My parents arrived in Nairobi late on the 22th of December, with only two hours delay. Snowfall in Europe has caused a lot of logistical problems for the holiday season travellers. I did not inform them that only a few days ago the runway lights at JKIA were dysfunctional, and all planes were diverted to Mombasa and Dar. Our friendly taxi driver Mwenga picked them up and 2330 they arrived at Donyo Sabuk Avenue, where their bed was ready and the fridge full of cold drinks.
The next day we had a slow start and around midday we filled up the fuel tank
of the car and drove off in direction Naivasha over the old road. This one is best taken down, since it is only 2 lanes all the way. The new road we took on our way back, since it is partially three lanes, what makes it a lot easier to pass slow lorries and others. Remember that in Africa everything that can be driven still drives, no matter what speed, and loading trucks far beyond max is not uncommon. Unfortunately a lot of low clouds spoiled the great views over the Riftvalley. About two hours later we arrived at the lake diving past greenhouses, lodges and campsites. We had a short stop at the little lake besides Naivasha, where we found lots of flamingos last time and this time there was a small herd of hippos as well. They were eyeballing us as we stretched our legs and made some pictures. We continued on to the Craterlake where we had a nice view from the top, where after we moved on to the lodge where we were welcomed by a family of black and white Colobus monkeys. While we ordered something to drink the rain started pouring down, so we took our time.
Driving around Naivasha we saw a lot of animals; giraffes, zebras an
d several different members of the deer family. We continued over the stony dirt road to our destination for the night, Bilashaka lodge. Here we were welcomed by the staff with coffee, tea and biscuits. And not long after the Ingrid lady of the estate came by to say hello. The chill of the rain was chased away with a fire in the fire place. We had a tasty three course diner, with a good glass of wine. We ended the evening in front of the fireplace teaching Merijn the game rummikub. Merijn tested the bathtub and went to bed with very clean feet. Bilashaka lodge is the oldest part of an estate that is turned into a very succesfull rosefarm consisting of a showcase of rosevarieties with the characteristics ideal for African growers and a large production unit. The size of this will be doubled during the coming year. After breakfast we had a tour around the farm. Interesting facts are that they have zero energy input for heating and light for production. The heating system exists of water containing pipes much like in NL, the difference is that they are only in use in the early morning. The heat is obtained by half hectare solar systems, where from the heat from the day is stored in large tanks for later use. The major part of the irrigation water used inside the greenhouses is obtained from the roofs, topped up with lake water, added to the water that is recycled. The roses are grown in a coconutfiber rich substrate for approximately 7 years, but are kept longer when the production keeps up. The best varieties have large flowers that ripen slowly with long slender stilks, do not bruse in transport and are doing good at the auction in Aalsmeer. Freight costs are more than half of the production costs. The workers were wearing huge gloves when cutting roses, which I have never seen before and I have doing the same work for many years in weekends and holidays. But apparently it is required by the workers union. The workers have also a cooperative bank on the farm. We visited the kitchen where everybody is served a warm lunch and since it is about to become Xmas eve, a Xmas gift for the workers was under preparation. Two cows were slaughtered and their body parts were waiting to be divided over the 200 employees.
This rosefarm is a daughter farm of the one in NL where I worked, the man I worked for, who was in the same class in primary school as my father, for has passed different parts on to his kids. At Bilashaka Joost is taking care of business, he was in a grade over me at primary school. After the walk around we were invited to Joost and Ingrids house, which is situated high above the lodge, from where there whole lake can be overseen, from where we spotted
some buffalos, waterbuck, people and a hippo standing in the grass. Six weeks ago their daughter Resa was born and see was having a meal when we came in. My mother brought a little gift for her. After coffee we headed home finalising our round around Naivasha. I was sorry I did not see any hyraxes.
At home we had lasagne for diner which I had prepared before. Merry Xmas <:o)>
The next day we had a slow start and around midday we filled up the fuel tank
of the car and drove off in direction Naivasha over the old road. This one is best taken down, since it is only 2 lanes all the way. The new road we took on our way back, since it is partially three lanes, what makes it a lot easier to pass slow lorries and others. Remember that in Africa everything that can be driven still drives, no matter what speed, and loading trucks far beyond max is not uncommon. Unfortunately a lot of low clouds spoiled the great views over the Riftvalley. About two hours later we arrived at the lake diving past greenhouses, lodges and campsites. We had a short stop at the little lake besides Naivasha, where we found lots of flamingos last time and this time there was a small herd of hippos as well. They were eyeballing us as we stretched our legs and made some pictures. We continued on to the Craterlake where we had a nice view from the top, where after we moved on to the lodge where we were welcomed by a family of black and white Colobus monkeys. While we ordered something to drink the rain started pouring down, so we took our time.Driving around Naivasha we saw a lot of animals; giraffes, zebras an
d several different members of the deer family. We continued over the stony dirt road to our destination for the night, Bilashaka lodge. Here we were welcomed by the staff with coffee, tea and biscuits. And not long after the Ingrid lady of the estate came by to say hello. The chill of the rain was chased away with a fire in the fire place. We had a tasty three course diner, with a good glass of wine. We ended the evening in front of the fireplace teaching Merijn the game rummikub. Merijn tested the bathtub and went to bed with very clean feet. Bilashaka lodge is the oldest part of an estate that is turned into a very succesfull rosefarm consisting of a showcase of rosevarieties with the characteristics ideal for African growers and a large production unit. The size of this will be doubled during the coming year. After breakfast we had a tour around the farm. Interesting facts are that they have zero energy input for heating and light for production. The heating system exists of water containing pipes much like in NL, the difference is that they are only in use in the early morning. The heat is obtained by half hectare solar systems, where from the heat from the day is stored in large tanks for later use. The major part of the irrigation water used inside the greenhouses is obtained from the roofs, topped up with lake water, added to the water that is recycled. The roses are grown in a coconutfiber rich substrate for approximately 7 years, but are kept longer when the production keeps up. The best varieties have large flowers that ripen slowly with long slender stilks, do not bruse in transport and are doing good at the auction in Aalsmeer. Freight costs are more than half of the production costs. The workers were wearing huge gloves when cutting roses, which I have never seen before and I have doing the same work for many years in weekends and holidays. But apparently it is required by the workers union. The workers have also a cooperative bank on the farm. We visited the kitchen where everybody is served a warm lunch and since it is about to become Xmas eve, a Xmas gift for the workers was under preparation. Two cows were slaughtered and their body parts were waiting to be divided over the 200 employees.This rosefarm is a daughter farm of the one in NL where I worked, the man I worked for, who was in the same class in primary school as my father, for has passed different parts on to his kids. At Bilashaka Joost is taking care of business, he was in a grade over me at primary school. After the walk around we were invited to Joost and Ingrids house, which is situated high above the lodge, from where there whole lake can be overseen, from where we spotted
some buffalos, waterbuck, people and a hippo standing in the grass. Six weeks ago their daughter Resa was born and see was having a meal when we came in. My mother brought a little gift for her. After coffee we headed home finalising our round around Naivasha. I was sorry I did not see any hyraxes.At home we had lasagne for diner which I had prepared before. Merry Xmas <:o)>
More pictures at: www.flickr.com/photos/30081401@N03/sets/72157623193847418
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