We marked my parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary by scattering my mother’s ashes from the Ngong Hills. Facing the Rift Valley, we let the morning winds at sunrise carry what was left of her over the valley where humanity began, exactly as she had wished.
Exploring Namibia: Desert Dunes, Coastal Charms, Timeless Allure
Namibia. A vast and stunningly beautiful country of only 2.7 million people, where the world’s tallest sand dunes in the Namib desert meet the roaring waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Lake Nakuru National Park – Birds, Wildlife, and Beauty
Lake Nakuru is a vibrant wildlife habitat, featuring an impressive variety of animals, including four of the big five: lions, rhinos, leopards, and buffalos live side by side here. Only the elephants are missing, but on the other hand, the 188 km2 is also home to rothschild giraffes, olive baboons, impalas, waterbucks, hippos, colobus monkeys, spotted hyenas, zebras, gazelles, and pythons, to mention a few.
Chasing Waterfalls in Sipi Valley
Sipi Valley in Uganda is about as far off the beaten track as you can get. If you’ve even heard about the place, then you probably already share my affinity for pioneer tourism! The tourism…
Jinja: Source of the Nile, Lure of Explorers
Jinja is located right where Lake Victoria flows into the White Nile. Founded by British settlers in 1901, the past and present of this tiny city are centered on its relationship with the world’s longest…
Kenya’s delightful North Coast – Exploring Kilifi, Watamu, Malindi, and Mambrui
The historic town of Malindi, along with neighboring Mambrui, Watamu, and Kilifi, offers a very different vibe from Mombasa further south. With pristine beaches and calm, warm waters protected by coral reefs, an abundance of…
Zanzibar – Beach Bliss on the Spice Island
When I first visited Zanzibar in 2002, the island was a backpacker’s paradise way off the beaten track for most other tourists.
Shaba – Traversing the Northern Slopes of Mount Kenya
Shaba National Reserve is rarely on the itinerary of a first-time visitor to Kenya. Then again, I avoid the beaten track, so it sounded just right for me to explore it!
Colombo – A Quick Tour of a Small Capital City (Sri Lanka Part 5)
We had a fast car this time, so the ride to from Galle to Colombo was a breeze. We arrived in the early afternoon, at the Mandarina Colombo Hotel. Mandarina Colombo Hotel This centrally located,…
Galle – Culinary Exploration in an Old Fort (Sri Lanka Part 4)
A 3-day culinary journey in Galle The journey from Kandy to Galle started late, and took the better part of the day. Most of the time was spent on the congested, winding road between Kandy…