Decision Making

We leave the comfortable set up of Jungle Junction in Nairobi early in the morning after a big nice breakfast direction Eldoret. Our decision is to get to the direction of Lake Turkana which is one of Kenya’s most remote northern regions. The reason being is that we want to get the feeling of the region and after talking to some locals decide whether we want to cross into Ethiopia from the Lake Turkana route or get back to the most popular route from Marsabit to Moyale. The road is pretty nice even if the traffic is full of little taxi bus (Matatu) that drive dangerously all over the road. Driving in some part of Africa makes driving in Naples a piece of cake. We reach Eldoret in the evening travelling across the rift valley on roads that vary from 1500 Mt to 3500 Mt above sea level and also crossing the equator line.

The following morning the plan is to reach Lake Baringo. The road is a beautiful winding road that reminds me of parts of Ecuador. We arrive in the little town of Iten which is known to be the home of the champions. Many people from all over the world come here to train with the Kenyan marathon team. The Kenyans have always been number ones in this discipline. We reach Lake Baringo traveling on an awful road full of put holes that seriously challenge the wellbeing of our motorcycles. The place we chose to spend the night on the lake is called Robert Camp. The scenery that we find upon our arrival is magical. The lake is known for its amazing fauna, especially bird watching. The Lake is also home to many hippos and crocodiles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being in front of this Lake was impossible to resist on hiring a local with a boat. We wanted to go see birds, hippos and crocodiles closer than we could have done by land.

 

 

 

 

 

The following morning we decide to take a small road that was taking us north of the Lake to a cross-road where we had to make a decision whether going toward Lake Turkana or going back to the Marsabit – Moyale Road to reach the Ethiopian border. The cons about taking the Turkana Road, after speaking with some military personal were greater than the pros considering the absolute scarce supply of gasoline and the presence of some bandits in the area. We keep following this small road for about 20 Km when we find a few huts in the desert. It turned out to be a very small settlement of Pokot.  A native tribe that reside in the area. The Pokot mainly raise cattle and cultivate tobacco. They are also fantastic craftsman. This tribe is one of the least urbanized tribes in all of Kenya and this makes them maintain some very old traditions such as circumcisions for the boys and sadly also infibulation for the girls. Many girls also have lost their lives at a very young age due to this practice. Stopping at this village was never the less a true african experience that we will never forget.