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Are there hiking spots in Coastal Kenya? Meet Mount Kasigau

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This post has been read  To receive auto-notifications on new posts, click  here . Contact SoulBoosters  here . When someone mentions Coastal Kenya, what comes to mind is the blue waters of  the great and vast Indian Ocean, the sandy beaches, the sweet aromatic Swahili food, the two great national parks of East and West Tsavo, and many other ‘soft life’ tourist attractions. The question some ask is- how about good hiking and camping spots around for the hike lovers?   At a distance of about 120kms from the highest point of the coastal region – Vuria hill in Taita-Taveta County, lies a hidden and shy gem sandwiched in between Tsavo East and West. This under-rated beauty is Mount Kasigau, which is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Taita Hills which are located near the Tanzanian border.  Away from the city, the mountain provides an unmatched serenity and solitude – our new home far away from home for the next two days.   On our first day, w e embarked on a journey to visit this
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Hiking Mount Kenya: my 5-day possibility dwelling reflections

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This post has been read   To receive auto-notifications on new posts, click  here . Contact SoulBoosters  here .   Emily Dickinson’s famous ‘I dwell in possibility’ poem encapsulates my Mt. Kenya hiking experience from  20th to 24th December 2021 from all angles. The key lessons that hiking Mt. Kenya taught me was (i) the trail is very doable, to the point where one of our hikers inspired us with a 40-day to Mt. Kenya successful summitting mission, and how to navigate with varied emotions and fear of heights on summit day (ii) there are simple antidotes to zero altitude sickness (iii) seeing opportunities in your valley life seasons.   Besides the amazing itinerary (more details shared on this post ), what stood out for me at Mt. Kenya was the serenity, simplicity and magnificence of the expansive area. I had thought it would be one huge climb from bottom to top (this only happens on summit day on your way up to point Lenana)…turns out Mt.Kenya is its own national park, and with q
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Hiking Mount Kenya logistics: the what, how, who, and reasonable cost tips

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To receive auto-notifications on new posts, click  here . Contact SoulBoosters  here . Happy New Year dear reader!   Thanks for visiting SoulBoosters and welcome on board!  This is a second part series that builds on from the first reflection  post  on Mount Kenya - this read drives you through the logistical route this time round -  enjoy the ride!  This post aims to add more insights to both new and seasoned hikers by taking you through the what, how, who and cost considerations - what do you look out for if you're a newbie? What can you do differently or additionally if you're a seasoned individual hiker and/or a hike group leader?  With Mount Kenya as a goal (and return) destination for many, and probably it is in your bucket list this year too, this article takes a deep dive into this mountain as a case example and sheds more light on the logistical details you'd be wise to loop in - I start by sharing details on the overall and daily routes and statistics for the hike
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Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary: Located this hidden Nairobi gem yet?

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This post has been read  To receive auto-notifications on new posts, click  here . Contact SoulBoosters here .   Are you looking for a multi-purpose cycling, running, and/or walking spot in Nairobi that is less crowded? I was recently in search of such a place, something different from the popular Karura Forest on Limuru & Kiambu Roads, especially as I was keen to get to cycle more regularly over the weekend when so many people also flock Karura Forest. A friend who cycles regularly recommended Ngong Road Forest Sanctuary (NRFS), also as they live nearby. I was excited! As a brief comparison, I learned NRFS is similar to Karura Forest in 7 key ways: (i) similar opening hours, that is, 6.00 AM to 6.00 PM, (ii) well-marked trails, (iii) picnic sites even for those with children (at NRFS it goes for only KES 200/about USD 2), (iv) management by the government-run Kenya Forest Service (KFS), (v) the bike rent model of KES 500/about USD 5 every two hours (though bikes at NRFS look much
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I travel a day in advance to make it for hiking - what's your excuse?

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This post has been read  To receive auto-notifications on new posts, click  here . Contact SoulBoosters  here . All you can reap when you let go of excuses This week, SoulBoosters would like to inspire you through the hiking journey of MaryLiza (I fondly call her ML) - my dedicated and consistent hiking friend. Despite residing two hours away from Nairobi city, the epicentre of most popularly organized hikes in Kenya, she's an evergreen enthusiastic hiker. When I am looking for an extra push to keep it going, I lean in on her for some of her inspirational spirit to rub off on me, and SoulBoosters would love to introduce and share the same with you. Let's get started! Who is ML? I allow people to have their own version of who they meet in me, but I am sure I am an awesome person 😊. Professionally, I am a research scientist majorly working on plant breeding and biotechnology. I guess this is the background that has fueled my interest in exploring nature in the lab and beyond,
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Are you speaking to or about your mountain? A fallen hiking hero's tip that forever lives on

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This post has been read   To receive auto-notifications on new posts, click  here . Contact SoulBoosters  here . A vividly human spot (be on the lookout for it while on the Rurimeria trail), as if checking "are you speaking to or about me''😀 This has been a tough post to write, and it's taken long to gather my thoughts. You see, Paul Muchene , who was my  close hiking friend, passed away two weeks ago, on 6th August 2022, from a tragic fall off a cliff while hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro. This time, he was using the most difficult route on Africa's highest mountain, the Arrow Glacier route, just metres away from the summit. To add salt to the injury, he had already climbed the same mountain twice before (albeit using other 'easier' routes) and he passed away just three days shy of his 42nd birthday...I guess he'd hoped to mark his birthday in a unique way.  While he met his death while on a solo hiking mission with his own guide and porter support team (rat
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Buxton Tunnel: There is light at the end of the tunnel

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This post has been read  To receive auto-notifications on new posts, click  here . Contact SoulBoosters  here .   Buxton tunnel is Kenya's oldest and longest railway tunnel. It is located in Limuru town, which is about 30km from Nairobi Central Business District. While too short to narrate a detailed itinerary, this miniature but transformational trail  mimics the literal tunnels we sometimes need to navigate through in life. Thus, one can draw  out  some valuable life lessons from this gentle walk - here are the ones that resonated with me:  1. Trouble is temporary - it doesn't last long. Did you know the Buxton tunnel is only less than 2km long! Switch from a 'forever' to a 'soon' mentality - you will make it to the other end sooner rather than later. This too shall pass. 2. And if you know the down moments are temporary, you will enjoy the ride. Stay in peace and relax. 3. There really is light at the end of the tunnel -keep hope alive. Friends, let's com
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When is the last time you cycled? Thrills and chills of first-time road biking

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This post has been read  To receive auto-notifications on new posts, click  here . Contact SoulBoosters  here .   When is the last time you cycled? When asked this question, I used to say never, until mid-2018 when I decided to learn how to bike (again, for the third time) and this time it worked...and such an exciting, liberating, and even more gratitude-filling experience as an adult..my friends who learned cycling as kids may not fully appreciate the unprecedented joy of the first time when you get to balance and make corners without falling...Anyway, fast forward after cycling in the parks (and any other place very far away from any motorist) for about three years, I decided to give it a go with my first tarmac road/highway cycling experience.  To provide some context for our international readers, most Kenyan roads are not cyclist-friendly – there are no lanes dedicated to cyclists as yet (but this is likely to change on some major highways, so they say). Currently, if you decide
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Elephant Hill: How eating your elephant a bite at a time is the best way

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This post has been read  To receive auto-notifications on new posts, click  here . Contact SoulBoosters  here .   Located at the Aberdares Ranges, what’s with the (in)famous Elephant hill besides the sometimes scary stories about this trail? Well, there have been so many reviews on this trail that it takes a bit of time to find your own voice and a personal take from all the well-meaning info out there. Hiking at a moderate pace below is an average hiker's most likely expected statistics from this trail.  There are five key trail markers while at elephant hill, that is, (i) starting point, (ii) bamboo gate, (iii) desperado (a point of despair), (iv) tail, and, (v) summit. Some say these five all come together to form the shape of an actual elephant, while others say the trail is named so because elephants pass enroute. Below is a video on the overall elephant hill trail (video courtesy of Jambee): The bamboo gate stands out in its beauty and magnificence. However, most enjoy this b
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Outdoor Junkies: Your out-of-the-box Hiking Group

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This post has been read  To receive auto-notifications on new posts, click  here . Contact SoulBoosters  here .   All photos and videos courtesy of Lucy Mwambia I got to know Lucy when I was preparing for Mt. Kenya – I saw her encouraging Mt. Kenya post and pictures on Facebook and requested advice, especially on tips to avoiding altitude sickness – and they worked like a gem.  Since then, we have had common online groups where we have been interacting, and her prowess and ‘out-of-the-box’ perspectives have been enlightening. For example, I learned about the new Table Mountain route she embarked on recently with her team, among other new and fresh ideas. SoulBoosters would love to introduce you to Lucy as well. Here’s what our conversation was about. We'd love to know more about you - who is Lucy Mwambia? I am a fitness enthusiast and I have a passion for whatever might be classified as exercise. This is to say that I am an all-around athlete - I run, hike, and lift weights. Thi
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Are there hiking spots in Coastal Kenya? Meet Mount Kasigau

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This post has been read  To receive auto-notifications on new posts, click  here . Contact SoulBoosters  here . When someone mentions Coastal Kenya, what comes to mind is the blue waters of  the great and vast Indian Ocean, the sandy beaches, the sweet aromatic Swahili food, the two great national parks of East and West Tsavo, and many other ‘soft life’ tourist attractions. The question some ask is- how about good hiking and camping spots around for the hike lovers?   At a distance of about 120kms from the highest point of the coastal region – Vuria hill in Taita-Taveta County, lies a hidden and shy gem sandwiched in between Tsavo East and West. This under-rated beauty is Mount Kasigau, which is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Taita Hills which are located near the Tanzanian border.  Away from the city, the mountain provides an unmatched serenity and solitude – our new home far away from home for the next two days.   On our first day, w e embarked on a journey to visit this
Read more