Salad Days

 

Salad, the house-keeper at Loisaba Star Beds, spent the last lockdown at home in Isiolo County with his wife Habiba (Arabic for darling) and their four children, Shukri, Hamsa, Dansoye, and Rukia. Salad is from the Borana tribe and the Warjida sub-tribe which originated from Ethiopia before migrating into Kenya and dispersing to areas such as Garrisa, Wajir, Marsabit, and Isiolo. They are traditionally pastoralists looking after camels, cattle, goats and Somali sheep.

“I spent my time at home renovating the perimeter fence, making the flower garden look appealing, and helping my children with their studies at home. It was Eid el Fitr so it was good to spend time with my family and to avoid coming into contact with the virus. Nevertheless, I am more than pleased to be back at work at the Loisaba Star Beds, greeting guests, and making comfy beds on which they can lay their backs as they gaze at the stars at night.”

“We’re now really busy, and often fully booked, and so my main duties are to make sure the beds are all made before their arrival, receive the guests at the main lodge, and guide them to their rooms. I explain how the rooms work – the open air shower, and the laundry facilities – before leaving them to relax. Often they go out for a game drive at about four o’clock and that’s when I refresh their room and leave it looking tidy again. Later, while they are having dinner, I place a hot water bottle under their covers and roll their bed under the stars for the night. If it rains during the night, it’s all hands on deck to roll the beds back under cover with the guests still in situ!”

“I started off as a laundry assistant at Serena Safari Lodge in the Buffalo National Reserve. Then I moved to Kilugani Serena Safari Lodge in Tsavo West National Park. Finally I moved to Loisaba Tented Camp in 2016, occasionally doing relief work at Loisaba Lodo Springs, and then to the Loisaba Star Beds as a trained Housekeeper.”

“The Covid pandemic has added a new dimension to my job as I need to carry out a deep clean before and after the guests check-in and –out. I have to be especially careful as I come into contact with the same surfaces as the guests and be conscious of the need to be socially-distanced.”

“The elephant towels are my favourite signature piece – they add a little wow factor to people’s arrival especially as so often they can watch elephants from the room deck overlooking the Kiboko Dam.”

Whilst James is an excellent chef for all the guests, my favourite Borana food is Pilau, a beef stew. I am happy to dig into the whole pot! I also love listening to Borana music from Ethiopia and my favourite artists is Abby Lakew.