You can see from this map that we're at about 2200 meters above sea level. The green gets lighter as you get closer to sea level:
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This means that it's quite a bit colder than in Nairobi although cold is a relative term when you live on the equator so it's about 65 degrees during the day and low 50s at night. Nothing is heated so the nights are quite cold since it's the rainy season but it's very possible to get sunburned from the altitude and the equatorial sun. "Kijabe" means "place of the wind" in the Maasai language and after months of palm trees, the sound of the wind rustling the evergreens was quite nice.
You can see from this map how incredibly green the Right Valley is:
View Kijabe in a larger map
We have a direct view of Mount Longonot which is a dormant volcano that towers above the Rift savannah.
Besides Kijabe Hospital, Kijabe is also home to Rift Valley Academy or RVA, the world's largest boarding school for missionary children. Kids come from all over Africa to go to school at RVA while their parents serve in the field. 10% of the spots are reserved for Kenyans and are apparently ridiculously impossible to get since the school is so popular. The teachers are all missionaries who felt called to teach the kids and live on the campus with their families.
The combination of RVA kids, RVA staff, and the Kijabe hospital staff give the town a very different feel from the coast. There are a lot of Americans here so there is more taste of "home" though as previously mentioned, the grocery shopping leaves a lot to be desired.
We've really enjoyed our time in Kijabe. It's a beautiful place and watching the rain move over the Rift Valley has definitely been a highlight of our time in Kenya.
The school also has one of the most beautiful views in the world:
It says RiftVally..anyway I like your blog so much that I decided to share it with my readers http://www.dianilife.com/aggregator/ too bad you are not in coast anymore.
ReplyDeleteLove the way Kijabe is quiet and removed from the rest of the world, and the magnificent views,the winding roads and the way people call it "Kija-Fee".
I first went to Kijabe over a decade ago, RVA were bitter rugby rivals in the Prescott Cup. Cheers!
What a lovely photo shoot you've had here, and your wistfulness is coming through in your blog posting. I imagine there is great excitement at returning, but also some reluctance to leave behind the very different and life-altering culture you have come to love and appreciate?
ReplyDeleteWell done, children, and enjoy the last week of your journey. There will not doubt be more to come, and I continue to learn so much from each reading.
Love you,
Mom/L