Wangechi Gitahi

Wangechi Gitahi Travels

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Africa

Conservative Kitale

By Wangechi Gitahi

Kitale is known mainly as an agricultural town and the dominant tribe here is Luhya. It is a quiet and serene town, that has lots of hidden tourist attractions. 1.Kitale Museum: I try as much as possible to visit museums everywhere I go as it readily and easily introduces one to the culture, history and lifestyle of the people. Indeed, Kitale Museum did not disappoint and had various elements to showcase their culture from clothing, jewellery, instruments among others. It has an animal orphanage in the compound that has a few animals on display like snakes, crocodiles among others . The area also showcases traditional homesteads of the communities in the area. It also has a very serene nature trail that I highly recommend. This area is all forest, lots and lots of trees, yet, the path has been well hived off. We got to see some monkeys as well…

Africa

Scenic Elgeyo Marakwet

By Wangechi Gitahi

Eldoret had been playing tricks with my mind for some time and thus, it seemed like the only way to end the mental games was to visit and explore it. We thus left Nairobi and headed to Eldoret, which is the capital of Uasin Gishu county. Though we had planned to only visit Eldoret area, Elgeyo Marakwet seemed to want to show off and indeed we had lots to explore. 1: Elgeyo Marakwet Driving through this area was a beauty and we managed to traverse four of its constituencies. The general scenery composed of hills and valleys and we had to slowly drive on the winding roads. It offers various attractions and sceneries in its different constituencies. a)Kerio Valley: This area offers great aerial viewpoints of the area and thus I highly recommend you make a stop over here. Visit Fluorspar Mine I learnt about this place as a young…

Asia

Rabies, me, Nah!

By Wangechi Gitahi

When I travelled to India, I was a rookie at travel, the real rookie. It was the first time I was travelling solo to a place I knew no-one at all. The most I knew about India was the Taj Mahal. I was travelling to India to volunteer in a village called Boothgargh for two months http://wangechigitahitravels.com/hoshiapur-my-home-away-from-home/. I thus did not carry any medication incase immigration saw them and decided to return me home thinking they were drugs (I had heard stories), I didn’t get any vaccination(I didn’t even know one should do that) and no travel insurance-I didn’t know of its importance. This ignorance combined with naivety came to bite me later-literally. One day as I was walking around the village, enjoying the fresh air, listening to the chirping of birds, enjoying the sight of green foliage and excited about an event that was to happen later in the day,…

Africa

Interesting Kisumu

By Wangechi Gitahi

Kisumu City is a major city found on the banks of Lake Victoria, which is the largest lake in Africa and the second largest fresh water lake in the world, making the main economic industry fishing. Kindly note, fresh water doesn’t mean it is clean and clear, it means that it is not salty. It is located 330.6km from Nairobi and can be accessed via road, air or water. I really wanted to experience Lake Victoria and the culture of Luo, which is the dominant tribe in the area. I got to do the following, feel free to follow suit: 1. Visit Impala Sanctuary: Regardless of the name, this place isn’t only home to Impalas, but to so many other animals. As we walked in, we were impressed by the landscaping, the lawn is neatly cut and the park clean and smart. Right after we entered, we saw impalas and zebras lazily…

Africa

Angama Mara, Floating in Luxury

By Wangechi Gitahi

Angama Mara is a luxury lodge that is located in Narok county, Kenya, on the periphery of the famous Maasai Mara National Park. Angama is a Kiswahili word that means “suspended in mid air” and truly, the lodge is suspended safely atop the hills, close to the clouds. We would be staying at this lodge while also enjoying the beauty that is the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve. We arrived here via road and it was exciting to see many wildebeests as we approached it. At the gate/barrier, we were met by security, who then had to confirm that we had a reservation. As we were ushered in, I felt like I had just shed off my “common man” tag at the gate and was now been elevated to Very Important Person. The whole experience at the hotel can only best be expressed in clusters as below: 1.Common Areas: a)…

Africa

Wildlife Extravaganza in Maasai Mara

By Wangechi Gitahi

The Maasai Mara National Reserve is best known as “The Mara” and is a world renown National Reserve located in Narok county, Kenya. Although Kenya has many amazing National Parks/Reserves across the country, this one is famous as it hosts the Annual Wildebeest Great Migration. This is when millions of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles travel thousands of kilometers from the Serengeti in Tanzania to the Maasai Mara in Kenya, in search of greener pasture.They then cross the dangerous crocodile infested Mara river, while at it. Immediately we entered the Maasai Mara National Reserve, which is about 10 minutes from the hotel, the wild life extravaganza begun. We were welcomed by a tower of giraffes and a dazzle of zebras. They playfully walked near our vehicle and would periodically stop, as if to allow us to take great pictures of them. Soon after, it seemed like word had gone round to the…

Africa

Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival

By Wangechi Gitahi

The Marsabit Lake Turkana Festival is one of those “must attend” festivals in Kenya. The festival has been held annually in Loiyangalani since 2008 and it brings together the 14 communities found within the county who are dominantly pastoral and have preserved their culture. You will interact with communities like the Turkana, Samburu , Borana, Gabbra , Rendile , El Molo , Somali, Burji ,Konso, Sakuye ,Waata, Garee, Wayu, and Dassanatch, the last 5 I learnt of their existence at the festival.These communities are stereotyped to be enemies due to the many incidences of banditry in the region, but here , they were all, eating , drinking, singing and dancing together. The air in Loiyangalani was charged, super charged. The excitement of the people was almost tangible and equally contagious. The locals were expectant of the “fruits” the festival would bring the town whilst I was expectant of what I…

World Islands

Seychelles is more than just beaches

By Wangechi Gitahi

Seychelles, your seduction started years ago and I am happy I accepted to be seduced. Perhaps it was the images of your clean clear waters, white sandy beaches, couples holding hands as they walked into the sunset or maybe learning that Seychelles citizens are called Seychellois and not Seychellians that sealed the deal. Even though I didn’t have a Mr. Wangechi to walk with me into the sunset, I decided I would dance to your music and be lost in your beautiful crystal clear eyes, you would be my Mr. Wangechi. I truly had a great time in all the dates we had as shared below. 1.Hanged out with fishermen Fishing is a major part of the peoples culture and major form of employment. I took time hanging out with some of the fishermen and enjoyed hearing their fishing escapades. I chose the easier way out, thus only assisted them…

Africa

Busted in Seychelles

By Wangechi Gitahi

Seychelles is one of those countries or should I say Islands, which had enticed me for the longest time. Perhaps it’s the glossy pictures of white sandy beaches and clear waters or couples walking hand in hand into the sunset that got to me. This seduction is what made me board a flight and eventually touch down at the Seychelles International Airport, to begin my adventures. My arrival was indeed a “Bang” of an entry, starting off with mother of all near mishaps- Immigration Issues. As we disembarked, everyone but me was chatting with their “person” read “spouse” or “friends”. I was travelling solo, so maybe, this is where the red flags started to be raised. Kindly note, their airport is so small, that as the door from the runway opens, you find yourself smack at immigration and everyone from the flight can see everyone. I decided to join the…

Africa

Shashamane, the home of Rastafarians

By Wangechi Gitahi

Rastafarianism was made popular by the great singer Bob Marley. They are easily identified by their “Rasta colours”, their dreadlocks and their Reggae music. With time however, I wanted to learn about who they really are, what they are truly all about and what it means to be “Rasta”. I thus have put Jamaica on my bucket list to experience this, as it is the country most associated with them. However, when I heard that they are found in great numbers in my neighbouring country Ethiopia, in a town called Shashamane (Amharic)/ Shashemene (Oromo), it was only fair that I start my “Rasta” interaction there. I came to learn that Emperor Haile Selassie had offered 500acres in this area as a home for all Rastafarians, and it is for this reason and more, that you will meet Rastafarians from across the globe calling this place home. Things to do in…

AWARDS

BAKE Awards 2019 Travel Blog Winner

We thank you for believing in us and taking your time to vote. We accept this Award with a challenge to take the blog to even greater heights of informing you and entertaining you on our travel escapades.

2018 Eco Warrior Award

Runner up, Best Journalist / Blogger in promoting people culture and Heritage.

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About Wangechi Gitahi

My name is Wangechi Gitahi, a young lady traveler from Kenya, Africa. I am a marketer by profession and a traveler by passion. My inquisitive mind, my adventurous nature, my insatiable need to learn more about my environment , thus led to me becoming a solo, female, Kenyan Backpacker, African Backpacker, World Packpacker and loving it 🙂

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