48 hours of fun and adventure on a budget

Exploring Taita-Taveta's tourist attractions in 48 hours. {Jayne Rose Gacheri, The Standard} My destination for a wild experience is Taita-Taveta, an emerging tourism destination. The region has spectacular landscapes, meandering roads, hidden gems, and a treasure trove of other attractions. I had 48 hours to myself, which I decided to use to explore Taita-Taveta on a budget. My first stop was a game drive within Kasigau Conservancy where I spotted plenty of wildlife. They are no longer 'shy' to come out of their hideouts, because of the work of dozens of guardians and rangers. I saw many small mammals, including shy and playful ones such as baboons dik-diks, the mongoose, and the spotted Genet. The hills and landscapes are breathtaking. I almost came to a halt at the foot of the magnificent Kasigau mountain, marveling at its beauty. Next was an amazing trip to one of the county's unique attractions - Vulia Hills, home to the Mwangeka caves, and the World War I sites, dating back to the 1890s. The county is the only one to experience the First World War in Kenya, a little-known fact to many. However, the Kenya Tourism Board has taken the mantle to market the under-exploited sites. We drove to the foot of the hills and disembarked for a gruelling, but exhilarating hiking, taking me several stops to catch my breath. I had to slowly, but tactfully push my body to climb a gradient of 1,800 feet above sea level - the highest point in the coastal region. It took me close to three hours (it is usually two hours) to reach the caves inside a forest. Fun and adventure in the African wild. {Jayne Rose Gacheri, The Standard} I learned that the caves were used by a famous chief in 1892 to fight the Arabs and the British. The caves were used as the training base for warriors of the famous Mwangeka. Later, one of Mwangeka's point men would betray him to the enemy, leading to the chief's shooting. Without their leader, the warriors and the rest of the community were forced to hide in the caves. Beyond Vulia Hills are endless farmlands on hills. Five hours later, we were back at the base, and soon we are cruising back to Voi. My base of operations was was Boma Shimba Safari Lodge, located outside of the Park, a two-kilometre stretch to the Tsavo East National Park. The resort is ideal for thrill seekers who love the raw beauty of the African-rugged wilderness, a serene setting, an intimate retreat with rustic charm. My host, Mwangi Njiri took me on a tour of the expansive grounds before giving me the options available for accommodation - the A-flame cabins, tenting, or overland camping. The next morning, I was up at 5.45am to enjoy a beautiful sunrise over Taita Hills and later a guided hike to one of the resident "hot spots", followed by a bush breakfast. We were back at 8.30 am. My attention is drawn towards a spectacular spot, which Mwangi described as a tree-house overland camping site. At the spot, I meet Simon, and Zehra, his girlfriend. Both from Switzerland. They were doing a world tour in their over-lander vehicle, and Kenya (they have fallen in love with Kenya) was their 15th destination. I left at 10am for Lake Jipe through the land of the sisal estates. Driving along the sharp bends is a thrilling experience (if you are not the scared type). Looking at the spectacular lowlands from the highest point of the countless elevations was worth my taking time to explore some of the peaks. After a bit of rich game spotting, the guide pointed to a small hill, which he described as the graveyard for World War I victims. Further ahead, is a water mass - Lake Jipe. We drove for another 15 minutes and came to a barrier manned by Kenya Wildlife Service Rangers. Final destination? A business centre by the lake. During a private game drive, I got up close and personal encounters with the natural environment of Tsavo East, an amazing way to appreciate nature while having a leisurely drive. Through guided bird-spotting, I observed different bird species, including but not limited to ostriches, starlings, storks, pied kingfishers, guinea fowl and plenty of wildlife. Another highlight is the Aruba Dam, which is more than 70 years old; an essential water reservoir in the Tsavo ecosystem. It is a popular destination for game drives due to the abundance of animals and birds that it attracts. Other highlights included the Mudanda Rock, an impressive 1.6-kilometre-long stretch of layered rocks. It offers a superb viewpoint of the park and the Yatta Plateau, one of the longest lava flows on the planet, extending 290 kilometres along the western side of the park, above the Athi River. This extraordinary feature resulted from lava flows of Ol Doinyo Sabuk Mountain, and Lugard Falls and is a fantastic destination for those who enjoy sightseeing and hiking.

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