Bumbuna.

So back to Makeni and the next day we had another, smaller trip in mind. In the afternoon Kieran picked us up again and we were off once more. Well, we were eventually off after we waited to find out who had borrowed his car without asking. But eventually we were away, this time to a place called Bumbuna. We were due to see the waterfall there and also the (apparently now complete) hydroelectric dam which, in theory at least, will be able to provide power for most of the country. In the end we only saw the falls, but they were amazing in themselves. The water was like ice, which in this climate is a true blessing. It was a very short walk to the falls themselves, and then we lounged around the basin and river for an hour or two with the inevitable accompaniment of a load of local kids who had followed our car from the last village we passed.












Michael and Kieran were straight in of course, climbing the dodgy bits and braving the currents before anyone else. Tash and Gearoid stayed out, and I was half and half, enjoying the water but not feeling particularly suicidal and so avoiding the worst bits. So there was some lounging on the rocks, and swimming, and daring the worse bits. One highlight had to be Kieran climbing the side of the waterfall and then being unable to get back down without help. Highly enjoyable.








As can be seen from the pics we also stopped at a nearby village for African Fanta (we both couldn’t find the dam - does it really exist? - and to be honest couldn’t be bothered to look) and got assailed by the local child life. Kids here really love having their photo taken. Except for some of the younger ones who still think you’re going to steal them away (honkeys are a bit of a bogyman for young children, we’re demon seers who abduct kids you know).