This is the first post of a series where I’m retrospectively reflecting on a recent trip to East Africa. It’s now July 2024, but for posterity the date of this post will be set to the date I was actually in each of these places. These posts are based on my journal entries I kept throughout the trip.

So, I’ve made it to a new solo trip. This time, East Africa. It feels good to be getting back to solo travel, something I haven’t done since before COVID. It’s a welcome feeling, getting back to exploring the world, being curious about everything, and dialling up the amount of entropy in my life. Here’s to this trip. To Africa, to adventures, to solo travel, to meeting new people, and having completely new, unpredictable circumstances.

I had a layover in Dubai. Tired and uncomfortable, I wandered around the airport in search of caffeine. I managed to get a short (expensive) long black from Costa coffee. I love how when you’re travelling, and feel a bit worn out or alone, getting one small thing right (in this case, coffee) makes everything feel okay.

I almost missed my flight from Dubai as I was waiting at the wrong gate (they don’t announce flight details over the PA at Dubai airport), and it was thanks to a chance conversation with an Indian man that prompted me to check the displays for my gate again. I rushed off to Gate A19a and got on board to Nairobi. Only to sit on the plane for an hour or more before finally taking off.

I finally tucked in to bed at 7:30 PM after a meal at the hotel. After an excellent 10 hours sleep, I packed my day back and set off. Despite being told it’s not safe to walk around Nairobi, I decided to take the plunge. What’s the point of travelling to Africa if you’re not going to take some calculated risks! I’ve the walking tour starting in 30 minutes so thought it would be cool to walk into town, get a coffee and take some money out, and explore Nairobi on foot. I felt so happy on the inside. Being back in a position to travel, see the world, just be in the moment and notice things. It’s such a great feeling, it’s hit me on numerous times in my life and I feel so blessed to be experiencing it again.

Today I did the Nai Nami walking tour, run by a guy named Tsunami. Him and his pals are (in their words) recovered thieves/drug addicts who live in the slums. They showed us around downtown Nairobi which is pretty sketchy. We had lunch at a local lunch joint, and in the afternoon I visited the museum of Kenya - the highlight of which was seeing Turkana Boy, a nearly complete skeleton of a Homo ergaster youth who lived 1.5 to 1.6 million years ago! This specimen is the most complete early hominin skeleton ever found. Tonight I’m meeting up with the G Adventures group, and actually feeling a bit nervous about it!

Last night we had the group meeting. We had to go around the table and do introductions, which is always nerve wracking when you’re in front of a group of strangers. The people seem nice of course. I had a terrible night sleep as I kept thinking about having to get up early and pack. Early the next morning, we split up into 4WDs and set off to Maasai Mara National Reserve for a few nights.