| Kenya Wildlife is obviously on your topmost | | | | commission every time they make a stop at the |
| agenda during your camping safari tour in Kenya | | | | shops. The downside is that your Kenya safaris |
| but it is vital that you are informed on how to | | | | driver may stop in every souvenir shop on the |
| operate a pit latrine which you will use during your | | | | route all in the pretense of giving you a chance to |
| camping safari. The design and the usage of a pit | | | | use the toilet facilities, however the truth that he |
| latrine gives travelers from western countries a | | | | is looking for his commission. |
| cultural shock and whether you have booked a | | | | Have in mind that pit latrines are provided more |
| luxury safari lodge, as long your Kenyan safari | | | | as a courtesy rather than as a strict hospitality |
| involves long hours on the road, count it - you will | | | | item, so their hygiene may not measure up to |
| most likely need to use a pit latrine. | | | | that of the safari lodge, hotels, resorts and luxury |
| What are pit latrines? They are small cubicles of | | | | safari camps in Kenya. |
| timber, iron sheets, mud or stone walls with a | | | | |
| wooden, mud or concrete floor constructed over | | | | Tips on how to use a pit latrine while on safari |
| dug deep hole. There is a rectangular aperture in | | | | Use the toilets in your hotel before you start off |
| the middle over which you squat or stand with | | | | for long Kenya safari drives. This way you may |
| one leg on each side of the hole. | | | | be able to hold on until you get to the next lodge |
| Neither of these two choices is easy for first | | | | or keep your visit to the pit latrines to the |
| time users and especially for children, the elderly | | | | minimum. |
| or Kenya Tanzania safari travelers with severe | | | | Be as comfortable as possible when using the pit |
| weight issues. Ventilation is ordinarily poor in the | | | | latrine. Therefore hand over your bags and |
| latrine resulting to a build-up of pungent odors | | | | jackets to people traveling with you on the |
| which can easily knock you down. Flies which are | | | | Kenyan safari. Be careful not to leave your |
| attracted by the contents in the shallow hole are | | | | belongings unattended. |
| another nuisance you will have to deal with. | | | | Whatever contraption has been put up as a door |
| Many camping safaris Kenya commence from | | | | latch, give it a test and hook it up properly. You |
| Nairobi city heading to Masai Mara, Amboseli, | | | | can't afford to have the door flying open half-way |
| Tsavo, Lake Nakuru, Samburu via the Aberdares | | | | your operations. |
| and Mt. Kenya regions. All along these safaris | | | | Carry your own toilet paper. Though some curio |
| routes there are numerous latrine stops. | | | | shops along the Kenya safari routes provide toilet |
| For camping tour safari heading in the Rift Valley | | | | paper, it is not guaranteed. No harm in realizing |
| via Lake Nakuru or Lake Naivasha to Masai Mara | | | | that you didn't need it, than needing it and you |
| the pit latrines at the View Point on the | | | | don't have it. |
| escarpment calls for a special mention, as they | | | | Finally, after using the pit latrine wash your hands |
| hang precariously on stilts at the very edge of | | | | thoroughly preferably with liquid soap. There may |
| the deep Great Rift Valley. But they give you the | | | | be a running tap or a water tank outside the |
| best views of the expansive floor of the valley | | | | toilet, if not use your bottled water. Where a bar |
| below, which hopefully compensates for the fear | | | | soap is provided, use it only if there is a good |
| of using the fragile structures. | | | | supply of tap water, remember a bar soap can |
| Pit latrines are built and maintained by souvenir | | | | be a good depository for germs. |
| shop owners, who use them as bait for attracting | | | | All done and ready to move on with your Kenya |
| tourists while on safari. The arrangement, though | | | | safari? Not so quick before posing for a picture |
| not obvious to tourists is a win-win for the curio | | | | outside the pit latrine, this will be one photo that |
| shop owners and tour safari drivers who receive | | | | will show that you were truly there and did that! |