Developing highway settlement right? Well, you couldn't be more wrong. (Or is it wronger? My English teacher was a bit "accented").
Athi River is more than just the endless constructions and tear-inducing habitat of dust. Moving past Small World Country Club into Lukenya, and gathering enough courage to move past the human invasion of the land, it's a beautiful and rather scenic sanctuary.
You will meet a couple of Maasai herdsmen who will spew threats of lions roaming the wild countryside, and how you must be extremely cognitively challenged to venture past into the wilderness.
(Remember I said courage?). It's a trip one has to take, and you will immediately regret not having made one more entry into your bucket list. For your viewing pleasure is an array of wildlife that's worth the two hours spent on an earth road and the impromptu visit to the garage when you get back.
Nothing quite comes close to the majesty of a full grown giraffe in its untamed natural glory. I don't mean the ones you casually glance at Daystar, who are so used to civilization that you can actually take selfies with.
There is something Darwinian about the pure unadulterated savagery of the wide open solitude.
The giraffes are undaunted by you and your little petroleum engine purring to ease the pain in its shock absorbers inflicted by a road not even recognized by our local government.
The gazelle population is rather jumpy. (Terrible, terrible joke). I have met Zebra that have honestly taken me back to a time spent in a cave etching what would become the findings of a great archaeologist.
The landscape is really captivating. Dotted by small rocky hills, which a top, one would see a savannah stretching for miles and the occasional naturally occurring dam.
Okay, so I brought binoculars too, but which self-serving driver in Kenya's world of network disappearing GPS connection-enabled Google Maps wants to be caught dead without a pair? Google can't help without bars, and raising your phone in some sort of silent homage to the satellites and network towers is so 1990s, or so I'm told.
Just step out into the sun and experience an Anthony Hopkins moment with the lions, or should I say Londolozi. (Not to make an obscure outdated reference, but I see all you teenagers with your satellites and your Google, asking Anthony who?)
Most people swear they've heard the roar of a lion out here, as the sun sets. I've never had the privilege, but not to be left out, I've downloaded a lion roar ringtone and I'm waiting for a sucker.
A drive into the wild would certainly be worth it, and a real treat for nature lovers.
The scenery is amazing and untouched, and the air pure, not to mention sunsets so beautiful you'll wish for a couple of more megapixels on your obscenely overpriced (albeit aptly Luo named) gadget.