Additional Information Kisima

KISIMA/ BUURI AREA Kisima farm is situated in Timau location, Buuri district of . Meru County is in the in accordance to previous provisional boundaries. It is part of the marginalized area of the great Meru area. It is locate between two big towns, the Meru town and the Nanyuki town. The closest small town to the Kisima area is Timau. It is at the slopes of Mt. which provides a spectacular view when there is no cloud cover.

Buuri district has a population of about 110 000 inhabitants. The indigenous people in the area are the Meru ethnic group. The area also is occupied by Kenyans farmers with the European origins who settled in the area and own big ranches. The local community basically practices subsistence farming as a source of livelihood. A small percentage of the people work in the big farms as casual laborers.

DISTANCES Your travel starts from , Kenya and ends at Kisima farm, Timau, Meru, Kenya and is approximately 216 km. You Can get a feel of the tour distance on the small map. http://www.distancesfrom.com/ke/map-from-Nairobi-to-kisima- farmTimau/MapHistory/3285544.aspx

Apart from the trip distance, there is also a map on road driving directions http://www.distancesfrom.com/ke/directions-from-Nairobi-to-kisima- farmTimau/DirectionHistory/3285544.aspx

The Kisima farm is situated 40 km from Nanyuki town in the west, and 10km after the /Meru/Nanyuki junction when approaching from Meru town in the east. Timau shopping centre is approx. 20 km from the farm.It is advisable that the doctors do their shopping in Nairobi and in Nanyuki town or Meru town. In these towns you will get big Nakumatt Supermarket.

WEATHER The jeepline region being at the foot of Mt Kenya, the weather in Kisima is cooler than any of the RDS jeeplines in Kenya. It is advised that doctors bring in warm clothing. Climate data for area around Kisima Jeepline Meru county, Kenya Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high °C 19.1 21.0 21.7 22.9 20.8 20.0 20.6 19.7 20.5 22.5 20.9 18.4 20.7 (66.4) (69.8) (71.1) (73.2) (69.4) (68) (69.1) (67.5) (68.9) (72.5) (69.6) (65.1) (69.3) (°F) Average low °C 17.2 17.7 18.4 16.4 16.9 14.8 13.5 15.2 17.2 16.6 16.0 17.1 16.4 (63) (63.9) (65.1) (61.5) (62.4) (58.6) (56.3) (59.4) (63) (61.9) (60.8) (62.8) (61.5) (°F) Rainfall mm 54.1 32.3 119.4 280.8 139.7 9.1 11.1 10.6 19.2 229.8 317.0 142.9 1,366 (2.13) (1.272) (4.701) (11.055) (5.5) (0.358) (0.437) (0.417) (0.756) (9.047) (12.48) (5.626) (53.779) (inches) Source: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial[6]

THE JEEPLINE The disease pattern in Kisima is different compared to the other jeeplines. There is no malaria in the area so there is another mix of diagnosis on the line. There is driver and supporter employed on the jeepline, called Peter, but no other staff. The nurse or sometimes nurses are supplied by the Buuri sub-county health management team. The medication is supplied by Gundua Health Centre, which might also ask for assistance and advice regarding special cases. There is a special project on-going to develop treatment guidelines for diabetic and hypertension patients. Community Health Workers are screening for patients and referring them for a second screening to jeepline clinics and dispensaries. The patients that are identified should receive treatment and medicine for free until they are stable.

DENTIST CLINIC The dentist clinic is located in the Gundau Health Centre and the Centre is responsible for the clinic, the equipment and the supplies. The centre is planning and arranging for the school visits and there is a van for making the visits in. The children that needs to come to the dental clinic is arranging their own transport. There is also a mobil dental unit can that be used by the dentist, for example at the jeepline clinics or at schools with big needs.

Useful telephone numbers

Rotary Doctors Telephone e-mail Daniel Muruka +254 722 46 06 00 [email protected] Jacinta Karimi +254 729 67 3 28 [email protected] Karin Håkansson +46 (0)383 467 480 [email protected] +46 (0)727 167 482

Gunda Health Center Brenda Head nurse +254 (0)723 605 385 Peter driver +254 (0)726 969 651 Purity +254 (0)721 486 760

Leisure Chris driver +254 (0)722 784 563 Meru Nat Park +254 (0)20 210 95 08 Murera Gate Elsa´s Kopje Lodge +254 (0)733 333 887 Direkt Lodge Elsa´s Kopje Lodge +254 (0)206 040 53 Bokning se infopärm

Leisure in the neighborhood Kisimas

Meru National Park A day trip by car to Meru National Park is an experience. The journey there can be done by booking a car in advance, for example by using Chris or asking Henry (Hand and Soul ). The car journey takes about 2 hours from the house to Murera Gate. Admission to the park 65USD (2013) for non residents. If you want to make a day trip, a car can be booked through the gate. The car costs 7.500KES (2013). The car is run by a guide / ranger who knows a lot about the animals and nature in the park. It starts early so it can be good to bring a little picnic breakfast/brunch. Lunch can be eaten at Elsa 's Kopje, where you also can stay overnight. Bookings made through the office in Nairobi. Indicate that you have a working visa for Gundua Health Center, live on Kisima Farm and you agreed with Philip at Elsa 's Kopje that you should pay the price of a resident. If the Nairobi office so wish, they can confirm with Elsa 's Kopje.

Driver Chris: phone: 0722 784 563 Elsa 's Kopje Lodge Direct: +254 (0) 733 333 887 Elsa 's Kopje booking Nairobi: +254 (0) 206 040 53

Samburu National Reserve is a nearby park that can be reached in about 1 hour. Overnight is possible in several different ways.

Fishing on There are lakes on Mount Kenya with trout. The journey there takes about 2-3 hours. You need your own equipment and can stay overnight. Fishing licenses can be purchased at the park gate. In addition, you pay admission and fee guide .

Walking and Climbing Mount Kenya offers great hiking trails. For more information visit the website of the Mountain Club of Kenya www.mck.or.ke.