Frisky elephants, Northern Kenya, Day 327

Christi and I together with the other dozen or so passengers on this Dragoman trip leave the town of Nakuru early and in a confusing alliterative sequence drive through Nyahururu, Nyeri, and Nanyuki on our way to the Samburu National Reserve. The reserve is famous for elephants, big cats and some species rarely found outside of this area. Mostly, though, this is a long driving day and although the roads are rough, we are taking the most comfortable, if not the shortest, route to the land of the Samburu. To break up the monotony of the journey, we stop along the way for a couple of activities. The first is a fairly impressive waterfall, the other is crossing the equator. Over the last 10 months crossing the equator has become something of a regular occurrence for Christi and I, beginning in Ecuador, then the Galapagos Islands, and for the last time in Brazil. This will be the first time we have crossed the equator overland in Africa, though.

Thomson’s Falls is a 74 m (243 ft) scenic waterfall on the Ewaso Ngiro river, which drains from the Aberdare Mountain Range (an 11,000 ft, 160 km long mountain range in central Kenya located just south of the equator). The falls are situated two miles from Nyahururu. In 1883 Joseph Thomson, the Scottish geologist and naturalist, was the first European to reach the falls and apparently that was enough of an achievement to have the falls named in his honor. They do make for a nice photo stop, though.

Further down the road near Nanyuki we cross the equator (back into the northern hemisphere). A dilapidated sign marks the spot (latitude zero degrees). And here are a couple of fast facts for you: the equator is 40,075 km (24,901 mi) long and only about 20% is over land. An enterprising chap with a funnel, a bowl of water, and a few sticks is available – for a fee – to demonstrate the Coriolis Effect. Christi and I experienced this phenomenon previously, right at the beginning of our Year of Wonder in Ecuador. In essence, water drains clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere. And it did so today as well so all is right with the world (at least in the northern hemisphere).

Late in the day we finally arrive in Samburu National Reserve. We drive to our campsite beside Ewaso Ngiro river, which not only feeds Thomson’s Falls but also an abundance of wildlife within the reserve. We begin, though, with the more mundane elephants and Nile crocodiles who appear to have little interest in one another. On the other hand the elephants do appear quite interested in each other. I’m not sure there is such a thing as elephant porn, but let’s just say some of these guys are clearly exhibitionists. Which is more than can be said for Christi and I after this long, hot, rough drive. All we crave is a hot shower and a good night’s sleep.