Week 2: Hey neighbour, party's over...

Back on the site bright and early on a Monday morning and week two of the group volunteer project is well underway. After a week of getting acquainted with our biceps and other previously unknown muscles, it’s with open arms that we welcome the chance to start laying the floors (enter Jonny Lucy puns here). Using smaller rocks called ‘hardcore’ (again, enter Jonny Lucy puns here) we spent the majority of the week utilizing our Tetris skills as we carefully filled the base of the building with layers of stones.  We also managed to create about ten new Tetris theme songs in the process, so all in all, the week on site was a raging success.

Cathy, Esther and Kongai

Laying the foundation to our home.

By the end of the working week it’s hard to believe just how far the building has come along – we are almost ready to lay the concrete floors and it’s becoming more and more difficult to remember how the site looked when we first arrived two weeks ago. With it being school holidays, it’s not rare to have a couple of children from Familia Moja popping their heads in to say hello and watch the progress – it’s a wonderful reminder to all of us of how lucky we are to be involved in the project and what a difference it will make for everyone involved with the home.

Sifting sand...

Mounds and mounds of ballast and stones...

Week two also brings 5 new bustling arrivals into the volunteer camp, with the dynamic duo James and Lottie flying in from Berlin, followed closely by sassy sisters Sarah and Alysha.

On Thursday afternoon the group washed off, packed up and jumped on piki pikis for our weekend safari through the Masaai Mara. Watching a flood of 6 motorbikes stream out from the Muiru residence in the afternoon sun was a truly special moment and definitely the most exotic way I have ever departed for a weekend away.

Buffalo in the Masaai Mara...

Women of the Masaai

Meeting our newest recruit Izzy at the backpackers in Nairobi, the group headed out for dinner at Kenyan restaurant Highlands (try the cheeseburger), followed by drinks at a bar called Choices. Walking into this bar is like walking into an opening scene from a James Bond film – red lanterns strewn across the ceiling, arched passageways, a floor full of round tables and chairs, along with a gorgeous African musician named Queen Mashie and her band providing the backing track. It was an amazing experience topped off nicely by the mind-blowing grilled chicken we consumed on the curb before heading home. Nairobi has well and truly won us all over.

Another beautiful Masaai women and her baby...

The next morning we’re all up at the crack of dawn and ready to safari! After a few of us quickly shove down toasted cheese sandwiches to clear our bleary heads, we jump into two vans with our guides for the weekend and head out on possibly the bumpiest ride of all time. After arriving at our campsite in the Mara we quickly realise that we set for a serious ‘Glamping’ experience – each tent has proper beds, patios for entertaining and HOT showers. To those of us who have been washing under a bucket of cold water for 2 weeks, this is next-level luxury.

After we finish unpacking and squealing about the amazing amenities, we pile back into the vans and head out on the first of our three game drives. I don’t think any of us were prepared for the fact that within the first couple of hours in the park we would see giraffes, elephants, lions, cheetahs, zebras, buffalos, wilderbeasts, ostriches, hyenas, hippos, warthogs (undoubtedly James’ true spirit animal) and gazelles all roaming around in truly stunning surroundings. Although she was in a different van, one could almost hear Hannah’s screams of ‘CUTE!!’ echoing through the park. 

The game drive on Saturday adds baboons, crocodiles and flamingoes into the mix, along with the rare spotting of a leopard. Fionn’s impersonations of a meerkat are also right on target, with his intrepid spirit and enthusiasm reigning supreme this weekend. The group was also lucky enough to visit a local Masaai village, where the son of the chief explained their traditions, rites of passage and way of life. The locals allowed us to visit their homes, built from sticks, mud and cow dung and often house up to 8 people – probably wont be complaining about the size of my share house for the next little while…

Jonny aka the 'Adonis' and Hannah

After a Saturday night spent on the patio of room 6 consuming the local moonshine and being ushered into bed by our American neighbour, we were up bright and early to watch the sun rise over the plains of the Masaai Mara – cue Toto’s Africa somewhere about now.  After swinging past Lake Navasha for a boat ride with the hippos our safari experience was complete. Exhausted and satisfied the group returned to Mang’u, driving past the home to give the kids a quick high-five and then crawling in for an early night. This is still the best time ever. Bring on week 3.