In transit in Nairobi airport having got up at 0600, left Fort Portal by road at 0700 and checked in at Entebbe for the flight here at about 1330. The Fort Portal to Kampala road is excellent and Herbert made really good time until we hit the usual traffic crawl between Kampala and Entebbe and the excruciatingly slow - and completely pointless - security checks at the airport perimeter gate (passengers have to get out and be frisked, but neither the drivers no...

The big annual sea fishing competition is on this weekend in Malindi and Tim and I went to the traditional "boat auction" that precedes the competition at the Malindi Sea Angling Club last night. Each of the competing boats is "auctioned off" and the money received is pooled and split between the ultimate winners in various categories - so basically it's a betting system on the outcome of the competition. Tim thought I should experience the Malindi Sea Angling C...

You don't see many telephone lines in Kenya - everyone has mobile phones because they are cheap and easy to use. I bought a phone, plus local SIM card, plus 1000 shillings (£8) of airtime for £25. Using it avoids the extortionate charges on a UK mobile and the irritating delays you get whilst your voice travels to the UK and back. It's no IPhone 5 but you can call and text, it has Bluetooth, a 13Mp camera and a good torch - which is very useful here. Topping ...

Just after we had packed up to leave Lali Hills we drove no more than 200m and came across this group of 20 elephants all desperate to get into a mud hole big enough for about 8 elephants, so there was a fair amount of jostling for possession, but ultimately a queuing system developed - and it wasn't always the biggest that went first!

There are a lot of elephants in this game reserve, which means that there is plenty of wood lying around and its bone dry - so starting a fire is simple - and building it up to keep away things that go bump in the night and/or might spoil your evening is an acknowledged source of fun for boys of all ages.