Hey peeps. New month, new post. Continuing with my hiking adventures with Let’s Drift. If you’ve been keeping up with my posts this year, you know I keep talking about this awesome community. It got me outside confronting the weather I dislike (cold) so that says a lot about the group. We began May on a high note with an adventure in Gatamaiyu.
Like I said in my previous post, I don’t like being out in the rain so I wasn’t sure I’d hike during the rainy season. But hiking is addictive. Especially when you do it with a group of fun peeps. That’s what kept me from cancelling my plan to hit the Gatamaiyu 3 trail despite heavy rain the previous night. And also I like sticking to what I’ve decided to do until the end.
That Sunday morning I arrived at the meeting point and found fellow Drifters already there. They were excited about the different trails they were going on. Out of nowhere, rain started to drizzle. This didn’t dampen the mood though. Everyone was in high spirits. My main concern was whether the weather would hold up during the hike. If it was raining in Nairobi, chances are high it would be the same at our destination given that Gatamaiyu is at a higher altitude.
Soon it was time to leave. We headed to the matatu stage for the long journey. The last time I was in the Gatamaiyu area was back in October 2020 and I loved the experience. (Read the post here). We got to the vehicle and off we went, leaving the city behind.
The drive was long, rain along the way, but it went well. Alighting from the matatu, the locals were looking at us like 👀 wondering who were these enthusiastic young people in full hiking gear. To drive away the cold we popped into a hotel for tea. If you don’t already know, Gatamaiyu/ Githunguri has the milkiest tea you’ll probably ever drink. Equally tasty are the mandazi which will tempt you to keep eating more.
Energized by the tea and mandazi, we started off the hike. As with all Let’s Drift hikes, there’s always a challenge. On this one they started early. Less than 10 minutes into the hike, we encountered steep downward sections in a tea farm. The rain had turned the trail slippery. It took concentration and effort to not slide. Little did we know this would be pointless later on.
For our troubles, we were rewarded with an amazing view of a waterfall. Getting to it though was another story. We had to navigate the steep, slidy hillside while holding on to tea bushes for support. Bruh. It was an extreme sport, and the hike had barely began! The hill claimed its first casualty. One of the hikers slipped and fell in the mud. Getting up required help from the guides. Someone commented that she looked like Embarambamba- we sympathized but it was still funny. 😂😂
Some brave souls struggled until they got to the base of the waterfall. I was satisfied with taking photos at a distance. The fall was quite forceful and the water spray still got my trousers wet even though I was far. I took in the scenery while being mindful to not roll down the slope.
To continue with the hike we had to go back the same steep hillside. I decided to pick up a stick and use it for support because things were getting serious. If I thought the previous trail (Kariminu) was challenging, this one showed me that I hadn’t seen anything yet.
I usually record the bird species I see and hear during hikes on the BirdLasser app. But today I could hardly manage because my focus was shifted to navigating the steep terrain and trying not to slide. The dense vegetation also didn’t help things. It was like Bear Grylls’ ‘Out here in the Wild’ survival experiences. The bushes were so thick you’d think we were the first people ever on that trail.
Every few minutes, someone would exclaim from falling. The trail showed us no mercy. No one was spared- even the guides slipped. Hiking boots are supposed to give you an advantage in such situations. But not today. The ground was no respecter of hiking gear. After successfully staying off the mud for some hours, my turn came. I slid despite holding on to plants for support.
It wasn’t in vain though. The prize was waterfall #2, which was a 3-in-1 affair. 3 mini falls combined to form one. We stopped to enjoy the view and take photos and videos. Again the fall was in full force due to the rain. Some hikers cleaned the mud off themselves in the river. If only they knew that would be wasted effort.
Time to move again. In some sections it took team effort to go up or down the slopes. Thankfully everyone was in a cooperative mood which made the experience enjoyable. I wonder how the tea pickers make it though. The hillsides are nearly straight up vertical, and they have to ascend, pick the tea then descend. Mad respect to them. Most times we don’t think about the work that goes into harvesting.
Across a small bridge, then up a hill. By this time I was sweating seriously despite the cold. We took a breather for more photos with the breathtaking view of the hilly landscape and a waterfall. And when we were done with that, a drizzle. What I had been dreading all along. I envied those who had raincoats/ waterproof jackets. But the hike had to go on.
The next section was an intensely steep downward slope. Chances of falling were more than 100% because of the rain. However, one of the guides (John) showed me how to hack it. Walking fast with legs astride helps with balance. I did so and made it to the bottom of the slope.
But the trail wasn’t done with me yet. As I was going down the next hill, I slipped and fell again. That took all the wind out of my sails. I’d been trying so hard to not fall, walking carefully and holding on to the tea bushes only to slip so hard. I sat there for a good minute gathering momentum to continue. Fellow hikers were also falling every few minutes. It was hilarious.
I took a detour through the tea farm which was far less slidy. Now I was separated from those ahead of me. I couldn’t tell what way they’d gone. Waiting for the others who were behind seemed like the best option. But after standing there in the rain for a while without seeing anyone, I became apprehensive. After all, there were several routes those behind could have taken and missed me completely.
I was lost! And ironically not even in a place with dense vegetation. Just as I was taking my phone to call one of the guides, those behind caught up with me. Thank goodness. We continued with our adventure in the wild. More sliding downhill, through thick bushes in the rain. Why did I leave my warm bed to go get rained on like this? It’s the appealing call of the trails.
Another reward for our troubles- the third waterfall. This one came with a cave which we used as our relaxation and snacking area. It was actually the first time we’d sat down the entire hike. By now almost everyone had had their share of falling in the mud. It made for good storytime as we enjoyed the snacks.
I hadn’t noticed just how wet my clothes were until now. I’d started shivering from the cold. When on the move you don’t feel cold since your body is generating heat energy. Despite the biting cold, some brave hikers got into the water. Could never be me.
After the refreshing break, it was time to make our way back. Through the same dense bush and up and down the steep slopes. This hike was a proper full-body workout. Some parts saw us move on all fours and fives, five being the hind quarters. 😂😂 It’s my most intense hike so far. Pushed me to my limits and beyond.
When we got to the main road, the locals gave us strange looks as we passed. And rightly so. Our clothes were decorated with mud all over. They must have been wondering if we were okay. Little did they know we’d come from a fun mud skating experience.
At the end we were almost too wiped out for the post-hike stretches. Energy was at zero. Some opted to re-energize with ugali and nyama at Suswa Hotel, but I just wanted to get home and rest. Remember the lady who was the first to fall at the start? She had it rough and slipped the most because her shoes had very little grip. She was also a newcomer. I asked her if she’d come for another hike and she gave an emphatic Yes.
It’s the spirit of Let’s Drift. You’re bound to have a good time with these peeps even if you’re a beginner. They’re so welcoming and no one feels left out. Why don’t you join us for your next hiking experience?
klassique photography 
8 thoughts on “Out Here, in the Wild: Gatamaiyu Edition”