Kenya in Our Hearts

KENYA IN OUR HEART

JAMBO! WE ARE A GROUP FROM RAVENNA: GABRIELE, KETTY, LIDIA, CATIA AND VITTORIO WE DECIDE TO LEAVE FOR KENYA WITH A LAST-MINUTE DEAL IN THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY….TWO LONGED-FOR WEEKS OF HOLIDAY. WHILE BROWSING THE INTERNET, CATIA FINDS A REVIEW ABOUT A CERTAIN "TUFFO" FROM WATAMU. HE'S A BEACH BOY WHO ORGANISES SAFARIS AND EXCURSIONS IN KENYA. WE SEND HIM AN E-MAIL WITH OUR MOBILE NUMBER AND THE DAY OF ARRIVAL IN MOMBASA. TUFFO REPLIED IMMEDIATELY AND VERY KINDLY SET UP A MEETING WITH US ON THE BEACH IN FRONT OF THE JACARANDA RESORT. WHEN WE ARRIVE ON THE BEACH WE ARE LITERALLY SURROUNDED BY BEACH BOYS OFFERING US SAFARIS OR VARIOUS EXCURSIONS OUTSIDE THE TOUR OPERATOR. WE REPLY THAT WE HAVE CONTACTED TUFFO FROM WATAMU VIA THE INTERNET AND THEY THEMSELVES CONFIRM THAT WE HAVE MADE A GOOD CHOICE, EVEN THOUGH WE WOULDN'T HAVE USED THEIR SERVICES.

TUFFO ARRIVES ON THE BEACH RIGHT ON TIME AND WITH HIM WE AGREE ON A PACKAGE THAT INCLUDES THE TWO-DAY SAFARI TO TSAVO EAST, THE BLUE SAFARI AND, AS A GIFT, AN EXCURSION TO WATAMU FOR THE PRICE OF 230 EUROS PER PERSON (THE RESORT WITH 210 EUROS WAS OFFERING US ONLY THE SAFARI). I ALMOST FORGOT SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT: TUFFO SPEAKS FLUENT ITALIAN. 5:30 A.M.: GUYS, WE'RE OFF ON OUR SAFARI. OUTSIDE THE RESORT, PUNCTUAL TUFFO IS WAITING FOR US ON BOARD THE JEEP (THE ONE IN THE PHOTO!!!) WHICH WE ASSURE YOU IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE MINIBUSES PROVIDED BY THE TOUR OPERATORS. WE'LL LEAVE THE EMOTION OF SEEING THE SAVANNAH AND ITS ANIMALS FOR THE FIRST TIME TO YOUR IMAGINATION! SO MUCH FOR TELEVISION DOCUMENTARIES. TSAVO EAST IS THE LARGEST PARK IN KENYA EVEN IF IT ISN'T THE MOST POPULATED WITH WILD ANIMALS.

BE THAT AS IT MAY, WE MANAGED TO SEE ALL THE ANIMALS, BOTH HERBIVORES AND CARNIVORES, PRESENT IN THE PARK. THIS THANKS TO TUFFO AND THE GUIDE WHO, WITH GREAT PROFESSIONALISM AND AT THE SAME TIME GREAT PATIENCE, PUT UP WITH US FOR TWO DAYS. MEMORABLE WAS THE OVERNIGHT STAY AT THE TENTED CAMP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SAVANNAH: FOUR-POSTER BEDS, BATHROOM WITH SHOWER, AND A FEW METRES FROM THE TENTS THE ANIMALS COME TO DRINK! FANTASTIC!! THE BLUE SAFARI TOO GAVE US GREAT EMOTIONS: THE MANGROVES, THE SPLENDID BEACHES AND THE WARM WELCOME OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WAITING FOR US FOR LUNCH. BUT WHAT A LUNCH!! LOBSTER, KING PRAWNS, RICE WITH OCTOPUS, KING FISH AND FRUIT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT. TUFFO, AS PROMISED, ACCOMPANIED US TO VISIT THE TOWN OF WATAMU. WATAMU IS LOCATED NORTH OF MALINDI AND, UNLIKE MALINDI, IT IS VERY QUIET AND WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC, THE PEOPLE VERY CALM AND FRIENDLY WITH TOURISTS.

ALSO BECAUSE THERE ARE LOTS OF TOURISTS, ESPECIALLY ITALIANS. THINK THAT'S THE END OF IT? NOOOO!!!! THE DAYS THAT HAVE REMAINED MOST IN OUR HEARTS, AND THAT THERE IS STILL NOT A DAY WHEN OUR MINDS DON'T GO BACK TO THEM, ARE THE ONES WHEN, ACCOMPANIED BY MIMMO, STEFANO, ANDREA, CARLETTO AND EXES (BEACH BOYS FROM EDEN VILLAGE) WE WENT TO THEIR VILLAGES AND GOT TO KNOW THEIR WAY OF LIVING OR SURVIVING. WE HAD WITH US PENCILS, NOTEBOOKS, CRAYONS, T-SHIRTS, TOYS, ALL THINGS RARE FOR THEM, BUT THE JOY SEEN IN THE CHILDREN'S EYES WHEN WE OFFERED THEM FLOUR WAS MEANINGFUL: THEY ARE HUNGRY!!! THOSE WONDERFUL CHILDREN HAVE REMAINED IN OUR HEARTS, THOSE LITTLE HANDS RAISED FOR A BISCUIT, THOSE ALWAYS SMILING FACES AND THOSE SHOUTS OF THE CHILDREN AS WE PASSED ALONG THE RUTTED LITTLE STREETS—WE CAN'T FIND WORDS TO DESCRIBE THEM.

IN CONCLUSION, WE CAME BACK WITH A CASE OF AFRICA SICKNESS, AWARE THAT WE WILL SOON RETURN TO VISIT OUR NEW FRIENDS, WHOM WE CONTACT EVERY SO OFTEN!

p.s. to contact TUFFO call: +254722586665 E-mail: tuffo1@yahoo.com tuffoSAFARI.marmi.it ASANTE SANA

JAMBO RAFIKI