Back to Sweden

Since we have had some communication problems, the blog has not been updated as frequently lately as planned. We are sorry about that.

A lot has happened since then and we promise to write more about all our adventures before mid March.

Since the latest update we all visited Tanzania and Malawi. Lina, Richard, Oliver and Tuvalie left back to Nairobi, Kenya and stayed for x-mas and New Year in Nanyuki. They are now back in Sweden. Lina is working (!) and they are expecting another little one in May =)

Tanja, Luka, Pia and Milan drove through Zambia which is where they celebrated x-mas with the hippo's in a very special camp site in the South Luangwa National Park (http://www.flatdogscamp.com/). New years eve was spent in Livingstone close to the Victoria falls. In Botswana they drove through Chobe National Park, Kalahari and in South Afrika they went as far south as possible with car.

The nice pictures taken on family Poznic's amazing adventure from Kenya through Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and South Afrika will be published here when they arrive in Sweden. Now the pictures are in a container together with the Defender 130 getting closer and closer to Rotterdam/Holland.

Thanks to Stena Lines we will be able to finish as we began the trip from Sweden in February last year; going with their nice ferry from Kiel to Gothenburg.

In the beginning of March we will all be back in Stockholm and the 13:nth to 15:nth of March we will attend “Vildmarksmässan” in the National Exhibition Centre in Älvsjö, Stockholm.

See U there =)

Kenya

As we left Ethiopia and headed for the Kenyan border it was pouring down with rain. Not the best of situations since we knew the road we had ahead of us would be quite a challenge anyway. We were going to travel the toughest road since the start of the trip, a 240 km long stretch which is commonly known as the bandit road. There had been some reported problems of hi jacking and theft and part of the road we would be accompanied by a military. So this was a distance we wanted to do as quickly as possible, but the rain would certainly slow us down. At on part of the road it was so bad, one bus and one truck had been stuck in the mud for two days. As we tried to pass Pia and Milan slid down into the ditch and go stuck as well. With some help of sand ladders and a Kenyan who knew how to dig we finally got out and with mud up to our ears we could continue the nightmare road. The second day was drier but equally as challenging, especially for the poor cars. On corrugated roads we battered the cars going not much faster than 15km an hour. Even so we had to stop to let Lina and Richard´s shocks to cool down slightly, they were not appreciating the treatment. The 240 km to get us down to Isiolo and some tarmac roads took us all together 16 hours!

Finally, out of the mud. /Pentax

On the way to Samburo national park. /Pentax

After these rough days on the road we decided to visit Samburo National Park for some game viewing. It was a beautiful place and the children’s first encounter of some African wildlife. Although Luka kept asking if we would see a hedgehog (!) and Tuvalie was most excited by a squirrel with a blue tail (- We have to phone home to mormor and tell her we are in Africa and I have seen a squirrel!) the rest of us were pretty amazed by the elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and antelopes... We spent the night by the pretty river inside the park listening to lions roaring as we had our dinner. The next morning we got woken up by groups of baboons and vervet monkeys climbing the cars in search for leftovers. The baboons are rude monkeys that grab every opportunity to steal food and we had a couple jumping into the boots of the cars grabbing bread and bananas until Milan chased them away with his baseball bat.

Sunrise in Samburo. /Pentax

Enjoying the scenery. /Pentax

One of many elephants in Samburo. /Pentax

Baboon waiting for an opportunity to steal food. /Pentax

Giraffes on their way. /Pentax

As we had a couple of days before it was time to go to Nairobi to pick up Pia’s parents we wanted to stop by in Nanyuki and meet up with our Swedish overlander friends, Gustav and Kina. Gustav we had met at a show, Resedagarna, in Stockholm, when we were all camping in Kungsträdgården. Gustav and Kina had started from Sweden in June in their yellow defender 110 and they were now staying at a friend’s place in Solio, Nanyuki. As we arrived at Annie’s place we were warmly welcomed and treated to a wonderful and much craved for barbeque. At this point we were all pretty fed up with the canned food and pasta and at Annie’s place we felt just like home. We ended up spending quite a few late nights drinking whiskey and talking. We also got a chance to visit Solio Rhino Park together with Edward, Annie’s friend and owner of the park, a beautiful area with loads of wildlife and over 150 rhinos in it. After some memorable and fantastic days at Annie’s it was time to move on and get to Nairobi to meet up with Pia’s parents, Marja and Alvar, who were going to spend three weeks with us.

Looking for Rhinos in Solio. /Pentax

Sunset in Solio Rhino Park. /Pentax

Together with Kina, Gustav and Annie. /Pentax

With Nairobi as a base we headed off for some more safaris. Firstly we travelled north to lake Navasha where we had a great boat tour on the lake, getting up close to some hippos. We then continued up to Nakuro Lake Reserve, full of birdlife and other wildlife, where we spent one night in the reserve. Back in Nairobi again, Lina and Richard are facing some car problems. The vacuum pump has given up so the breaks are nearly non-existent. So Pia and Milan, Tanja and Luka, Marja and Alvar all squeeze into the 130 and head off for majestic Masaii Mara and then for a few luxury all-inclusive days by the coast whilst Richard and Lina stay with the children in Nairobi.

Getting canvas car seats fitted from our new sponsor. /Pentax

Tuvalie on lake Navasha. /Pentax

Marja and Luka getting ready for some hippo safari. /Pentax

A hippo family. /Pentax

Oliver. /Pentax

Flamingos by lake Nakuro. /Pentax

An ugly buffalo. /Pentax

A pretty zebra. /Pentax

View over Nakuro national park. /Pentax

Sunset in Masaii Mara. /Pentax

Getting close to a sleepy lion. /Pentax

Lunch in Masaii Mara. /Pentax

Alvar, Tanja and Luka enjoying the coast. /Pentax

Tanja after a few hours in the pool. /Pentax

Pia’s parents have now left us and we are all back here in Nairobi giving the cars some long needed service and seeing through. The plans are a bit vague as for where we will go afterwards, Uganda, Tanzania or for some further travelling around in Kenya? One thing is for sure, we will remain in Nairobi for another week or so before it is time to move on...