It was a rainy Christmas day at Nairobi when we left for Naivasha. We had to make a stop over at Sarith Center to buy some bottled water and by chance to check for an open cyber cafe to have a print out of Jimboh's Veterinarian certificate in case police officers would ask. I wanted to be sure there would be no hassles with these police offficers on a Christmas day while we are in transit with Jimboh. Print out shop is closed and had to proceed without a hard copy hoping we don't bump into an officer who may create an issue. Sarith has brought back old memories when i used to frequent the place during weekends many years back. The place looked rundown and old.
Back on the road at highway A104 we headed for Naivasha which was quite full of motorist headed for the same direction, though traffic was not that bad.
We felt the sunshine and fresh air as we moved farther from Nairobi. We had passed by some small towns which seemed familiar and also brought back old memories of my frequent travels out of Nairobi. The towns looked the same, with very low rise concrete or stone made establishment painted with different colors. I see very familiar view of the local people and matatus (local transport) crowding the town proper. Uniformed officers stopping any vehicles they desire for security checks. The town structures remained the same and had not changed since I left Kenya 2003. Colored frontage structures with various advertisements.
We passed by the great rift valley and stopped by the view deck to enjoy the magnificent view. The familiar curio shops and sheep skin dispalyed for sale also brings back old memories of my visits to the same spot. The view of the valley is just too magnificent overlooking two volcanoes one of which is called mount longonot. A curio shop seller who has been selling the same souvenir items for 20 years informs that the two volcanoes had been dead silent for at least a hundred years. The last eruption with its volcanic ash had covered most of the valley a hundred years ago. I have managed a "selfie" together with Jimboh. I always wanted to own a traditional masai blanket and purchased one together with some items from the curio seller for kes2,000, a good bargain i would think.
We reached Delawere complex ( 40 minutes away from our final destination) for a stop over and decided to have lunch with grilled chicken and goat meat (nyama choma) on the grounds. Ostritch birds are found on the ground, awating left overs from the picnic tables, though they seem to be friendly.
We followed the directions given by the booking agent Jane from booking.com and the signages leading to Rift valley golf course. Somehow we got lost for a good 15 minutes but found our way to the right path leading to Nyati Road where Buffalo Rest house is located.
We were greeted by Norbert the owner whom i thought was an englishman but turned out he is German who had worked for Lufthansa Airlines and eventually bought the Naivahsa place of about 60,000 square meters for a fair price during the 1990's. Norbert now a pensioner from his native country Germany designed the place himself, and one would easily notice how he has impressively organized the place with serving the European market in mind. Norbert having worked for an airline industry knew his niche market too well. A very private place where one can enjoy the elements of nature away from city life. He has a Kenyan wife named Noami who helps in managing the place and also provides wellness massage to its customers for a fee. They have a four year old daughter who speaks fluent swahili, english and i suppose german.
I was informed by the couple that we are the first non european customer, since Norbert decided to open the place to non europeans. The couple together with booking agent Jane and also married to a German are preparing the place for a wider clientele.
A great place to read, relax , reflect and write. A place where it feels to be at home enjoying home grown coffee by the firewood and listening to the sounds of the wild life. About 2,300 above sea level, the stillness, peace and quiet and hearing all kinds of sounds from the wilderness makes one realize that happiness and contentment is possible with nature and the simple things in life. I dream of the same environment when it is time to call it quits and retire.
After two nights we headed back to Nairobi , the couple had arranged for a light sunday lunch (cream soup with home grown broccoli, light salad and coffee). We thanked Norbert and Noami for their hospitality, until the next time we have the chance to go back and possibly more nights and listen to nature.
Merry Christmas and best wishes for year 2016
Rossano
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