have free time until 4 pm when we go out for game drive.
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