Rondo Retreat memoirs


You don't realize what you have until you clean your room, somewhat funny but i found myself in this situation little more  than a month ago. 
I always give credit where it's due and did'nt mind putting in black and white my escapades in the vast amazing forest. 
Hiking is often not my cup of tea but this expirience changed things forever.
I know beyond any doubts that most people opt to visit the coast, Mara or
Naivasha but I'm talking about the great kakamega forest. I've lived in this part of Kenya for a while now but oblivious to thrill the forest has to offer. If you were to travel by road from Nairobi , the town is about 400 km to the north west but you can opt to fly to Kisumu International airport then its just about an hours drive.
Kakamega is a small vibrant town full of life and energy in equal measure. The native Luhyia community has been considered one of the most friendly people in Kenya. Once you are in town theres alot to see and an array of activities to indulge in, witness bullfighting which is a common cultural practice in the locality, visit the crying stone just a stone throw from  town, take a few golf strokes at Golf hotel just adjacent to the central business district. There are many three star hotels and resturants for refreshment. With all the noise behind you embark on a journey to the only natural forest in Kenya preserved and untouched by civilisation. The road through shinyalu to the forest is narrow and dusty but its how safari should be, remember the jungle is rugged and so should the whole expirience, otherwise when you get to the heart of the forest you find a "token" . Rondo retreat comes in handy amidst all the adventure and bliss. Its located in a pristine environment with unrivaled ambience. The place exudes peace and tranquility, it was built during the colonial era but the structures would make you think its a brand new investment. The white wooden cabins are a sight to behold just but by viewing from outside.
The place is handsomely ideal for those seeking some time alone or on romantic endevours because of its unique nature and connection with mother nature.The chirping of birds and chattering of monkeys firmly reminds you that you are in the middle of Africa. You can do your booking quick, get a condo then head out on a brief tour of the forest. The facility has commited guides who wont hesitate to take you on a quick hike within the vicinity. Be careful though because the forest hosts some extremely venomous serpents which include the gaboon viper, the forest cobra and rhinocerous viper among others.
The guides are so savvy in matters regarding the forest and will enlighten you accordingly during the hike.The forest has no big game but leopards have been spotted once in while, the cats are so solitary its hard to come across one so save the panic of being attacked by these felines for Tsavo. River Yala runs through the forest and a wondefull rapid along its course creates a more fascinating expirience altogether.
The jaw dropping spectacle exhibited by monkeys, as they move swifty yet so gracefully from one tree to the other in the towering canopy should indeed keep the cameras rolling. 
Lirhanda  hills offer the highest elevation and this will help you have a great sundowner and a cool breeze from 
Lake victoria not so far away, beware of the goldmines which were left gaping by the rostermine company in their quest for gold back in the colonial days, use the clearly marked footpaths.
Theres really so much to marvel at, when you set foot in in this piece of paradise.
The food is amazing and far from usual, the cuisines will leave you craving for more.
you can go out on a picnic and hav some sweet berbecue out in the wild.
All said and done
Rondo remains a jewel in the jungle, my only  disappointment is that bungee jumping is'nt offered and
I think the retreat has all it takes to establish one and probablly acquire hot air baloons as well, coz i'd love to view the forest from above but in a less noisy manner. Its hard to come by such hospitality and quality in the forest and i would give 
Rondo 8 star rating. If you are reading this blog and probably not settled on your next  safari destination then try as much as possible if you got time to visit this place. 
There are lots of places to visit in western kenya such as the kit mikayi in
Seme, impala sancuary in kisumu among others, but nothing comes close to kakamega rain forest when it comes to jungle expirience. 
Just a reminder though that there are no alcoholic drinks offered here, as it is a christian facility and firmly based on christian values.
The unassailable charm and allure of the forest, will forever endure but only with proper conservation. 
This lovely paradise will be no more if at all the forest continues to shrink due to obvious reasons. 
Save the world, save the forests and save rondo.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kisumu city next big thing.

Image
If the projections made by the UN and World bank were anything to go by, then more than 65% of the Kenyan population will be residing in cities. This begs the question, are the towns expanding towards this course? Kenya is by far one of the most developed states in the sub saharan Africa, this is evidently seen in the infrastructure that has been put in place and those currently underway. Many factors come into play in order to woo foreign investors and it all boils down to the amenities our cities offer such as good health, good IT systems etc. Its quite commendable that our economy has improved since independence and still theres so much in the offing. I took a brief walk in my city Kisumu, one of the Kenyan three major cities and the progress being made is overwhelming. I think the county govt is in the right track towards achieving vision 2030. I've been to several other major towns and the same prospects are reflected. For instance Eldoret is fast growing and you would be surp...
Read more

Al shabaab vanquished

Image
I have always fancied JRR Tolkien's masterpiece of the Lord of the Rings. It's by far the most accomplished mythical work of all time. The symbolism is phenomenal, the legendary tussle between good and evil, hope and desperation alike. The rise and fall of the mighty necromancer, Sauron only firmly reminds us that light will always endure against the dark no matter how long it takes . Today's middle earth encounters many challenges of varying degrees, the people inhabiting this realm have a new enemy which could possibly disturb world peace. Mankind will be a thing of the past, should brothers go up in arms against each other in the name of religion. Terrorism has taken centre stage in world news and politics, and contnues to be an intriguing issue with each passing day. Fortunately terrorists are fighting a losing battle as witnessesed in several parts of the world. Once teeming with young militants from across the globe, Al shabaab today is a far cry from what it was in i...
Read more

Drop in the ocean

Image
In a country  where opulence, status and pedigree hold a great deal of significance, a few have elected exemplary modesty. A trend not so many would resonate with considering the norm. The wealthy class of Kenyans inhabit  expansive bungalows in some of the most sought after suburbs. They enjoy the convoys of a myriad of high end cars in the market with  24 hour security detail. Even the mundane middle class Kenyan is a prisoner of prestige always wanting the best apartments in relatively costly neighbourhoods. Most Kenyans would prefer buying high end SUVs given the chance and that explains why prados and range rovers are becoming increasingly common these days. The struggle to flaunt wealth and one's accomplishments has driven many into corruption and fight for supremacy. In fact most mheshimiwas prefer being identified by their titles for instance governor, senator, advocate, doctor so and so  among others in order to affirm their presence and authority. The top j...
Read more