Nighttime adventure and the fishing dream in Mathioya that never was

The nighttime adventure in Murang’a proved harder than anticipated when I used Google maps to located my lodging. A family member had secured and confirmed a booking at the Aberdare Cottages and Fishing Lodge. And perhaps because the driver was tired, as were the Google maps, too, I lost my way.

The lodge overlooks the Mathioya River and trout fishing is a major attraction, so I was looking forward to a fishing contest with the eldest man of the family, early in the morning. It was not to be. One moment, I was two minutes away, next, Google had rerouted and cast me to the other side of the ridge—heading to Othaya!

I called the lodge the following morning and spoke with the owner, Zac Gichane, just to assure him that I had every intent of visiting his place. “The chef waited until after 10.30pm,” he sighed. “Ordinarily, the kitchen closes at 9pm, but he couldn’t leave before his guests arrived.”

I said I was calling to make amends, even pay a cancellation fee. “It’s alright,” Zac said. “Next time…”

“Don’t mention about the road,” the young man of the family said, craftily, when I said I’d write about Zac’s generosity. “Let people come and discover for themselves.” By that he meant I should downplay the deplorable state of the road to the lodge.

But since I was taught about ethical reporting, I will say this to Irungu Kang’ata, now that he’s been named the best governor in the country: This gem in the heart of Murang’a deserves a better road, unless its derelict state is configured as a tourist attraction.