Game viewing may be the main reason why you have chosen to go on a Kenya wildlife safari, but you should be prepared on how to use a pit latrine during your trip in Kenya.
The design and practicalities of a pit latrine give many visitors from first world countries a cultural shock. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a cheap camping safari or a high-end luxury safari, as long as your Kenyan wildlife safari involves road travel, count on it, you’ll probably need to use a pit latrine. So it’s better to know before you go.
What are pit latrines? They are small sheds with wooden or concrete walls and the same materials are used for the floor that is built over a shallow hole.
There is a rectangular opening in the middle that you squat over or stand with one leg on each side of the hole. Neither of these two options is easy for first-time users and especially for children, the elderly or safari travelers with serious weight problems.
Ventilation is typically poor in the latrine, leading to a buildup of pungent odors that can easily knock you over. Another nuisance will be the flies that are attracted to the contents of the shallow holes.
Most Kenya safaris start in Nairobi and head to the Masai Mara, Great Rift Valley, Amboseli, Tsavo or Samburu via the Aberdares and Mt. Kenya regions. On all Kenya safari routes there are latrine stops which are too numerous to list in this article.
For Kenyan safaris heading to the Rift Valley, the pit latrines at the Lookout on the Escarpment deserve special mention, as they hang precariously on stilts at the very edge of the Great Rift Valley. But they do give you the best views of the sprawling valley floor below, which hopefully offsets any fear of using the flimsy structures.
Souvenir shop owners build and maintain pit latrines as bait to attract tourists. The arrangement, while not obvious to tourists, is beneficial to curio shop owners and safari drivers who earn a commission each time they stop at the shop.
The downside is that your Kenya safari driver may stop at every souvenir shop along the way, all under the guise of giving you a chance to use the toilet, but is actually looking for his commission.
Please note that the pit latrines are provided more as a courtesy than a strict hospitality item, so your hygiene may not be up to par with that of the safari lodge.
5 easy to follow tips on how to use a pit latrine:
1. Use your hotel’s toilets before heading out on a long Kenyan safari. In this way, you may be able to hold out until you reach the next shelter or keep your visit to the pit latrine to a minimum.
2. Be as comfortable as possible when using the pit latrine. So, give your bags and jackets to the people traveling with you on the Kenya safari. Be careful not to leave your belongings unattended.
3. Whatever gadget has been installed as the door latch, test it and connect it correctly. You can’t afford to have the door open halfway through your trades!
4. Bring your own toilet paper. Although some curio shops along the Kenyan safari routes offer toilet paper, it is not guaranteed. It doesn’t hurt to realize that you didn’t need it, than to need it and not have it.
5. Finally, after using the pit latrine, wash your hands well, preferably with liquid soap. There may be a running faucet or water tank outside the toilet, if not, use your bottled water. When a bar of soap is provided, use it only if there is a good supply of tap water, remember that a bar of soap can be a good reservoir for germs.
Done and ready to continue your wildlife safari? Not so quick before you pose for a photo outside the pit latrine, this will be a photo that shows you were actually there and did that!
