Camping site at Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park. PHOTO | ANNIE NJANJA
There is some kind of satisfaction that one gets from camping in the wilderness. It is not only the serenity of the wilderness that offers great relaxation, but also the seclusion.
Activities such as lighting a bonfire and storytelling while covered in cosy warm flannels make camping worth trying. But don’t go camping alone, invite friends to have more fun.
In the spirit of local tourism, I set out to go camping at the weekend at the Ol Donyo Sabuk National Park with my small family and friends. It is one activity I had looked forward to after a fitness walk up Mt Kilimambogo a month ago.
Location
Located seven kilometres off the Thika-Garissa Road, the Ol Donyo Sabuk sits on a dry area with minimal rainfall, a factor that makes the area a safer bet for camping compared to Naivasha, Nakuru and Mombasa which experience sporadic rainfall.
As we left Nairobi through a rough terrain that was made easier by the four wheel drive car, a beautiful warm and sunny weather welcomed us to the park.
The sun was fast setting, dust settling as the wind stopped blowing giving way to the night. We paid a park fee of Sh350 per person and Sh500 for a tent that sleeps two. Sleeping bags were rented out at Sh200 a piece.
The guards ushered us to the Turaco public camp site, with the first order of business being to set up the tents and get dinner ready before nightfall.
The thrill of fetching wood and lighting a fire brought out our best survival skills, which was a good experience for some of us who are city slickers.
Luckily, our skills stood the test and in no time we had a hot pot of food boiling as the barbecue slowly simmered on the fire.
Cold nights
As the night approached, it got colder, but the bonfire kept us warm as we savoured our meal. It is hard to sleep early when you are having fun. With the good supply of fire wood and the perfect company, we retired to the tents past 2am.
Sunday began rather slowly and after breakfast, we drove up the mountain after parting with a Sh350 fee for the vehicle to access to the forest path. There was an option of trekking up, which costs Sh2,000, a fee for an armed Kenya Wildlife Service reservist guide.
It took us 30 minutes to get to the peak and down, making a stopover at the Macmillan grave site.
Best camping site
We had also hoped to visit the Macmillan castle, now a museum, situated a short distance from the park, but the tourist site is closed on Sundays.
At the end of it all, I learnt that the best camping site to visit is one that has other fun activities. The stay at the little-known park was nothing short of refreshing.
The staff were helpful and friendly and the charges were not damaging to our pockets.
Dress code
When heading out for camping, dress for comfort. Go for flat shoes and warm clothing because it gets chilly at night.
Most sleeping bag are rather thin, carry a warm duvet and a small mattress for comfortable sleeping. Alternatively, you can carry your own sleeping bag for your own comfort.
Ensure that you have enough water and food because most of the camping sites, including the Ol Donyo Sabuk, do not have hotels nearby and do not offer catering services.
To keep drinks cool, carry them in a cooler box.
A first aid kit is also necessary when heading out for an outdoor activity like camping.
The kit should have adhesive bandages, sunscreen lotion, antiseptic wipes, sting relief, antibacterial cream, alcohol pads, pocket handkerchiefs and a first aid guide— you never know what might sting you as you are busy chatting past midnight.
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