Kenya - Nairobi

Friday, September 6'th

KQ107 from Copenhagen to Nairobi via

“Do you know why the tail of the Wildebeest look like a car-radio antennae when the Wildebeest run?    ☞ ★

Stockholm left on time. A Sweedish woman waiting in transit in Kastrup suddenly got sick and some of the Ethiopians talked to each other using a word that to me sounded like 'Malaria'. Kenya Airways make a

After a 50 minutes flight, we made our stop-over in Arlanda, Stockholm. We were told that the waiting period at Arlanda was estimated to be about 40 minutes, but somehow our flight-window down through Europe got Canceled/Delayed/Moved so we had 3 hours to spend in the Capital of Sweden. Well, we couldn't leave the airport so it wasn't that thrilling. Scandinavian Airline Systems (SAS) offered us a drink while we waited. at 23 hours we were ready to take off again, but by that time I was too tired to eat anything even though I had been starving. I went straight to sleep.

Saturday, September 7'th

At 9 O'clock in the morning we arrived at JKIA - Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. For once I didn't have any immigration problems but the luggage took some time to be unloaded, finally after one hour and a half I found my bag. While heading for the exit I spotted 'Bank of Barcley' and there was no queue. Still unsure of the name of the currency I

Even though I've slept most of the trip I was completely exhausted. In the arrival lounge a huge crowd was waiting with signs from travel agents. I didn't found my name (I would have been rather surprised if I did) so I went to the Tourist Information counter and said that I was going to the Sirona hotel, the one used as a pickup place for the Overland Travel companies. Immediately a Cap driver was called. Apparently he was attached to the Sirona Hotel, Parklands. We haggled a bit about the price, settling for 700 Ksh. Later I've found out that I easily could have gotten the ride for 500 Ksh but anyway, I was looking forward to the view of my eyelids from within.

We reached the hotel in 45 minutes. Before going to bed I asked in the reception if the drivers were in. I got told that they would be back the same afternoon and that I was the first to arrive of six in the party. by now the bed decided to jump on my back and I went into sweet unconsciousness. A nice hotel and the prices reasonable (1450 Ksh a night).

Around two in the afternoon I woke up and decided to get some lunch and look for the drivers. I found Steve (#1) in the Bar having Chips and Pizza for lunch, I decided to Join him. He told me that Sheila from Canada was coming later that day, Ian from Australia would arrive the following day and Alison from UK, the night before we were to leave Nairobi. The last two, Craig and Ann, we would pick up in Arusha, Tanzani because they would come from Zanzibar and didn't want to spend 40$US to enter Kenya and another 40$US to go back into Tanzania for just one day.

After lunch he showed me the truck parked out in the back of the hotel. They were doing some maintenance with the engine, just small repair. He told me that

The next days I spend getting into holiday-mood and walking around downtown Nairobi.

Tuesday, September 10'th (my birthday)

We all (the four passengers) meet at the truck at 10AM to get the Grand Tour, but no sign of the drivers. They had some last minute preparations to attend. 10.30AM they arrived and we got the Fast Tour instead, because they didn't want to explain it all again to Craig and Ann in Arusia. Since we were so few we could each have two locker rooms and there would still be plenty of room for souvenirs bought on the way.

At 11AM we departed the city, the traffic in Nairobi was not as bad as expected. We headed straight for the border to Tanzania. it was some dry countryside we passed through. At 1PM we drove onto the shoulder of the road. We were going to do a lunch picnic on the dusty savanne. The tables and small stools were arranged and we started making Salad and Sandwiches. The lunch took about 45 minutes, but this was more than enough for me to get sunburned, but only at the top of my right hand, odd ? Well, It could be that I used my left to hold the plate and thereby keept it out of the burning sun.

At 2PM we reached the Tanzanian border. An other Overland Travel party that left Sirona an hour before us were still waiting to get through the border. There were 23 on the truck and we were only 9 including the drivers. Our way through customs and immigration took only 20 minutes so we waved good-bye to the poor explorers who had been and still was sitting under the hot sun, for hours.

The rest of the trip towards Arusha we tried to spot Kilimanjaro, but the humidity was to dense, perhaps we will have better luck in the morning from the 'Masai Camp'. The distance to the mountain is

We arrived at the Masai Campsite, but no sign of Craig and Ann. The camp is 10 miles out of Arushia going east. Steve & Steve showed us how to erect the tents. Steve (#1) went to the telephones for calling the Exodus office in London to hear if there was any new from Ann & Craig. While he telephoned, out of the blue came our Kiwi companions, we had passed them on our way to the campsite so they had taken a cap the last few miles. After dinner Steve (#1) bought a round of drinks in honor of my birthday. That evening the drivers told the tale of a silly American girl that warned everyone about the crocodiles in the nearby river, but in the evening she took a swim in the shallow waters. She didn't survived the crocodiles she had talked about. I don't know how true this is, it is probably a story that is passed around a lot, but it gives a good thrill to listeners around the campfire in the bar at the Masai Campsite.

It was getting late and the temperature had dropped, causing a lot of dew outside. Will it be possible to see the snow covered cap of Kilimanjaro tomorrow morning ? The story is continued here.

Wednesday, October 2'nd

Back at Nairobi I had two days before my returning flight to Copenhagen, and I had arranged with Freddy that one of his friends could act as a

I have read the Out of Africa novel several times and its description of the

Apart from the farm we drove to the Zoo but it is not the same, having seen the 'real' stuff. On the way there we made a stop at the nearby Giraffe Center where orphans of Giraffe and other animals are

Do you know why the wildebeest raise its tail like a transistor-radio antennae when it run through the savanna-vegetation? The story goes that when the God had created all the animals he was tired. He had a little piece of skin left and it was not to go to waste. From that small piece of leather he created the wildebeest. When done the wildebeest ran away and the God noticed that the tail was pointed to the sky and it struck him; The piece of leather was to small, the wildebeest did not have skin enough! When the wildebeest run through the vegetation it have to close its eyelids to avoid getting twigs in his eyes. This stretches the skin on his back, so much that the tail is pulled to stand up.

That evening I watch TV in the bar and hear in the news that there is a strike among the Kenyan pilots because of an accident early that day. Oh my, is my plane back to Copenhagen delayed or canceled. They don't say in the news. I try to call but the lines are busy all the time. At the same time I realize that

Friday, October 4'th

In the morning I had arranged to drive tothe airport at 6AM, not knowing whether the flight is canceled or what. I had to wake up the cab-driver, he live right next to the hotel. At 6.30 I am there but everything is running as planned, the strike had been called off last night and KQ108 to leave for Copenhagen as planned at 10AM and seat 7E was ready and waiting for me.

Saturday, October 5'th

Back home I am welcomed by a family that have not heard a word from me in a month, rather concerned.. Uups.. Must remember to send postcards next time, to reasure that I am not eaten by a Lion.