August 17th, 2008:
Short: Horseback riding into the mountains, Make our own lunch, Sunset drive, Meet the village kids, Dinner with Boston peeps
Long: After a quick breakfast with our new friends from the night before, we decided to arrange a four hour horseback ride into the mountains. The Malealea lodge has a tack room and was able to quickly arrange horses and a guide. Around 11 we left the lodge and rode down the steep, and narrow, paths into the valley. After passing some local herders, and their animals, in the valley, we climbed back up the mountain, finally stopping at one of the nearby waterfalls. The horses we were on were not exactly the healthiest looking animals, and at times, all of us felt like they might collapse. They made it through though, and we were even able to get a few running action shots. The ride was a great way to see some of the countryside as well as gather some insight into the everyday life of the herders.
After cooking lunch in the lodge’s kitchen we relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. The lodge provided some directions on a “Sunset 4x4 drive,” and shortly before sunset we began the drive. The drive itself wasn’t that spectacular, and the sunset soon became a secondary opportunity. When we stopped to watch the sunset, a number of village children surrounded the car. I took some video and showed them (Always gets a few laughs), while Mortimer took a few pictures. One of the children was supposed to ride his bike to Malealea for the evening choir show, but his bike tire was flat. We threw the bike in the back of the car and drove both him and his friend to the lodge. It was a great way to spend the evening. At dinner we met a couple from Boston, who are currently in South Africa on their honeymoon.
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