Watamu: Week One

I've kept myself busy during my first week in Watamu, a small beach town on the coast of Kenya.

Watamu Beach - Wishing Rock

Elephant towel welcome at Mvuvi B&B

I've definitely spent hours in the turquoise bath-warm water, but have been filling most of my time volunteering with Local Ocean Trust (LOT) aka Watamu Turtle Watch, and with an amazingly friendly local family I met a few days in.

Local Ocean Trust rehab

LOT rescues turtles that have been caught in fishermen's nets, pays the fishermen a bit to encourage them to call in, and releases uninjured turtles back into the safety of the marine protected area of Watamu beach. If the turtles are sick, they bring them to their rehabilitation centre. They also monitor nests to make sure the hatchlings make it to the water, and educate the community on the importance of protecting these endangered species and their habitats.

I've been learning so much about identifying turtles, documenting them when we go out for a rescue, how to take care of them when they are in the rehab, etc. If you want to find out more about this great organization:
http://www.watamuturtles.com

Jamcia - a rescued Hawksbill turtle I named from a combo of Jamila/Dacia

On the weekend I went to a local church in town with my new friend, Enoch, and his daughter, Wansa. We also walked to a mangrove forest, and today we went to Gede Ruins. And after, always back to their house for a delicious lunch, and then a swim.

The Gede Ruins are from a town in its prime around the 15th century, and only 12 of 45 acres of the abandoned town were excavated from 1948-58.

Enoch and I at the ruins

I'm still here for another week; a few days with LOT, and the rest seeing what other adventures I can get up to:) Asante for reading along with my journey so far!

Getting to Gede - local van transport called Matatus

Roof-top sunset yoga

Enoch's oldest son, Mike, getting coconuts

Me eating said coconuts