Earlier this year, to kick off my 2023 right, I took a road trip through western and southern
Kenya. I visited four locations over a period of seven days and witnessed only a fraction of what
this country has to offer. It’s an experience I’ll never forget.
I started in Kakamega Rainforest at the Kenya Wildlife Service campsite, where I enjoyed a
guided nature walk, the sights and sounds of various types of monkeys and birds, and several
powerful downpours (thank goodness for the covered kitchen area that kept me dry!).
I then ventured further west, to the shores of Lake Victoria and slightly beyond, to a campsite on
Rusinga Island. I spent my time there staring out over the lake, watching the dozens of
kingfishers hover above the water and the fishing boats gliding by.
Next, I drove south and west to the iconic Maasai Mara, falling asleep to the sound of hyenas in
the distance and waking up bright and early for an epic game drive filled with lions, elephants,
hippos, and more. I entered through the Oloololo Gate (camping there), exited through
Sekenani, and continued my journey through Narok and Naivasha to my destination, Eburru
Forest, which overlooks Lake Naivasha from the south side.
During this trip, I experienced the unique advantages and challenges of a road trip and,
although not everything went the way I had planned and some moments were stressful, it was
well worth the effort. Here are some of my thoughts on why you should take a road trip and what
you can do to make it the best trip possible.
Prep Your Vehicle
The beauty of a road trip is that it allows for total flexibility and independence. You can make
fun, unplanned stops along the way without worrying about missing a connection or the potential
to wait for the next matatu. But make sure that your vehicle is up to scratch before you go. Take it
to a mechanic for a tune-up and fix all the little things that you’ve been ignoring. Since you may
be on the road for quite a while, it’s important to be as safe and comfortable as possible.
Although there’s plenty we cannot control when it comes to the road, the one thing we can make
sure of is that our car is in its best shape.
Enjoy the Drive
Don’t view the “road” part of the road trip as simply a means to an end! Create a playlist, bring
fun snacks, and think of games you can play and podcasts or audiobooks to listen to during the
journey. Take in the landscape. Stop at a random restaurant for chai and mandazi, pull over at a
lookout point to stretch your legs and enjoy the view, notice the landmarks around you and have
one of your passengers look them up to find out their name, history, and so on. Be curious
about not only your destination but also the areas you’re traveling through.
Get Reliable Directions
Unfortunately, we can’t fully trust Google Maps, especially as things get more remote. Although
this technology can be very helpful, speaking with an actual person is almost always the most
reliable way to find the right place. During your planning, try to get the phone number of
someone you can contact for directions if need be.
Charge Your Devices
Make sure you can charge your devices as you go – and have backups! On my trip, for a whole
day, I depended on an actual paper map and the help of strangers on the side of the road to get
me to my destination because my phone stopped charging. Although I did get to my campsite in
good time and eventually figured out what the problem with my phone was, there were several
wrong turns along the way and more stress than I would have preferred.
Fuel
Know your vehicle’s fuel mileage and map out petrol stations – and maybe bring some backup
fuel as well! There’s nothing more stressful than driving down an empty road with nothing in
sight and watching your fuel gauge get closer and closer to E. I watched mine go beyond and
learned from experience just how empty my tank can get before I will completely run out of
petrol! Although I made it without any problems, the stress of the close call was not what I would
choose.
Adventure Farther
The advantage of a multi-day road trip is that you can get a bit further away from home than you
normally would go. Breaking up the drive means less driving in one day and the chance to visit
several locations. The only reason I rarely go all the way to Lake Victoria is that the drive feels
so long. Breaking it up with a stop in Kakamega Rainforest made it feel much closer. My
recommendation is no longer than 5 hours of driving at one time and moving locations every
other day so that you get a break.
I was so thankful for the chance to explore places in Kenya that normally might feel a bit too far
or inaccessible. Road trips give us the chance to have a true adventure, from the moment you
turn the key and rev the engine. And like most of life, if we’re only enjoying the destination and
not the journey, we’re going to eventually realize we’ve been missing the best part.