Serian - The Original

We eventually found our way to Serian and unlike the other 3 camps there was no one there to greet us.  

We did our goodbyes with Charles (these things can easily get forgotten in the confusion of meeting a whole load of new people).

Poor Charles had to help carry our bags down (not good form) and we came across a young girl who didn’t work here and a young lad who did.  A white Kenyan trainee guide, proceeded to give us a form to complete, a cool flannel and fruit juice and told us we were free to do what we liked as we had our own guide and that was it.  We passed by the camp manager who was on her way out and would be back for lunch and Trainee then handed us over to a local guy and again Ian had to help with the bags.  We had asked for the tent nearest the river so we could watch the hippos in our downtime and therefore it was quite a walk away from the camp’s common areas and down a lot of steps.  Still the room seems very nice, the only downside being the loo/bathroom is in a separate tent a few metres away.  The guy briefly showed us the tent and a torch and indicated we had to wave the light around at night for an Askari to come – but he spoke no English so we couldn’t ask any questions.

The tent is vast, a huge bed in the middle, day bed at one end, grubby dead sheep on the floor (very quickly rolled up and shoved under the bed).

Getting in either the bath or shower may prove tricky as there is nothing to hold on to.  Still at least there are nice towels (13 of them ??)

We unpacked, had a quick shower and joined everyone for lunch on the deck; there are only two other guests but unfortunately they are leaving after lunch.  The rest of the table consisted of Trai Anfield the photographer in residence, the girl we’d met on the way in who used to work here and was back for a short visit and someone working for a lion project plus the camp managers, and their 9 mo daughter.  Lunch was buffet style and looked very nice but everything was crawling with flies and our appetites vanished rapidly.  The departing ladies aside, everyone else talked amongst themselves and we felt a bit out of it so we made our excuses and trekked back to the room.  

Sadly there is something about this place which we don’t like.  After the greetings and briefings we received at the other camps, this “get on with it” attitude isn’t very nice and although the room is OK we are quite remote and I’m not sure the view is worth the trek.