My name is Jaden Baraka, and this is my experience camping at Beneath the Baobabs, Kilifi.
Nothing pleases me more than a looming trip. I was in Nairobi when my mum called and told me that she had signed me up for a boy’s camp that was to happen in the next few days. So, she picked me up from Nairobi to Mombasa – and we used the SGR. It is such a nice experience using the SGR; if you haven’t done it yet, consider doing it soon.
Waiting at the Church
The camping date arrived, and my parents took me to church. Did I mention it was a church-organized event? So, we were there in church, and the first ones to arrive, for that matter. At some point, we even thought we had the wrong venue, but an hour later, other people started trickling in. In about two hours, everyone was there.
Arrival at Beneath the Baobabs
The journey from Mombasa to Kilifi took roughly an hour and a half. It was scenic – we passed the Mamba Village, Wild Waters, Haller Park, and Pirates Beach, among other popular attractions in Mombasa.
We arrived in Kilifi at around 3 o’clock and were served pilau. Pilau is a mix of rice, meat, and spices. It’s very tasty, by the way. By the way, there were a lot of ants, so we sat on pillows and mats so that the ants would not bite us.
Activities at Beneath the Baobabs
After that, my friends and I played football. We like playing football. We even have a football club at our church – I go for training every Saturday morning. At the camp, small boys played on one side and big boys on the other side. I was among the small ones – haha. We played a group game, and those who were in the top 5 won.
Sleeping in the Tents
It got late, and it was time for dinner. Dinner was chapati and beans. After eating, we went to sleep. We slept in tents. We had parked some essentials, like bed sheets and sleeping bags, so it was all cozy. It felt nice sleeping out in the field. Oh, and by the way, we did not come with our parents. As I had mentioned earlier, it was a boys’ only camp. I was scared at first, imagining how I would survive without my parents, but it wasn’t that bad after all. I would camp alone again.
The Morning at Beneath the Baobabs
Our teacher woke us up early for some prayers and light exercises the next morning. Then we ate breakfast and brushed our teeth. We went on a tour around the camping site. In the afternoon we went swimming at the beach. Some played beach football, while others, like me, watched. After that, we went to the bus and went home. My parents and friends were happy to see me.
You can read more about Beneath the Baobabs here.
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