Urhino at the Henry Camp

It was a short day with only 50 kilometers or so, and six small hours of driving on the corrugated dirt road. We had heard good words about the Henry Camp in Marsabit, thus decided on an early night, eat properly, check the bikes and maybe have a drink looking at the bikes in the African sunset. It had been a couple of rough days already.

The camp was nice, with a hut functioning as a dorm, and showers and toilets in a separate building. As we checked in, the boy showed us around. First to the dorm, then up to the showers and toilets. On the way back from the shower to the hut he points at a fence, a fence that encloses a big area.

“There´s the rhino” he said. I could see nothing but a bunch of monkeys in the shades of the trees in the fenced in area. “WTF, you got you own rhino here? Is it yours?” I´d always assumed that rhinos were rare and as hard to find as virgins in Manila.

“I said rhino!!” he snapped at me. “Amazing, I´ve always wanted a rhino, do you wanna sell it?” I replied even more enthusiastic.

“Rhino!!” he says a bit annoyed. “Yes, for God’s sake, I´m not deaf! In fact, I´d like to buy it and bring it back to my grandmother as a present. I think she too would fancy a rhino.”

Klaus had an ugly grin on his face. “Tormod, give him a break. He says urinal, not rhino. “

Det var en kort dag med kun 50 kilometer eller deromkring, og seks små timers kørsel på en vaskebrætvej. Vi havde hørt godt om Henry Camp i Marsabit, og bestemte os for at komme tidligt i seng, spise ordentligt, tjekke maskinerne og måske kigge på dem i den afrikanske solnedgang. Det havde allerede været et par hårde dage.

Campingpladsen var fin nok, med en hytte der fungerede som sovesal, og brusere og lokummer i en separat bygning. Vi tjekkede ind og knægten viste os først sovesalen, så bruserne og toiletterne. På vej tilbage pegede han på et større indhegnet område.

”There's the rhino” ('Der er næsehornet') sagde han. Jeg kunne ikke se andet end en flok aber i skyggen under et træ. ”Hva fa'en, I har jeres eget næsehorn her? Er det dit?” jeg havde ellers altid troet næsehorn var sjældne og lige så svære at finde som en jomfru i Manila.

”Rhino!” sagde han lidt irriteret. ”For guds skyld mand, jeg er ikke døv. Faktisk vil jeg gerne købe det og tage det hjem som en gave til min bedstemor. Jeg tror hun også vil blive rigtig glad for et næsehorn”.

”Tormod, lad ham være”, sagde Klaus med et grimt grin i fjæset. ”Han siger 'urinal', ikke 'rhino'”.