Report on our 2019 Project Journey to Kenya — Additional visits to the Highlands
Office of Foerderkreis Kenia Freudenstadt e.V., Germany. Translated version. Original version first published December 1, 2019. Page 2/6.
Tuesday, February 05, 2019: Doldol
Vegetables grown in Doldol.
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Group photo with the head of the Catholic Mission and the friar.
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After breakfast we accompanied the head of the mission with two Massai boys to a big plateau rock behind the mission station. High up we could enjoy a fantastic view whereupon the head of the mission explained to us how the area's water catchment scheme, installed by the district government a few years ago on that very rock, is working to supply the local population: at night dew condensates clinging to the large rock, which resembles somewhat the famous Ayers Rock in Australia, and this is collected together with the rare rainwater. Two concrete belts, more than 90 feet long, were installed on the vertical surface of the smooth rock. These converge in a V-shaped junction channel flowing to a concrete funnel. The water thus collected is then transported via several pipes to Doldol and by an additional pipe branching off also to the missionary station. Technically simple and pretty effective. During a guided tour of the mission site, the head of the mission then showed us around their individual buildings, and their the farming section, and then moved on to show us his greenhouses. We were given the opportunity to visit the students in the attached school building with a total of six classes. We already knew from previous visits the farming skills of the head of mission, who had always run a small farm with vegetable and fruit cultivation whereever the church had commissioned him to work. And again we were truly impressed by his skills. When we asked him from Germany what to bring him as a small gift, he simply asked for some tomato seeds and whether the society could possibly donate a small amount to support the purchase of better plastic pipes suitable for drip irrigation. Since we knew the success the head of this mission already had achieved, the start-up financing of this project was supported by the society. Several packages with different tomato seeds changed owner to our great joy. The first new pipes had already been assembled and the head showed us the new transparent cover for the large greenhouse. A storm had torn down and destroyed the old one, the replacement is now more rugged and can be rolled up and down the side for better ventilation. Two months ago, the mission had a visit from wild elephants living here, the mission leader told us. During the day, the animals are staying in a nearby valley, coming to the more temperate plateau during the night. In the morning we actually found some dung heaps on the rock. The elephants there love fresh vegetables, so it was inevitable that the mission's greenhouse would be visited and plundered, with all the plants being eaten in a single night. But help is in sight: we learned that elephants don't like chilli peppers, neither to eat nor their hot smell. The leader of the mission had already recognized this and had grown chilli bushes inside the greenhouse. These are now to be replanted as a living fence around both the greenhouse and other outdoor crops including cabbage and turnips, thus fencing off the excessive appetite of the elephants in the future. We are wishing him every success in this endeavour. After dinner we went for a little walk in this fascinating landscape before we went to our simple, but clean and well equipped guest rooms.
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Wednesday, February 06., 2019: Doldol — Nairobi
After breakfast together with the head of mission and the friar already mentioned, there was a happy farewell with a group picture being taken.
Afterwards our driver took us to Thika where we took a break in a wellknown hotel, an exclusive former meeting place of the upper classes during colonial times. In a spacious garden overlooking the waterfalls we enjoyed fresh tapas and a good lager beer. The journey continued on the well constructed highway to Nairobi back to the KELC, where we arrived in the late afternoon to prepare our baggage for a short trip to Tanzania.
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Thursday, February 07, 2019: Nairobi — Arusha (Tanzania)
During breakfast time we had an informative albeit short work meeting with the bishop. Due to the agenda, a longer meeting with him could unfortunately not take place this time. He thanked the society very much for our continuing financial support of the school fees paid. Subsequently, a driver transferred us to the airport and with a small jet we headed off for Tanzania, a flight which took just fifty minutes until we arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport near Arusha. While flying, we had a beautiful view of the summit of the Kilimanjaro to the plane's left side. After having passed the customs and entry formalities, including the issuing of our visas, we were picked up by a local travel guide and a driver. After a short coffee break that we used to discuss our program we were driven to our hotel in Arusha, simple and comfortable in their regional style. Soon after dinner we could close the day tired but very satisfied.
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