{safari, part 1}

nairobi to kisii to musoma and lake victoria
july 1 to july 3, 2012
our safari bus (with 18 travelers, 1 guide, 1 driver, and 2 cooks) left nairobi bright and early sunday morning, july 1. it was a very interesting drive through nairobi to narock, with a stop at a soapstone carving factory, and our first night spent sleeping on church grounds in kisii.

on a walk through town in kisii, we encountered some interesting people, bought some fruit and vegetables (though i found kenya as a whole to be very expensive compared to tanzania, the produce on the side of the street was very cheap), and played with some of the local children. i enjoyed the afternoon here, but have to admit, it wasn't my favorite spot.

(sawing the soapstone)

(starting to shape the soapstone)

(painting the design on the soapstone.  this one was a "twiga"!)

(some of the finished soapstone products.  everything here was beautiful!)

(a crazy market driving through kenya on the way to musoma)

the nextbmorning we headed off to musoma and lake victoria - definitely a highlight of the trip! once in musoma, a group of us (aka the TIA bandits) went with a local on a bike tour through town, ate sugarcane, checked out the massive sardine export business, walked through various markets, played with some of the kids, and made it back to our campsite - which was on the shore of lake victoria - just in time for one of the most beautiful sunsets to date.

(delicious lunch before the bike ride)

(part of the TIA bandit crew.  aka the circle of trust)

(posing with the sugar cane and our bike guide)

(there are sardines under there! the sardines here were plentiful, smelly, and disgusting.)

(view of musoma from the highest peak in town)

(our campsite)

the next morning we were off to the serengeti!