So I finally got to experience what most long-term travelers
do- a border run! Somehow it always worked out that I never needed to do a
border run in Thailand, so I was a bit excited to finally experience hopping
over the border to get a silly little stamp, allowing me to stay longer in
Tanzania. Since I only have a 90 day visa for Tanzania, I only have to do one
border run, but it also sucks cause I’m only in Tanzania for like 105 days or
something around there, so it not like I’m overstaying my visa that long. But
whatever, it’s said and done now! So Laura and I caught the 8 am shuttle to the
safari capital of Africa, the urban and bustling city of Nairobi, Kenya.
After being on the bus for about an hour, we are going
through a list of things we needed to have for our eminent border crossing.
Passport? Check. Debit card? Yellow Fever card? Oh shit. Yes, in typical Briana
fashion, I forget my Yellow fever card that is needed to get me into Kenya and
then back into Tanzania. Obviously I pissed off Laura in the first hour of our
trip because I spaced on grabbing this important little yellow card. So fingers
crossed, can’t do anything about it now. Laura and I had it all worked out, she
would pass me hers if we just had to flash them, but if someone actually checks
then I’m SOL. I figured that if they wouldn’t let me cross, then I would just
go back to Arusha and figure it out from there. Thankfully getting into Kenya
was a breeze and I didn’t need to show it at all! First hurdle down!
Nairobi is the capital and largest city in Kenya and is
known for its Safaris, despite having a bad rap for robberies, but we never had
any issues and really enjoyed the exploring the city center! It is also a
cultural melting pot with three main groups- Bantu, Cushitic, and Nilotic, in
addition to many sub groups, languages, and traditions. I was pleasantly
surprised to discover how developed Nairobi was, and it was so cool to see
urban development right next to historical landmarks.
(The Sarova Stanley Hotel Courtyard)
The hotel Laura had found for us, the Sarova Stanley Hotel
was the first hotel in Nairobi and many important events occurred here. During
our stay, we were able to take a Heritage Tour of the hotel and it was so cool!
We learned all about the founders and development of the hotel. It was home to
the Exchange Bar and the Kenyan stock exchange for a while, many historical
figures stayed here while in Africa, including; Theodore Roosevelt, Ernest
Hemmingway, Robert Baden-Powell (Chief Scout of the World), and Princess
Elizabeth before and right when she was crowned Queen! We were also lucky
enough to get to see the suits! These rooms are so nice it’s ridiculous! But
they were all themed and beautifully decorated, and if I had all the money in
the world, I’d totally stay in one of these rooms just for kicks!
(A photo showing one and possibly the most famous person to have visited- Princess, now Queen Elizabeth!)
Besides exploring the hotel, Laura and I used the gym,
relaxed at the pool for hours, and had a fantastic dinner at Thai Chi, an
amazing Thai restaurant in the hotel. The chefs are Thai, so it was authentic
and the best food I’ve had since returning from Thailand. The concierge was
wonderful and helped us set up a few excursions. We wanted to go see the Elephant Orphanage
and the Giraffe Center and having a taxi driver taking us and waiting was the
way to go!
We started our Saturday by going to the elephant orphanage
operated by the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. This is the #1 thing to do in
Nairobi, and for good reason! They are home to 26 baby elephants and 2 baby
rhinos. All of the orphans were rescued from human abuse, environmental
disasters, accidents, and abandonment, and all of them are on the mend and hopeful
to return to the wild some day! After rescuing the baby elephants, the
organization cares for them, feeding, bathing, playing with, and even sleeping
with the orphans during their recovery and growth. The youngest elephant they
have is 6 months, and the oldest is about 3 years old. And oh my gosh, they are
the cutest things I have ever seen! So all the tourists just gather around this
roped off area and BAM! Here come baby elephants running down the hill to get
their bottles! If your heart doesn’t melt then and there, you are told about
each of their history and as they walk around, you are allowed to feed and
touch them! Just saying, baby elephants playing are the best things I’ve ever
seen! They are so funny and ornery! And it gets better. YOU CAN ADOPT AN
ELEPHANT! You’re allowed to choose which baby you want to adopt and for $50 a
year, you are sent a monthly update on your elephant. And if you go to the orphanage,
a foster parent is allowed to have one on one feeding and play time, and you
can put your elephant to bed! My heart just exploded. How cute is that?!
(Just look at how cute they are!)
Oh man, how could the day get any better? Well it’s about
to! After the elephants, we went to the Giraffe Center: African Fund for
Endangered Wildlife. After exiting the car, we turn around and see the giraffes
right there! Just hanging out by the fence! After a brief informational talk
about the Fund and about giraffe anatomy and lifestyles, we are given pellets
to feed these magnificent creatures. It was really fun to kiss the giraffes-
you put a pellet in your mouth and then give it to the giraffe, which usually
means you get your face licked and end up all sorts of slobbery! But it was
really neat to feed and pet these beautiful animals. I know I made my brother
super jealous since his favorite animal is the giraffe, but I guess that means
I’ll just have to come back with him some day! On the down side, I might be
allergic to giraffes… I ended up breaking out in horrible hives right after
hanging out with them and they lasted for like 2 days! It might’ve been a plant
they rubbed up against, but man that was a downer on my experience!
(Getting kisses!)
(Feeding Giraffes is so fun!)
After a wonderful weekend, it was time to go home, back to
Arusha and work. The whole bus ride to the border, Laura and I were very
nervous (remember because I forgot my yellow fever card). Going over different
scenarios and what-ifs. We hoped that just flashing it would suffice but when
we got there, we discovered that to get your immigration entry form into
Tanzania, you HAD to show your card with your passport for verification. Oh man
was I screwed. So it’s my turn, I hand him my passport and start blubbering
about how silly I was to forget my yellow fever card. I’m then directed to a
guy in an office and once again express my sincerest apologies and regrets at
having forgotten my card and say it’ll NEVER happen again. He very kindly just
nods and hands me my papers. So before anyone else can stop or question me,
Laura and I book it out of there and get through immigration without another
hitch! Not until we were on the bus again did we breath a sigh of relief! Thank
god!
(A mini-vaca is always a good idea!)
So overall, Nairobi was so much fun and a much-needed get
away from everything! I’d love to go back to do some more exploring, and this
time I will be extra careful to make sure I have everything I need!
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