To Loita

My programme officer was perhaps my only cheerleader in that organisation and I really believe that she tried her best to keep me on and to do the best she could by me. One of these gestures was taking me to Loita.

Loita is about 2 hours from Narok and Narok is about 2 hours from Nairobi. We ride with Mannfred who V describes as being too much of a gentleman to allow us to mat it.

The drive to Narok is smooth-going. we only stop briefly at 'The World Trade Centre' and other shops to take pictures of the Rift Valley and to haggle with the sheep skin vendors about buying some. I loooooove me some sheep skin. I used to swim in it as a child :)

But no, they won't bring their prices low enough so we head on out - sheepskin less :(

When we get to Narok, we are met by Dr. Maria at some green petrol station. We snack on samosas and tea at the restaurant nearby and then split ourselves up between Mannfred's and Dr Maria's cars.

The second leg of the journey is very bushy and for the most part, devoid of roads so I really wonder how Dr. Maria navigates her way around, turning left at this rock over here and right at that hill over there?

We finally arrive at Entasekera where Dr. Maria has her house and hospital. And you realise for the first time how close you are to nature with no services whatsoever. No network even. Unless of course you climb the next hill, and then if you hold your phone high enough and position yourself strategically enough, you might just catch one of the Tanzanian networks.

The water to the hospital and to the staff houses comes from a stream uphill and the electricity is from the solar panels (which Mannfred's company provides).

The solar is not enough for a refrigerator or television. So any fresh foods we bring with us, we have to consume within the next few days. Her pantry however is stocked with canned goods and dried foods...

We set our bags down and Dr. Maria goes to the hospital to check on things. Mannfred offers to drive us to the (real!) Maasai market for some vegetable shopping and the sight on arrival is one to behold!! in all its profuse of red!


I buy myself three lessos with the inscriptions;

Radhi ya mama nibora kuliko mali (a mother's blessing is better than wealth)

Mtabakia mnajihadaa mume ni kifaa (they continue to deceive themselves that a husband is useful)

Jirani mwema ni asiye kusengenya (a good neighbour is one who does not backbite)