Thanksgiving camping extravaganza

We went big for Thanksgiving this year. I'd been planting seeds of ideas among our friends and planning this thing for months in advance, and it paid off... the plan? A full American Thanksgiving at Mt Ololokwe in Samburu with a massive group of friends from Kenya and beyond.

Our Thanksgiving crew at Mt Ololokwe in Samburu area, Kenya

The Claassens even came up from Zambia to join us! First they went to the coast, though.

Cassidy, Stella, Evie, Sarah & Jacob

Once they arrived in Nairobi, the kids hit it off. This is them enjoying reading time together (totally their idea).

During the last days before the trip, a lot of (weird) planning went on... this is how we measure whether turkeys will fit in the jiko safari oven we were borrowing from the neighbors. It involves complex measurements of soccer balls and Evan's head.

Plus a lot of baking. I learned that Sarah is my pie baking mentor for now and always. She has some serious tricks.

More weird planning (and sharing) among our camping pals.

I somehow talked 4 out of the 5 families into departing Nairobi at 6am on the morning of Thursday, November 28. We all met up at Barney's Restaurant at the Nanyuki airport. The kids played and watched the small planes taking off/landing while the adults had lovely coffees and meals and congratulated ourselves on being such good packers and planners.

Cass and Nate, friends since 1994

One of the cars (not mine) was paying enough attention to stop for photos as they crossed the Equator that morning.

We trekked another couple hours together up to the Sarova Shaba, where the kids and I had enjoyed an amazing stay back in May. I had promised a good meal and swim to all who joined us, and after a massive game of Sharks and Minnows, I think everyone agreed it was worth the early morning and 6h drive.

Cake and ice cream by the pool, because why not?

From the Sarova Shaba, it was only an hour up to Mount Ololokwe.

We set up camp and welcomed the 5th family once they arrived. It was a relaxing night of campfires and

On Friday morning, we got up a bit early again to attempt a hike of the mountain. Here we all are at the start of the trail.

 We saw porcupine tracks in the sand at the trailhead near our camp.

And we hired donkeys to carry our water (and sometimes our kids) up the trail. Because that is fun.

Unfortunately for us Jensens, Cora and Silas both woke up feeling ill that morning. Silas and Nate only made it a little way up the trail before they turned back and Silas started throwing up.  He later threw up in the middle of Nate's work training in Archer's Post when Nate brought him in to town to check on his colleagues and say hi.

Thanks to the donkeys, mostly, Cora and I made it as far as this ridge. From this view, we headed back down the mountain with Alessandra and Emma, who had developed a rash reaction to an insect bite, and with Sarah Claassen and Stella and Evie, who were feeling tired.

Back at camp there was a lot of semi-napping and some game playing (Settlers of Catan).

 The rest of our crew made it up to the waterfalls, and for a while we could see them on the ridge.

A photo from Kristen from the top of the down trailhead;
Carson and Ben don't look too tired

Our Samburu guide, David, with Cole, Oscar, Jacob and Carson at the top

Soon it was time to start preparing our Thanksgiving feast. Nate started the charcoal for the oven and we all got to food prep. We managed a fully traditional Thanksgiving meal in the bush, including two turkeys, green bean casserole, rolls, candied yams (with marshmallow topping), cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, apple pie, and pumpkin pie...

After a toast and a go-round to say what we were thankful for (a lot of us were so thankful just to be in that beautiful place together), we dug in. It was DELICIOUS. We ate our fill and relaxed around the fire that night.

The next day was a relax-at-camp day. We played next to the river at the Sabache EcoCamp. Ben and Alessandra brought their climbing gear and Nate helped Ben set up a climbing wall for the kids (and some adults) to try. A lot more Catan was played. The donkeys came back to camp for more rides.

Emma, Stella and Cora

Unfortunately, the Claassens had to depart after lunch (turkey sandos, duh) to make their plane the next morning. It was so fantastic sharing this adventure with them, and seeing our kids fall in love with each other. I'm sure we'll be seeing more of them, and soon I hope!

A good-bye photo from the Claassens

Later in the day, our Samburu hosts slaughtered and roasted a goat for our dinner. Some of the kids were quite interested in the disemboweled goat, and the Samburu men explained to us which parts were traditionally given to which members of the community (for example, girls and women usually get the iron-rich liver).

Dinner was pretty late that night. The kids made fun Magnetiles houses while we gnawed on goat bones.

It was a highly successful bush Thanksgiving!