KENYA TOUR 2004

Out of Africa – Cricketers Return

 

Meticulous planning by Peter Allen led to another successful overseas tour in February 2004.  Following India in 2002, the destination was Kenya and a whistle-stop, nine-day holiday combining the delights of safari on the Masai Mara, the white sands and deep sea fishing of the Indian Ocean with, yes, a little bit of cricket.  A party of 24 cricketers and partners descended from the Nairobi skies only hours before the first match and an outstanding five-wicket victory against a Nairobi Gymkana side boasting a number of past and future internationals.  The target of 212 in 35 overs was achieved in a thrilling last over, thanks mainly to fifties from Gar Davies, Rhys Jones and Andrew Witcombe.  A further three matches, including a match in sweltering Mombasa, saw the out-of-season tourists offer stiff competition in narrow defeats to strong opposition. 

 

A bumpy six-hour drive took the intrepid party to two days on the Masai Mara.  This introduced the tourists to a host of local wildlife, including cheetahs, lions, giraffes, hyenas, elephants and hundreds of gazelles.  A champagne breakfast was shared with hippos before the party headed for Mombasa minus much of their baggage, which couldn’t be fitted into the two single-prop aircraft chartered for the trip!

 

Mombasa was hot!  Very hot!  One tourist complained that he usually ran baths that were colder than the Indian Ocean!  The sensible applied ‘Factor Duffle Coat’ to their sensitive white bodies.  Others fried!  One very sticky defeat later, the tourists set off back to Nairobi.  Some made it, but a group to become known as the ‘Nairobi Nine’ were required to remain for a further night in Mombasa as guests of Air Kenya, who had overbooked the flight!  Thankfully the party was soon back together in time for one last match in Nairobi and a nine-hour flight back to Heathrow.

 

Next stop?  Plans are afoot for 2006 and a trip to South Africa.  Watch this space.