We are staying at the Kitale Club which is supposed to be the best accomodations in town according to both Lonely Planet and the Footprint Guides. At about $25US, you get about what you would expect. Geri and I haave separate rooms in a little brick cottage and share a bath and a toilet. The water is heated at night by a fire that is built under a drum. We didn't have any hot water last night, so Geri is going to try with the front desk to see if they can build a bigger fire tonight. It is an old English club and is quaint in its own way. My room has both a double and a single, but the single is definitely a better mattress.
On Saturday we went to the Saiwa Swamp National Park. It is home to a rare antelope called the Singtura, or something like that. We didn't spot any but di see some cranes and monkeys. We were both exhausted and after a cold splash bath I fell asleep.
Today, Sunday, we got up early to go to the Mt. Elgon National Park. There are caves that are famous for the elephants that enter at night to get salt. Thank God for 4 wheel drive. The trip up to the gates of the park was about 10 km, but much of it was muddy and rutted. We were going to walk in from there because we were afraid the park roads would be even worse. After about 500 meters, I turned around to go back and get the car. There was no way either one of us would have made it. We found the trail to the main cave, but somehow missed it. We ended up at a second, smaller cave, that has a waterfall across part of the opening. It was pretty, but I was disappointed that we missed the Kitum Cave. That's the way it goes.
We are now in town and stopped to have lunch at the same place as yesterday. It is a funky little hotel and restaurant (and cyber cafe) that has fish and chips. They were so good yesterday and today was no different. I don't know if they were really that good or that it is just a novel change of pace from what we have been eating. Geri has walked down to the store and then we will head back to the hotel.
Happy New Year to everyone!
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