Many visitors from all over the world have definitely formed an idea about the Kenyan, or should I say the African bush. But clearly there definitely are some situations that just do not conform to these pre set ideas and again there are others that just hit that mark. This article is based during… wait for it… a very wet season. Or to complicate things, it is a time saturated with plenty of rain.

Anyway, these writings are based from a not too long ago experience on the slopes of the Ngong Hills. The Ngong Hills are located about 16 miles Southwest of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. It can be accessed via two major highways. The first being Ngong Rd and the other being Langata Road. However the most common and most convenient is Ngong road.

Now theoretically one can drive up the hills and get up to the top in a wink of the eye lid. Personally I wouldn’t favor doing this as it sucks out all the adventure, the excitement and the whole essence of being right there in the middle of God precious and beautiful show case.

Map Showing Ngong Area

I know earlier I said that the hills are accessible by car but, I have to disagree with myself on that. Technically it would be hell to attempt the climb by car at certain times on the year at least. I am specifically referring to when its wet therefore muddy.

Generally for your information, Kenya has two rainy seasons. The long rains come between March and May while the short rains are in October and November. Okay with the global warming and other green house gases crashing the party I would say you can play with those months and shift them back and forth. I’m not a weather expert but let stick with the months I have chosen.

We had the privilege of climbing up the hills one early morning. That would be from about 7am. The scenery at this moment was something unlike Kenya, known for its plenty of Sunshine throughout the year, which is the case, I must agree. That morning was pretty chilly and fog was in abundance.

Mud Road on Ngong Hills

One would have sworn we were right smack in the middle of England. I think it had rained the previous night and quite heavy for that matter. Every depression on the land was full of water. So there were literally thousands of paddles all over the place. As for that morning there was not a single rain drop.

Going up the hill was proving a challenge right from the foot of the hills at Ngong town. My spotless laundered hiking boots where already packed with more than two pounds of clay-like mud. I must add that this mud was quite persistent. The moment you scrape it off the soles of your shoes and advance a step or two comes right back.

Not only does it come back but keeps piling up forming layers upon layers. I was here on a mission and I guess I was going to complete it so regardless of the minor obstacles I just have to push on. I had a short reprieve at some point, actually it was really short. See, we had to cross a tarmac road on my way.

I enjoyed it while it lasted. Unfortunately what I didn’t know is that it was just like that calm before the storm. I was not ready for what I was going to face on the road ahead. I was really sure all the mud muddled itself together and conspired not to let me through.

Ngong Hills Water Logged

I was once told the most dangerous person is a determined person and yes, this was my moment of determination. About a half a mile up the road, still pushing, one step at a time. I came across some interesting evidence that the mud had not just attacked me, but there were tracks on the road that showed that mud was also determined not to let any man made four or more wheeled monster to prevail.

The picture showed the fruitless efforts of cars or whatever trying to scale the hill. I took the liberty to follow the tracks up the hill but the tracks came to dead end. You may also need to know, looking at the picture, the cameras alignment is horizontal. I thought I would mention it so that you may appreciate the angle of the slope we are dealing with here.

Despite all this I was still enthusiastic about getting great shots this morning. I had been up these hills before so I knew where I could the particular scenary I wanted. So I push further up the hill. What I found was the hill was somewhat surprising. I found it amazing though, so no complaints. Clouds on Ngong Hills.

The winds were controlling the clouds like a well orchestrated opera. I call it clouds because these are actually clouds you are looking at. That was a site to just sit down and enjoy. I would have loved to just chill out all day but I had other things a take shots at so after my time there I was on the move again.

Ngong Hills Utility Pole

Then there was another interesting thing I came across further up the hill. I had an opportunity to take shots of trees and I needed explain much that the trees up there look the way they do because of the strong winds blowing upon the trees in on direction for years on end.

What amazed me about the two pictures above is not really the tree photo, but mostly the transformer pole. After years of sitting there, just like the indigenous trees. It was clear that even the man-made electricity poles have succumbed to the same forces of nature that have been pounding the tree for decades. I might remind you also that the photo was taken from a horizontally aligned
position.

Finally, like every other journey, this one has to come somewhere in betwee. There is loads of stuff I could write here but that in the end it is not as exciting as taking this breathe taking journey to Ngong Hills. However I continue with this story next week.