A Night in the Camp Kitchen
We arrived expecting a peaceful night under African skies. We woke up in a camp kitchen.
We arrived at Lake Naivasha in Kenya hoping for one of those idyllic camping nights beneath the stars. The lakeside campground was beautiful, our beds were set up beneath an old tree, and everything seemed perfect.
Then the heavens opened.
Sometimes the best camping stories are the ones that don't go to plan.
Optimistic, we set up our camp beds beneath an old tree, calm and protective in the afternoon light. We were hoping to sleep under the stars.
Mother Nature had other ideas.
The rain arrived suddenly and heavily, forcing a rapid retreat to the old camp kitchen, a hard-worked shelter made of rough-cut timber, concrete floors and peeling floral paper. Its surfaces were stained by smoke, damp and years of use; a place built to endure rather than provide comfort.
There we stayed. All night.
Seeing our predicament, the staff lit a bonfire nearby to make us more comfortable. It was both welcome and mildly alarming, given how close it was to the old wooden structure.
Despite our concerns, we slept well.
Excerpt from : The Accidental Motorcyclist, 2026
Adventure doesn't always look how you imagine it will. But invariably, that’s what you remember the most.
