Would I visit Fort Jesus again?(Part 2)

The answer to this question is a simple “yes!” because as things are at the moment, I wanted to read many of the information posters and boards standing and stuck in the museum at this fort but because of time……I couldn’t. Like I mentioned in the previous blog post about Fort Jesus, the place was dripping with history content unlike the Old Fort of Zanzibar that I don’t quite remember spotting a big museum at. Fort Jesus of Kenya had so much in it that shows that there is a lot of past to be treasured.

The few hours I spent in the museum got me to the realisation that a picture is truly worth a thousand words.This is so because I looked around the museum on my own for some of the amazing ancient figures that were there but also sort the help of a guide to explain some facts on other figures.

Some of the cool old stuff I saw at the museum, though junkie looking, did have lots of history attached to them. Like say this antique below which am pretty sure I have seen in some homes here in Zambia, could just be a chair…..but this chair was a state chair used in the 17th century and made In India in a Portuguese style.

It was used by the last up holders of independence who was the Sheik of Siyu (Bwana Mataka Bin Mubarak Al- famau) and his son Sheik Muhammed. ‘Siyu’ is a location in Kenya and ”Sheikh” was in the Arabic sense an elderly man with a position of leadership and yes, that is a full name. Cool chair!

‘‘You know what? This treasure chest looks like my jewellery box back home……,” I thought to myself as I continued to explore Fort Jesus museum. It was a Persian chest dating as far back as the 13th century. Like wow! Hopefully it continues to be preserved in many more years.

I looked ahead and noticed some place near the left side of the museum as you get in. The label Mombasa Wreck Excavation caught my attention but what was this place trying to showcase?

All I saw was some structure that looked like a diver. It sounds like divers find really cool stuff under water, huh….? This local diver must have been doing his own thing when he ”bang!”found some ship of 38 metres going by a cool name Santo Antonio de Tanna. His adventure (thanks to him) has led many to learn about this ship that sunk and some man going by the name of Dr James Kirkman directed a small excavation which later on led to a survey done on the wreck site. Cool stuff if you ask me.

Time was running out and I had to be out of this place so in wanting to do a quick exit, I bumped into some cool structures of what I think were figures of Arab ,Portuguese or Indian people because of the kind of dressing. For these ones, all I wanted was to stand next to them.

Whales! Ever seen a 48 foot long creature? Maybe you have but I haven’t. It’s good I saw the remains because imagining one in motion will take up lots of my energy.

So basically you will find a skeleton of a humpback whale on display here, the remains of a Portuguese sailor, some cool old Mombasa doors which remind me of Zanzibarian doors and something that looked like it was a make believe human thing to be placed in a corn field to chase away unwanted ‘visitors’ from the field.

What can I say except another visit is in order so that I get to read in detail what I couldn’t because of rushing to leave. Do try this place out by all means.

March 30, 2023 3

Would I tour Fort Jesus again?(Part 1)

Given a chance and money, there are lots of places one would love to view whilst travelling.My time in Mombasa was not planned for. It was more of, ”I will see and enjoy whatever is in Mombasa.” Plus, I needed just a change of scenery to clear my head from being that busy high school teacher who never easily gets free time.

I usually do countdowns towards the end of a school term because of a dire need to unwind in places far from home.Talk about the power of change of scenery! It was my first trip to Kenya and not in the slightest do I regret being in Mombasa. You can’t separate Mombasa from Fort Jesus which is a tourist attraction in this old town of Mombasa that is dated ancient. Where are all the historians?

Getting there

As usual, this depends on where you are in Mombasa. And am thinking you are in the heart of Mombasa so getting to Nkurumah road should not be a problem. I took a boda boda (motorcycle) to the Fort. This didn’t take too long.

Now of course being a non resident, do not expect to pay the same price as the locals would and this is usually the case when it comes to tourist attractions unlike other things like taxi fares, groceries and what not. No discrimination fee here lol! Fort Jesus will cost you just about 10 dollars or so.

Historically speaking, what about Fort Jesus?

I have shared before how I am not a history geek nor am I geeky in general but at least I know why my history results in school weren’t that appealing. I am a hands on kind of person and not having enough school trips in history class back in the day could be the reason but it’s never too late to appreciate history the way I would have loved to. But then again am thinking, how much was it gonna cost to learn about Europe all the way from Africa the hands on kind of way! Lol! Pricey, right?

I discovered that this fort was built by the Portuguese in the 16th century on the coastline near Old Town, Mombasa. It was designed by an Italian architect Jao Batista Cairato and built as a refuge place for those Portuguese that lived on the coastal areas.

It has been said that this fort was built in the shape of a man when viewed from the air that is and later on after a series of its capture and recapture, was under the British rule converted into a prison. In the 20th century, it was declared a national park and later on UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site. It turns out that in this day and age, Fort Jesus is one of the most visited places in Mombasa, Kenya. But will I tour Fort Jesus again?

March 17, 2023 4

Dessert at Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere (Review)

Whenever it’s valentines, all you see around is anticipation in the eyes of most no matter the age. As a high school teacher, I must say I am lucky that times my valentine days didn’t go quite as I planned, I always had those students that just thought all teachers are awesome and all. I got some of those “Miss Faith, you are awesome! Happy Val Day! So in the world of teachers, we never feel lonely on such days coz we are surrounded by teen humans! It’s loud on this end, trust me. Uhhhm…..the girls in my class picked roses from the school gardens and spread them on the floor I walked on and that was really so sweet of these girls (that won’t stop me from giving consequences when they get naughty lol!)

Teachers live for others and if not careful you may never have time for you. I had my lunch at work already and what is the use of having more food out there?I remembered the hotel review hobby I have and pulled over at a place I would enjoy a dessert with some attitude.Neelkanth Sarovar Premiere it was.

Having done some mini research on this hotel, I realised it was a 5 star chain hotel originating from India.These hotels are worldwide but if am not mistaken, it is the only one here in Zambia. This place boasts 5 stars, being sleek, offering a cocktail bar, fitness centre, two multi cuisine restaurants, a cafe and spa with a roof top pool. Don’t get me wrong….I would have had cake from any cake shop but we all like some five star treatment once in a while.

Arrival

I love that prior to arrival, you could request for a menu and it was forwarded online almost immediately and it is easily accessible https://irdmenu.nsplmenu.com/. I got there and the door of the vehicle was opened for me.Believe me when I say I am not power hungry but I now know how important people feel… The staff did not do it grudgingly but with a genuine looking smile on their faces. That look (speaking as a teacher) only comes from an employee that loves what they do.I awarded a 4 star because my arrival was smooth sailing. The reason for not awarding a 5 star was because the parking lot was a lot smaller than I expected. The beauty of this place is appreciated but more space for cars is needed.

And the decor?

Different parts of the hotel had quite appealing art. I saw that though the hotel has Indian origins, it had African oriented decor and how much of the spirit of globalization do we need…..it was India embracing Africa.

I loved the cream flowerpots that matched well with the African seats which were wooden going very well with the cream floor. This was complimented by the chocolate looking wall.

It’s not all wall decor I understood but overall the decor was at 4 stars.

There was a refreshing look of brown and cream and some walls were slapped with playful art too.

Let’s dessert!!

I was already stuffed and all I wanted was some dessert. Cake was fine by me and some cocktail called Dom Pedro. This was definitely a 5 star because it was well presented and the colour combo on the plate was quite inviting and the taste was amazing too. Do try this place out!!

March 3, 2023 4

Wine and dine treat at The Quorum (review)

I needed a treat and I let my appetite lead the way. My taste buds whispered they wanted something scrumptious and not home made. I looked up a few hotels from booking.com and found a resort called The Quorum. I loved the general outlook of the place and headed there.There are restaurants I know of that are not much of an attractive package in terms of outdoors but the food they serve is on point. I was in the mood to enjoy a meal with a view or in a place that appeals greatly to the sense of beauty.

Arrival

I didn’t necessarily make a call, reservation or anything like that. I just got on a cab and arrived there. The place had a parking lot on the outside and I think I only saw two cars on the inside. Most cars were parked outside. Am thinking there should be a bigger parking lot should there be a big event there. So unless there is parts of the resort I didn’t see, I gave them 3 stars for the parking lot.

Upon arrival, the guard did alert someone to take me to the reception and I saw some smiling and welcoming staff and I must say it was smooth sailing. I however understood in no time that this was a club hotel and there were some parts of it that I wanted access to that well…. I couldn’t get to simply because I was not a member. There was a way around it though. I stuck around in the wait room

About the resort

This resort is a club hotel or those kind of resorts that offer membership and loyalty programs. https://www.thequorumzm.com I went there to have an eat out at the spot I saw on booking.com only to be told ‘access denied’ because I was not a member. Ouch! I didn’t let that slide. After digging deeper, I found out I could still have access as a non member if I had one of the services in the resort like spa and spend about $30 dollars minimum there. It was fine by me.

Fast forward, I finally stepped into the restaurant I wanted to dine in because of it’s views. Though found at the resort, it had another name called Mafinga Peak Rooftop Restaurant. This place boasted a sophisticated yet informal atmosphere. There was another restaurant downstairs that I could easily access but that’s not the one I saw on booking.com. I had to get access to the rooftop restaurant.

I don’t think I want to rate their loyalty or membership programs that almost caused me to miss my dining opportunity because this is the lifeline of this resort, it’s a club hotel and ‘members only’ is the password for most services here. I am sure it has its pros but a con is definite, there are one time customers that they may miss out on that may never necessarily want to be all timers or regulars. It’s good that the way out of this was to make customers like us make use of other services as key to another.

The dining area

The dining area had two sides. One side had tables with four seats and others two seats closer to the bar area and covered by a glass demarcation and the other side that was more spacious had comfy sets of casual chairs. The theme colour was lime green a bit of white here and there with a brown floor. There was a seriousness to the place with a touch of casual. What a combo! The place can be ideal for family, business and group gathering yet perfect for an intimate or romantic get away. The beauty with this place is, the restaurant area is not all you see but as you enjoy your food, you have a beautiful view to go with it.

I loved that the place and neighborhood aren’t noisy. The music playing in the background was soothing. Rating the dining area as far as the general vibe is concerned was a 4 star. The reason for not having a 5 star was because the rooftop glass shield meant to enjoy spectacular views has to be super clean all the time because it’s glass. Had this been of other material like marble, a definite 5 star here. Glass easily shows blemish.

The other things that added a touch of beauty to the place is the fountain like structures around the restaurant that added to the relaxed mood. The orange flower pots added a touch of cheerfulness. The ceiling had beautifully hanging simple chandeliers which am sure look heavenly at night time. The rest rooms had a chocolate brown theme and the walls were slapped with modern oval mirrors.

Let’s order!

I was in the mood to have something meaty, a bit of Greek salad and my forever favorite, mashed potatoes. I want to always remember the medium grilled meat I was served. This steak was mildly charred on the outside and still had the brown all through and am sure it was a slow process to avoid it being too tough but succulent.

My Greek salad had simple yet perfect combination of tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, crisp onions, olives in olive oil. I found my mashed potatoes creamy and full of amazing flavor. They were fluffy and well served in a cute bowl.

The bar informed me that the cocktails they had always contained egg whites and they were nice enough to ask if I was allergic. I wasn’t. Funny thing is I have forgotten the name of this cocktail but it had strawberries, fresh lime juice, gin etc. Totally loved the cute glass they used.

As far as the food was concerned, the level of yummy was definitely a 5 star and I should have congratulated the chef. I spent about 40 dollars for the meal and that’s because of some taxes to go with the kind of place. I had two of those cocktails.Wink wink.

Lasting impressions and recommendations

The place is cosy and I loved it’s vibe. The staff bent over backwards to give great service. No place is perfect but so far it’s living up to it’s stars. I would go back again but this time to enjoy the room services.

January 30, 2023 3

How to enjoy a day trip to Paje with $30. Or less.

Fun is subjective. You don’t always need too much money on you to have fun. Some people think travellers are people who have stacks of money on them. Lol! Thanks for categorizing us as rich but that’s not the case at all! I have always shared with others who think travel is for the rich that if you look closely, that seemingly rich traveller is probably sacrificing some happy hours every Friday so they could save up for a plane ticket or a tour.And yes, they do. You probably think I am the most boring person on this planet to sacrifice Friday happy hours, but I have, but then again, maybe because that is not my kind of thing. So equation is balanced there.

Speaking of having fun without stacks of bucks in your slacks, you could enjoy a fun day on the beaches of Paje in Zanzibar!

So then, let’s go!

So to cut on costs, we are going to use public transport they call Dala Dala. I am with the assumption we start from Stone Town because that’s where you usually arrive at the island.

You have to get to Darajani market and then wait a while for the Dala Dala you catch from there to fill up. Expect to pay less than $2 and do carry a bottle of water or fruit juice while at it as you will really feel the impact of the heat due to a number of passengers on the Dala Dala. If you use Nyerere road, you will most likely be getting to the east side of the island in an hours time.

What is Paje like?

As compared to Stone Town, Paje is reserved and by that I mean chilled, less populated village but surprisingly where most tourists flock to. But what brings tourists here? We all want a beach that has turquoise and clear waters, right? It is tops of the list before all the other activities you may find in the area.

So what activities do we do with less than $20 on us ?

This place is a hub of island-fun, ranging from beach walks to all sorts of sophisticated water games. I am not a swimmer but we all love beaches! I was willing to have a moment here that was memorable but affordable.

This article is not one of those, listing the coolest activities you do on this part of the Island but it is about how to still have affordable fun in this place every tourist wants to visit in Zanzibar. I was really focused on what I wanted with the little that was in my pocket. Standup paddle boarding! There you have it! It didn’t take too long to find a place renting out the gear.I quickly dug deep into my slacks and paid $15 for a session.

I heard that this water sport was born from surfing and that was like so cool to be mistaken for surfer! With this activity all I did was to stand, sit, squat, kneel or whatever on a board that floats on water and of course they had to give me a board fit for my body size. I paddled from shallow to slightly deep waters considering that I am not a good swimmer and still needed my life. I also asked for the guide to give me some independence to paddle slightly further. I found this water sport to be safe and easy to learn, most of all, it was refreshing to enjoy views and serenity of this part of the island. I just don’t remember having my foot tied to the board like you will observe it’s done but none the less, that didn’t take any fun out of my experience! It was awesome!

When I was done, I dressed up and enjoyed a short walk, picked some shells and enjoyed one of the most fresh fruit drinks ever with some free wifi at a restaurant there and as I got to Stone Town later in the day, I realized that you could actually enjoy a day out in Paje with a $30. Or less.

January 25, 2023 6

Down history lane with Cape Town’s artistic sculpture

I am no history geek but because I have stepped in zones that have beautiful art, I found catchy, it has triggered me to dig deeper than what meets the eyes. I love art and do appreciate it though not an artist myself. I came to realize how deep art can be both to the artist and the consumer of the art. Sometimes what we put out there burning from deep within us could either trigger positives or negatives.

I loved Cape Town and though there is much talk about dangers of solo travelling to this destination, I went solo….. period. I hadn’t made a list of what I wanted to see because I was just there to rest and not doing what a regular tourist would be doing. I picked the perfect area for my rest which was called Sea Point and as is the name, I was next to where the Atlantic and Indian ocean meet. Perfect beachfront accomodation.

When you lodge in such places, morning, afternoon and evening walks are like the order of the day. I did that many times and the one sculpture that I kept seeing there was a giant size pair of sunglasses.Super cool I thought! I did sit there, chilled there and took a pic or two there. Little did I know that this art had some intended meaning from the artist’s point of view but did the rest of the neighborhood, town or perhaps country empathize?

Would you ever connect a giant pair of sunglasses to a renowned, respected and heroic figure like Nelson Mandela of South Africa? He was an anti apartheid activist, politician and first president of South Africa and pretty sure was at the back of the mind of the artist behind the sculpture in question.But who is this artist behind this piece?

Michael Elion an artist and architect with a degree of architecture from University of Cape Town was the master mind and like earlier mentioned, art can either be welcomed with open arms by the masses or be the reason for some commotion.

Michael titled his piece,”perceiving freedom” and because these giant sunglasses stare out at Robben Island on the Atlantic Ocean where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for almost three decades, the artist had in mind Mandela’s time behind bars.

The masses however found this piece to not be fit for a man like Nelson and deemed it disrespectful and because this project was co- financed by eye wear maker Ray-Ban, some saw this as a promotion stunt pulled and also because it was unveiled in summer.

As I posed next to this piece, I had no clue it’s previous state had lenses on them but were vandalized by those against the artist’s theory. I will treasure the picture I took next to the remains as a lesson that sometimes simple looking things may have such deep meaning.

January 22, 2023 6

Mombasa to Nairobi train experience (review)

In this world of “microwave” experiences, people want to get to their finish line very fast! We are in a rush to arrive. We don’t want delays, stops or any interferences to our goals. And this is okay! I was not up to this kind of speed even if I had the option to book one of the faster trains called Madaraka Express or Kenya Railways. I loved the coastal side of Kenya that I didn’t find it too thrilling to do a big city like Nairobi and stay there for long so a night in Nairobi with the sole purpose of enjoying the train trip was gonna do for moi.

BOOKING PROCESS

Like earlier mentioned about this world being so “microwave -like”, speed is very important and I give them a plus for having an online booking process because that is definitely not the case in some African countries.

“Madaraka Express – Travel Kenya – Online Booking” https://metickets.krc.co.ke

All you do is book online but the con was how you had to book at least five days in advance or else you would not stand a chance in this world to use the train! Searching four days away before departure was almost all the time showing fully booked but again this was a con maybe just for me because I had no clue it gets filled up so quickly and I also didn’t plan this trip to Nairobi, it was abrupt. As one planning on doing Kenya, I advise that you do your booking five days in advance but then again it was festive period am pretty sure it was peak of the season. After making the payment, you could only get a ticket from the station either through the cashier’s office ( lots of queues here) or go to the section where you could print it out on a machine.Choice is yours. The other con is that you can’t complete the transaction or payment with your bank card online.

I only saw payments using Mpesa which only works if you have a Kenyan sim card and in this trip I really advocated for the saying that goes, “lets wander where the wifi is weak” and so I wandered from home but I didn’t wanna be online every single moment! With that being said…I asked a local to pay for me using their Mpesa and I gave them cash. So my unbiased review score as far as the booking process is concerned was a cool six out of ten. I think they should accommodate those travellers that plan every of their movements ahead considering that Kenya is a touristic country.

FARES

Like earlier mentioned, there is an online booking process. Even before I air out my views on this, we all know that saving a few moneys is always at the back of most people’s minds. Check their website for different fares. There was provision for the fastest train that took about four hours to get to Nairobi from Mombasa. I will or may use it later. It was the first class costing about 24 dollars for adults and 12 dollars for the younger folk but the other train I used was an inter county train costing about 8 dollars and 4 dollars for adults and younger folk respectively. The children less than three years of age were allowed to be free loading. So as far as prices are concerned, Kenyan Railways fares are fair and I rated this a nine out of ten. Of course this is according to me, subject to lots of scrutiny of course.

LOCATION OF THE TRAIN STATION

Depending on where you are staying, getting to the train station is as easy as finding a bus called Coast Bus in Mwembe Tayari road and try getting there at 7 o’ clock in the morning and you will pay just a few pennies for the ride to the train station which is approximately 24 minutes away. If you are loaded, you could drive or take other types of transport to the train station but the tuk tuks and boda bodas do not get to the train station. So the means to get to the train station have been made so that everyone is able to be at the station in good time in good time not to miss the departure time. I rated this service at nine out of ten not because of the appearance of the bus but the fact that everyone can easily get to the train station in good time. Thumbs up here!

THE VIEWS

You know what? As far as tours are concerned, every tourist wants to have as many of them as possible. And countries like Kenya are those that you can’t visit minus thinking of doing a safari trip. Though I have had my fair share of them, this trip had a touch of a safari trip as we spotted lots of animals along the way like zebras, camels, the antelope family, buffalos, monkeys, elephants and the like and I must add that the views were absolutely breath taking which is why I think the day train is a better option for a first timer to Kenya than using the night train because you miss out on all this.

I remember asking a local lady for her window seat and explained to her that I really needed to enjoy the views up close as I was not a local and guess what? She was so willing as she probably noticed my ‘wow’ face as I stared outside the window. As far as views are concerned, this was a nine out of ten and the reason for not awarding a ten was because I think it was going to be nice to see members of the cat family doing their thing in the wild but then again….that’s really a rare commodity even on an actual safari!

FOOD, TOILETS AND GENERAL CLEANLINESS

I couldn’t stay on an empty stomach for long and it was three hours into the journey. My stomach protested like crazy and since I was curious to experience first hand of their services, I stopped the next hostess that had a trolley of food. They just had snacks, juices and sodas but I wanted warm food so I ordered rice, chicken with veggies. The food was well prepared, pretty much the same you would have on a plane or decent cafeteria. I think an eight out of ten for the food specifically. Their menu had some variety of finger foods, chicken, chips, wraps and juices.

I have seen trains with toilets so dirty, it is better for your bladder to pop! I loved that this train has a cleaning service and even as you enjoy the train ride, the cleaning can be done in places they feel have to be cleaned especially if it was a customer that messed up. The toilets were very clean and they do have tissue available and hand wash and the cleanliness of the train was a nine out of ten. They should keep up the good work!

January 15, 2023 4

Overcoming fears of solo travel as a female

Being female comes with its own blessings and curses.We love our male folk but sometimes the feeling of surviving without them around paralyses many a female folk that some have decided to embrace the paralysis and not pursue their dreams.

Without really targeting any culture, it is a well known fact that in some cultures, what women are capable of doing freely, they can’t really do in others. In the African culture, a woman is seen as one who is a helper at home and don’t get me wrong, in many cultures, I should think that is the case. With that being said, the issue of traveling should not be much of a problem until they hear the word ‘solo’. I mean, where are you going on your own?

In my opinion, this question could be coming from the fact that even males do am sure get fearful when traveling on their own. But can this fear be overcome? Can it magically just disappear after sessions with a therapist? There is no one good answer but my observation travelling in Southern African counties as one who belongs in this region, I noticed there are some fears that grip that one female ( especially from Africa) from just stepping outside one’s comfortable place

After travelling to a few countries here in Southern Africa, it’s safe to say these are some of the reasons other females have not stepped out of their comfort zones.

1)How do I even fit in?

It’s no doubt that some people fuss over food, friendships and to some extent, why not?I am used to having my English breakfast, why should I have chapati, omelette, lemon tea and fruit for breakfast ( which by the way was the kind of breakfast I had in Kenya)

Part of travel involves experiencing culture that is different from yours.You could either go and entirely refuse to be a part of it or embrace it. How can you do that? Embrace change, accept differences, go to the park and mix with locals. There is of course the danger in some places of being bullied for being different. At one time in East Africa, I could clearly get that I was being mocked for not knowing the local language

The sure way out of this is really to adopt a care free attitude. Let them talk about how you speak differently, don’t allow yourself to be bothered by that because some locals embrace foreigners. Train your taste buds to accept change, chances are that though different, you may like some foods and ultimately, the other way to overcome the feelings of not fitting in is to stop being judgemental and stereotypical.

2)Will I be safe?

This feeling of not being safe affects many even in places we call home. The feeling is just worse in an unfamiliar place. Hundred percent safety is not a guarantee everywhere but some things that will keep you safe are things like avoiding walking late nights on your own, being intoxicated and try at all costs to keep your stuff safe (bank cards, passport, cash etc) and I have seen some keep their documents in a secure sash that goes in one’s underwear. Pretty cool.

3) Loneliness?

It’s funny how some travellers feel embarrassed or is it insecure of having a meal on their own.Which one is better, to ditch that solo trip because you can’t be on your own, or wait ages or forever for that group trip? I am okay with enjoying that meal on my own.It is embedded in some minds that when you travel alone, you are alone and lonely all the time but that is not true. Starting from your mode of transport which could be a plane, cruise, train or bus to the hotels, hostels and what not, you do meet or find people everywhere. Loneliness is sometimes a negative mindset you should shake off.

4) Family disapproval

Males travelling is usually not as much of a problem in families as opposed to females doing the same.Sometimes it is our family members that disapprove of the solo travel. One way that has worked for me is to update them of my whereabouts and everything you are upto. Taking good care of yourself everytime you travel and family having confidence in you and how well you take care of yourself, will reduce their complaints.

January 2, 2023 6

Safari vibes at Chaminuka Game Reserve (Part 2)

The last time I filled you in on this safari trip, I was still on the part where I have a dream to be licked by a baby giraffe in Kenya. I have seen this happen and would like for it to be my experience but anywho this safari got me exposed to lots of animals I mentioned earlier and even the giraffe which I have not been so lucky to spot on my tours.

After seeing the animals I mentioned earlier, I then saw a handful of zebras but tonnes of impala! These animals and it’s relatives,species or look alikes do out number many animals you will see here and in most game parks maybe because the others are more shy , I don’t know but it’s either that or they breed per second!Lol! And it is for this reason that I never have the ‘WOW!’ moment when I see them because I have seen too many of them.They are otherwise a beautiful creation!

If by any chance, Zambia is on your hit list, do drop by this place and enjoy lots of their services like boat cruising, lion feeding, cheetah and elephant interaction, game driving , cheese tasting, fishing, horse riding and lots more!

The other thing I enjoyed as part of the package was the buffet lunch! There was such a wide range of foods like barbequed chicken, variety of sausages, lots of cheese types, potatoes cooked in many ways.You will thank them later but you surely need this heavy lunch after close to two and a half hours game drive and an hour boat cruise.

After the game drive, we got to a place in the game reserve where there was a water body called Lake Kasenga.If you like, you could enjoy some fishing but since this was not part of the package, it will come later I guess. The same group that I went with on the game drive was with me on the cruise. The word ‘cruise’ makes you think of the fancy boats and all but we used an ordinary looking boat that kind of looks locally made but with an engine.It still did the trick. I wish I spotted hippos here but nope. Beauty of the views and some animals coming to refresh themselves made the trip so memorable.

PRICES?

Their price ranges for some activities I recall inquiring on were as follows:

-Elephant interaction -About $30 -Cheetah experience -About $30 -Horse riding – About $30 -Lion feeding -About $12 – Boating – About $10 I did find the prices in this range but do check out their website for more or latest info : https://www.chaminuka.com

LASTING IMPRESSIONS AND OPINIONS

1) REMOTE LOCATION: The place is in the outskirts of Lusaka, Zambia and offers outdoor activities for outdoor lovers and this is one thing I loved about this place.

2) TOURISTIC: It had a touristic touch and of course that is why I am writing about it. Many tourists flock to Zambia to go to the south for the Victoria falls but this place can be described as the hidden gem for those that just don’t want the usual, ordinary or the norm.

3) PRICEY ACCOMODATION:Because it was in the outskirts, accomodation was more on the pricey side and I did a day trip for that reason but if your piggy bank is full then why not spend a longer time? My thought was for the place to consider a backpackers as well.

4) HELPFUL STAFF: The staff, absolutely organized and helpful,very professional and knowledgeable, a reason to stay there longer.

5) WOULD I RETURN? Definitely.

December 27, 2022 4

Safari vibes at Chaminuka Game Reserve (Part 1)

You probably have big issues if you don’t enjoy discounts. Almost every one of us enjoy freebies. I enjoyed a good package of a game drive, boat cruise and buffet lunch at Chaminuka lodge which is the same place you find the game reserve in the town of Lusaka, Zambia. I have pushed my luck in things like lotto, competitions and what not…..I suck! I am proud to say though that the trip was at a discounted price and off I went to enjoy this package. When you visit Zambia, do consider doing this tour, it is worth it. The place is known for giving discounts on some packages and this particular deal was for teachers on Teachers Day.

If the truth be told, I was kinda getting tired of having this place on my bucket list, I was so happy when I checked it and it was worth the while.I was not just day dreaming about it long before it happened….nah!It kind of just was a boom! I have to do this today kind of thing.

DISTANCE AND LOCATION

I was not mobile or driving because I was in Lusaka for just a few days. When you arrive in the capital city of Zambia, Lusaka at the airport, you are basically an hour away from the place. You could even get on the metered cabs from the airport provided you download the app called Yango or Ulendo using a Zambian sim card or better still, ask one of those nice people at the airport to book it for you on their phone. Both is good. After close to an hours drive from the airport, you will find this sign post welcoming you to one of our most beautiful havens of game life.

WHAT WAS IN THE PACKAGE?

The animals!

One thing is for sure, I wanted to spend a night at the lodge in the game reserve but their rooms were more on the pricey side and because this trip was not planned for, I was doing a day trip and that’s it! Because I got there by 9 o’clock, I just waited an hour for the game drive guests from the lodge to fill up the vehicle we were using. So I was not alone on this drive. Little Miss Solo traveller was not going solo. The game drive vehicle was full and off we went.

The first animals I saw were the cheetahs which were actually caged because they are used for an interaction tour and because that wasn’t part of the package, I could not ( with a tear from my left eye) enjoy this beastly interaction. I just interacted with them with a wire barrier in between.Even though I desired to interact with them, I heard they were also on observation of some sort.I also was not in the mood to say the ‘ let them not shred me to pieces’ kind of prayers.

We then spotted some elephants with a man and I thought we could have close interaction with them as I am very sure they are also used in an interaction tour but we were only allowed to view them from the vehicle. The same thing was true for the caged lions that I heard roaring .

I am ashamed to say but this was my first time to see ostriches! My desire was to see them run because I hear they could win in the Olympics. In this game drive, you will catch a glimpse of the above mentioned animals.

The animal I have struggled to spot in most of my game drive tours is the giraffe.

I am not sure about the population of giraffes in Zambia but I know for sure I have missed it on my past game drive adventures. My time came. I had my chance to view giraffes up close! I have never seen such peaceful looking creatures and my dream is to be licked on my face by a baby giraffe in Kenya!!!!!

November 28, 2022 3