Why drive when you can fly

Flying is the standard mode of transport for “up country” white Kenyans. Up country is how this area of northern Kenya is generally referred to. Huge areas of farmland which the British took over in the 1920s and much of it remains in their possession today, passed on to later generations that were born in Kenya and have remained here ever since. Most families have a plane as the area is so remote and the roads, whilst much improved, still take too long for most people trying to run a business who will regularly need to get to Nairobi for supplies. It seems to be standard practice to turn up to polo in your plane – a polo pitch makes for a good landing strip! I’m also told that it is considered common courtesy here to always leave your keys in your plane. In the event of an emergency, any pilot can then take your plane, for example, to fly someone to hospital.

The abundance of planes and pilots also turned out to be useful to me just yesterday. As is typical of horses, they choose to get really sick when the owners are away and there is no one around to shoot one when you need it. Fortunately, I was at the polo when I got a call to say my poor sick Simba was getting worse. This was fortuitous because it meant that (a) lots of horsey people around who would be capable of shooting a horse, and (b) they could just fly down to Lewa in about 5 minutes and do it. To back track, Simba has been slowly dying on me from some mystery illness for weeks now. I was hoping she might hang on for a few more days until Will returned from England but that was not to be. Suffice to say, yesterday was quite traumatic not least because trying to shoot a horse and dispose of the body when you have guests arriving in the next half an hour to ride is not the best situation. I really don’t think people who have paid thousands of dollars for a luxury safari holiday want to see a dead horse being carted away in a tractor and trailor. Fortunately, we managed to pull it off and no one commented at dinner about the gun shot! It is a blessed relief that Simba is now at peace and no longer suffering. There is nothing worse than having to look after a dying horse when you know there is nothing you can do to save it.

Anyway, on to brighter things. Our polo ponies looked so good at polo yesterday – all sleek, shiny and super fit. Very rewarding to see that. They are off to Nairobi for two weeks tomorrow so they probably won’t look quite so great when I next see them after two tough polo tournaments and a very long lorry journey home. But at least they set off looking good…

What else have I been up to other than working? Not that riding horses each day really constitutes work but I am paid to do it so technically it is. Well, managed to explore the Isiolo valley on a game drive and picnic lunch with friends. This is an area of Lewa that I had not been to before and it’s even more remote with really bad roads but the scenery and game is beyond words. Just beautiful. Also managed a night away at another lodge on Lewa which was fun. Wilderness is nice but quite rustic and African in its charm. Kifaru lodge is very 5 star. When you open the door to your room, it is very much like stepping into a 5 star hotel room. Zero African charm but amazingly plush. Cool that I get to stay at these places for free. Also watched “Out of Africa” the other day which is such a good film, not least for showcasing the amazing beauty and diversity of Kenya.

Incidentally, as I am writing this monkeys are playing in the trees above. One of whom as just pooped about two feet away from me. Would not be happy if that had landed on my laptop! Am going off monkeys fast. Everytime I open the windows in my room, they get in and trash the place. Last time, emptying an entire bottle of orange squash over a cream rug. I think a monkey cull is required - they are getting out of control.