Adventures in Africa
Droughts, rain, mountains and rivers
Published Monday, March 06, 2006 by orange you glad | E-mail this post
On Sunday I joined 4 friends in climbing Mount Longenot – a dormant volcano in the Rift Valley. It was a bit of a tough uphill climb for the first hour and then got quite easy as we made our way along the rim of the volcano. It was beautiful. The view was amazing. Around the time we were at the highest peak we started to hear the rumble of thunder and noticed the dark clouds surrounding the mountain. We were still had half way to go. We could see the rain moving closer to the mountain and lightning and the thunder was coming closer. I guess hiking along the highest peak in a mountain during a thunderstorm isn't the smartest thing to do but we had to stay on the path in order to get back to where we were being picked up. Luckily when it did start raining we weren't struck by lightning. We only got a little wet and made our way around the rim to the path down to the gate of the park. It had apparently REALLY rained at the bottom of the mountain where the dirt road out of the park was now a river. We ploughed through the deep water in the car and somehow made it to the highway. Some parts of the highway were completely submerged in water as well but due to the talent of our driver Robinson – we made it through...
There has been a drought in most parts of Kenya and East Africa) for the past months and many people are on the brink of starvation. One of the guys I went to Mount Longenot with works for the World Food Program and was recently in Northern Kenya where he said the landscape was littered with dead livestock – starved and parched from lack of water and food. The people haven't started dying yet but it is now just a matter of time. For those who don't parish during this drought their livelihoods have been completely destroyed with the death of their cattle, goats and crops.
The Nairobi area has seen heavy rain all week (probably because of the monsoon off Reunion and Madagascar) and the difference it has made is unbelievable. Just since last week the city and surrounding area have gone from parched and dry to green and lush. The cattle, goats and donkeys have bellies again (rather than looking emaciated) and I have witnessed people dancing in celebration of the rain and praising God for its arrival. The rains have made traffic a nightmare as some busy roads and intersections flood every time it rains. Did I mention that this place is crazy??
2 weeks until I leave for London.
There has been a drought in most parts of Kenya and East Africa) for the past months and many people are on the brink of starvation. One of the guys I went to Mount Longenot with works for the World Food Program and was recently in Northern Kenya where he said the landscape was littered with dead livestock – starved and parched from lack of water and food. The people haven't started dying yet but it is now just a matter of time. For those who don't parish during this drought their livelihoods have been completely destroyed with the death of their cattle, goats and crops.
The Nairobi area has seen heavy rain all week (probably because of the monsoon off Reunion and Madagascar) and the difference it has made is unbelievable. Just since last week the city and surrounding area have gone from parched and dry to green and lush. The cattle, goats and donkeys have bellies again (rather than looking emaciated) and I have witnessed people dancing in celebration of the rain and praising God for its arrival. The rains have made traffic a nightmare as some busy roads and intersections flood every time it rains. Did I mention that this place is crazy??
2 weeks until I leave for London.
too bad you will be leaving Kenya. I will be in kenya the first week of April... flying from Toronto. We could have met for a drink at Gypsy or Pavement.