The Oldest Blog

The Oldest Blog

I am pleased to say that reactions to my blogging efforts have been favourable but I have noticed an undertone of veiled criticism in so much as the average reader of Old Africa is naturally interested in the period of African history when European discoveries and...
A Patriotic Failure

A Patriotic Failure

In early November 1963, the Nairobi City council woke up to the fact that they had four weeks to prepare the city for independence celebrations and there were very few people left in Kenya with experience of such things. I found myself roped in on some sub-committee...
Memories of Katungulu – Part 2

Memories of Katungulu – Part 2

Snakes, bats and drinking water. After our amazing escape from the whirling waterspout, we arrived at our house at the AIM mission at Katungulu. Mom, who has always struggled with seasickness, plopped down on her bed to recover. Staring at her from the corner near her...
Memories of Katungulu

Memories of Katungulu

Malaria, hyenas and a waterspout At our last family reunion in 1999 with my mom and dad still present, we (now seven children) recounted many of our childhood experiences. My memories of our first years  at Katungulu in Tanganyika were stimulated by my older brother...
In Praise of Overlanders All

In Praise of Overlanders All

In noting with interest my fellow bloggers’ fascinating overland experiences, I was reminded of my overland days. In the 1950s we ran an overland campsite in the grounds of our current Hardy, Langata house, dealing with two or three north or southbound truckloads of...