We bless the rains down in Africa, gunna take some time...

[bPeteb]

a few more from the drive. Scenery everchanging. Incredibly green and often we said to each other we could be driving at home. Well, except for the driving and the towns we drove through


but it comes with triple QF points

 

[bPeteb]

We arrived at Ikweta Meru National Park Kenya Accommodation | iKWETA Safari Camp – Affordable Safari Luxury in eco-friendly natural elegance at about 2:30


We’d researched all of our accommodation and this is on the rustic end of where we’ll be staying. Tented chalets with ensuites, a central restaurant and bar and a really inviting looking pool.

I’d contacted Matt a few weeks before we left to discuss bedding. Being LGBTIQ is not something you shout about in either Kenya or Tanzania.

When we’d arrived at the Best Western I was asked if we wanted two rooms as I’d booked a queen room beacuse I suppose they could see two men would be in the room. When I said just the one there was no further questions.

I’d said to Matt that we didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable at the camps and lodges we’d be staying at and said that twin rooms would be fine. He responded with 'is that what you really want', and I said 'no, but three weeks is hardly a problem after 24 years'. He responded telling me the modern safari industry is much more accepting and that if we wanted one bed then he would make sure that was what was on the bookings.

So I was a little surprised when we walked into our chalet called Lion and it had two single beds. No way I was going back to reception to ask to move and it became clear we had been moved out of a one bedded room when we logged into the internal and we came up as Zebra chalet, that I peeked in and it has one bed. I’ll talk to Jackson and let him know that we would prefer one bed unless the camp/lodge objects.

Ignoring the bed situation, the chalet is super cool. Yes rustic, but it literally has everything we could need. Multiple powerpoints including multi points and even one with two USB-A points. Good lighting. Plenty of places to put things. A big bathroom. Powered mossie plug-ins. An outdoor terrace. Perfect, nearly!


While we were checking-in they took our lunch order so we headed back for that. Our safari is full board as are most I’d imagine. Three courses offered - salad, three choices for main and then ice cream or fruit salad. I had the vege pasta option and it was plain but delicious.


Tusker ciders and a salad. Yes, I know don't eat the salad, don't have drinks with ice. So far I've stayed away from ice but not the other.


Then it was out to Kigwara, our safari vehicle for safari number one, a ‘short intro’ as Jackson described it.

 

[bPeteb]

The entrance to Meru National Park Meru National Park | Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is about 2km from Ikweta.


weaver bird nest


a bird. Might even be a weaver. I suppose I could google it but oh well. Twitchers we are not


500 metres in and bStut’s intro kicked off - a big family of Olive Baboons sitting by the side of the road. A couple of gorgeous babies amongst the group.

and this bum

It didn’t really stop for the two hours we were in the park. Giraffes

then a heron, maybe

 

[bPeteb]

then the first of many elephants

then elephants then some birds

fish eagle


golden kite?

egrets


more giraffes


water bucks


hippos, in Hippo Pond


water buffalo


more elephants, this time much closer

 

[bPeteb]

that iconic African sunset shot


an elephant with a broken ear



a giraffe splaying legs and eating down


and two end the afternoon a couple of zebras.


We had an absolute ball. bStut couldn't believe what he had just seen. It brough bAlt and me so much joy to see the look on his face.

When we got back I quickly downloaded our photos to check if the new Nikon Z50 we’d bought to bring on the trip (since superceded and with USB-C ), and taken all of five photos with, had been successful. The answer is a resounding yes. We took some cracking photos with it. Our now getting long in the tooth Sony RX10 IV didn't disappoint, and even our phones continued to surprise.

Dinner was at 7.30. Our orders had been taken as we were finishing lunch. A delicious ginger and carrot soup and really tasty pork chops


Some of course will look at it and think yikes, slop, but it is to our liking - simple but tasty and in keeping with the overall feeling of the camp. It all goes in the same place and goes out the same way, well, except for me, cos Colin looks after that task. Brekkie orders taken at the end of dinner.

We had beers and ciders, sorry no pictures kangaroo
75 but you know what to do

the very inviting, and warm, pool


and toddled off to our chalets after 9.

The outside light was on, curtains pulled and bed turned down. Just missing the chocolate

So endeth the first day of our trip from Nairobi to Mombasa. What a cracker.

 

[kookaburra75]

We had beers and ciders, sorry no pictures kangaroo75 but you know what to do

We can make do - as long as it doesn't involve coughtails with rhino dung infused gin or something else exotic. We're really enjoying the photos and what you're experiencing.

 

[Seat0B]

We took some cracking photos with it.

You sure did! Your photos of the baby monkeys and the giraffe up close are just gorgeous.

 

[bPeteb]

A day ahead of the rest of this post but this was 10 minutes into the drive to Samburu after we’d entered the adjoining park. Full zoom on my iPhone. Better photos to come

 

[drron]

A day ahead of the rest of this post but this was 10 minutes into the drive to Samburu after we’d entered the adjoining park. Full zoom on my iPhone. Better photos to comeView attachment 448374

That's what I am hoping to see next February. colour me green.

 

[JohnM]

That's what I am hoping to see next February. colour me green.

Likewise, August 2026.

 

[craven morehead]

A day ahead of the rest of this post but this was 10 minutes into the drive to Samburu after we’d entered the adjoining park. Full zoom on my iPhone. Better photos to comeView attachment 448374

Outstanding! Just bloody brilliant.

 

[Seat0B]

That's what I am hoping to see next February. colour me green.

Likewise, August 2026.

Me too! In March/April 2026.

 

[bPeteb]

Day 2

Ikweta Camp - Meru National Park

Apart from the ‘waking up at 3’ thing, we both had good sleeps. bAlt managed to go back to sleep and went through to 6 and I had another half hour after editing photos.

We’d said breakfast at 6.30 for our 7.30 start. Fruit, poached eggs and toast for us and pancakes for bStut


Justin with the lunch menu


The eggs were the opposite of runny. I do want to say that even if the food was nothing other than ok, the service that we received at Ekweta was excellent. Rachel and Justin who looked after us at the restaurant were just lovely.

So to our first morning safari and it was a mixed bag


We started off again with some more elephants


followed by a pair of ostriches


Then giraffes


some kind of cuckoo


a long crested eagle (beautiful)


fish eagle


water birds including yellow billed stork, hamerkop and egrets


then a brief sighting of a lesser kudu (I wonder if it’s as tasty as the greater kudu )

 

[bPeteb]

We then went into the rhino sanctuary where there are 30ish black and white rhino. Chances of seeing? Very slim.

Lots of grazers though as there are no predators inside the low and quite unusual electric fence. We came to a busy zebra crossing


then behind a bush I saw something dark grey and realised it was a rhino. It wasn’t just one. It was three! The largest had a very damaged big horn. I was so excited I forgot to take any pictures. Lucky bStut got some to prove that we weren’t dreaming.

not sure how I even managed to see them


Out of the sanctuary and back into the park for more giraffes


and giraffes and zebra


and a pair of dik dik


some guinea fowl


and then to Leopard Rock


where all we saw was the rock, and a rock hyrax

 

[bPeteb]

A lilac breasted roller, a bird that we saw many of last year in south western Africa


That was pretty much it. It was getting warm and Jackson suggested we call it and we agreed.

Some local livestock being herded down the road


Back to Ikweta where lunch time was approaching. Tilapia for lunch today and again, simple and tasty


Some vivid pink strawberry ice cream that was not my favourite but I've always avoided since I was introduced to neopolitan icecream as a child


Beers and ciders to accompany the meal


Lazy afternoon including a swim in the not freezing pool


and a short stroll on the 10 minute bush trail around the camp. They offer a one hour guided walk, morning or afternoon, and we really should have to try and get some steps in but oh well.

Dinner was another delicious soup, sweet potato and leak


I had chicken


and then we all had fab dragonfruit trifle


washed down with a South African Merlot that was ok


bAlt and I then had a pina colada using a recipe I'm not aware of



and had a chat to one of the owners of the camp. She was from the US east coast and her husband was a local Kenyan. They had worked for the UN and had decided to move to Kenya. Late 60s I reckon. They established the camp in 2012. She commented on the cats, of which there were dozens. They are kept to keep the vermin down and keep snakes away. If you don't like cats. or are allergic to them, Ikweta is not for you. We loved it (maybe not teh ctas though).

Tomorrow we cross the equator.