30.12.2020 – Mount Longonot – „Selfie-Time“

After breakfast and another attempt to free the Toyota interior from the stubborn red dust, we went to Mount Longonot – a former volcano. Around 9am we arrived at the parking lot (once again much too late) – the sun was already burning and we set off in good cheer, after we had to decimate our water supplies badly, because in the park no (disposable) plastic bottles are allowed. Whether 1l of water for 2 people would be sufficient in this heat, we did not think about it at this time – you know the answer.

The start of the “hiking” trail was at 2150 meters altitude, according to the internet we should need about 1 hour to reach the crater rim at 2560 meters altitude. The trail started harmlessly and gradually showed itself more biting. Steep stone stairs with high steps and loose dust, sand and gravel at the last third of the ascent, put us beside the heat, the missing water badly to. The pause intervals (to gasp for air) became shorter and shorter, we found shade only at one point of the way. The consideration to turn back flared up again and again. On the way we were overtaken by a large school class – hope made us here that the approx. 16-year-olds also made no better figure. Mel suggested that Andreas should go on alone – after all, we were now once here and had paid again some dollars for the entrance. So Andreas started the last steep part of the ascent with a small amount of water. At the top, a few photos were taken and the students of the aforementioned class were interested in what a white man was doing here and several selfies were taken together.

30min later Andreas started the descent, no 10m back Mel came up the mountain. We took a short break and made our way back together. During the descent, people kept coming up to us, who were hot to take selfies with us. This is how rock stars must feel. Back at the car and soaking wet with sweat, we had an ice-cold soda before we started our journey to the Masai Mara, where we arrived at the Mara Explorer Camp after a pleasant 4-hour drive.