Mwaluganje Camp - Elephant Sanctuary Kenya

This week was an amazing week. A group of us were sent on a two hour drive to Mwaluganje Camp. This is the Elephant Sanctuary. Who would have ever thought that every morning you would wake to see the rising sun over the hilltops. It was beautiful.

We arrived at Mwaluganje at 2.30pm to then be greeted at 3pm by the local school children. They stayed with us for one night. During their stay we helped put up their tents and make a paper mache elephant. We had so much fun with them. The reason for their stay was for International Peace One Day. It is to recognise the peace we share between one another.

The night they stayed was fantastic. Seeing as we had a generator at this camp, electricity was only available from 6.30pm until 9.30pm, for all the other time we survived off of no electricity. Once the lights were out, we all sat by the camp fire telling stories.

The following day we arrived at their school and for Peace One Day we planted trees at their school and then had a big game of Netball and Football. Netball has never really been my thing (as some people may know) but I had so much fun! Football was tough as well. The kids are amazing at playing! My team ended up losing 3-2, but it was a whole load of fun.

On the Tuesday morning a couple of us woke up from our tents at 5.30am to see the sun rise.I don't think I have ever seen something so spectacular in my life. Even looking in the hills we would see elephants walking by, it is something someone really has to experience for themselves. I can't describe how breathtaking it is. After breakfast we left for our game drive, we saw so many elephants and they came so incredibly close to the bus they are amazing creatures!

In the afternoon we went to the Elephant Dung Paper-making Dispensery. (The name is pretty self-explanatory). This was a lot of fun. I made a photo album and painted an elephant on it.

The following days was hard work. We did a lot of road maintenance for the Safari Bus because it was really difficult for them to drive on. I don't think I have ever worked so hard in my life! The next day I was very sore. We also went to the school and built the foundation for their kitchen because they were in real need for one. By the end of the working week I was so exhausted that I had to give in (with a couple of other people) and go for the easy option out. We worked in the Tree Nursery, planting small trees to keep the elephants away from the school. It was still hard work though and we managed to plant exactly 180 trees!

I wish that everyone could experience what I am experiencing right now. I am lost for words on how amazing this journey is. The people are incredible and the scenery is to die for. Next week I am in for more project work and then we LEAVE FOR ZANZIBAR!! YAY!! Have to do an eight hour drive to Tanzania, stay there overnight and then catch the ferry at 7am to Zanzibar, will be quite an experience. I will let everyone know what happened next fortnight.

Jade x