Sooner than later – we’ll all be backpacking again – heading out into our next adventures and those places that inspire us. Until then, let me keep narrating my COVID 19 travel experiences alongside @Jim Justus Nyamu Aka #ElephantMan.

At 1500m above sea level, the panoramic Nguruman Escarpment is located in the Southern part of Kenya. Stunning views encompass the journey to this exotic hideout in the heart of the Maa Community. Set near the Kenya – Tanzania border, this birdwatchers paradise and data zone borders the larger Loita Forest. This charming terrain is full of acacia shrubs and is a landscape of bigger hills and sublime rivers.

Driving down from Magadi, the splendid lush green backdrop unfolds right before your eyes. With the hot dry arid climate around the areas, the promise of the Garden of Eden gets more real.  A couple of camping sites and picnic grounds dot the dusty country road ahead.

Maasai Moran’s adorning the Maasai shuka can be seen herding in the distant bushes. Some have white neck pieces with long braids on their heads and ‘njora’ hanging from their belts. The girls and women adorn primarily orange lessos and Maasai shukas. Beaded neck pieces announce their culture with the belts of many colors around their waists. Kids too are not left behind in this showcasing of their dress culture. Did you know they are branded the ‘White Maasai’; because they mainly prefer to wear the white beads for both their neck and women’s waist pieces?

Kids play naked adorned with beads in this amazingly unspoiled serene environment – it is an enchanting scene to behold. Manyattas stand tall in the heart of the bushes and one can easily count the number of wives in each homestead.

The Olkiramarian and Shompole Conservancies connect Elephants to Loita/ Maasa Mara and Amboseli National Park through the Torosei Oldonyo Ork (Namanga Hills). It is also a home to Impalas, Gerenuk, Zebras, Buffalos, Elands, and the Maasai Giraffe. Ewaso Ngiro River makes this remote location a rich water source, fed by other seasonal rivers across the environs.

Loita Hills give a stunningly beautiful view at the horizons –  escarpment.  You will pass several rock crowded dry river beds. The rolling plains down below make for a photographer’s paradise.

Lentorre Lodge is hidden up the hills behind the woodlands with stunning views of the spectacular plains below.

A water trough is set at the foot of the hill giving you a front-row seat to the wildlife visiting the sanctuary.

This charmingly amazing experience will leave you with to die for encounters.

Across the plains from Loita Hills stands the majestic Mt. Shompole located in the Shompole Conservancy. One gets a panoramic view of the grand Ol Donyo Gelai – the active volcano and Ol Donyo Sambu– overlooking the peaceful and statue still Lake Natron.

Tiny townships dot this dreamy and exquisite savanna woodland with Pakasee welcoming you to the spectacularly breathtaking briny waters full of salt. This somber subterranean inland-sea is the epitome of serenity and beauty.

This large and brilliantly blue, usually reddish water body is the most caustic water body and is the largest breeding ground for the lesser flamingos. The eerie waters are as deadly as they are beautiful. It lies in the middle of a cave quiet valley. Sadly, there lies plenty of dead fish at its mouth, and if you look close enough, you will witness some breathing in their last.

Set between Mt. Shompole and the Ol Doinyo Lengai, the never ending view of blue shimmering waters of Natron will lead you across the border to Tanzania. Staring at the placid and glassy view, you are bound to have a ‘zap’ moment because it is so beautiful. I had mine for a moment there. Then a mob of flies will rise into the air from the itching grass nearby snapping you back into reality.

Located along Magadi road, the Olorgesailie pre-historic site is world renown as the “factory of stone tools” and the only place in the world with the largest number.

Olorgesailie has excellently preserved biological and cultural evidence about the evolution of man.

Are you looking for an exotic getaway from the hustle and bustle of routine life, here’s the plan…

Let’s journey to Nguruman!