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January 20th Kenya Tanzania
My husband and I are on the January 20th trip 2012to Kenya and Tanzania we just thought we could touch base with some fellow travelers before we meet up in Arusha we will be leaving a day early so we can get some rest after our long flight we are traveling from Northwest Florida.
Love to see some news about recent trips anyone has taken there
Thanks Beth
Love to see some news about recent trips anyone has taken there
Thanks Beth
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Of course, if it snows in NY and the flights get messed up, we will not be arriving that evening.
I look forward to meeting you and hour husband.
Laura
I just wanted to let you know, the transfers to and from the hotel have a little bit of flexibility and fluctuation — if you arrive at close to the same time as another guest (if you arrive on the same flight, or within a few minutes of each other through a coincidence), we often send a van to pick up both groups. However, if you arrive on your own, we simply send a car.
I hope you enjoy your upcoming trip!
Sincerely,
Tim
My wife and I, leaving a day early from northern Ohio, will be taking the Jan. 20th, 2012
Safari as well. We look forward to meeting you and the great adventure.
OCTOBER 2011
Our planning for this journey started over two years ago since we originally were planning on going in 2010, but Judith had fallen and cracked her Knees. We had chosen Tauck because of the outstanding tour we had had on the New England Fall colors journey. I like the way they organize and plan their trips. We started looking at their blogs and making notes on what we needed in the way of clothing. They were very helpful and we were able to dress in various shades of beige so we would not scare the animals or attract the Tsetse Flies. Planning started in earnest with our yellow fever, polio, meningitis, typhoid fever, hepatitis A shots in June and our application for Visas in July. I was able to find a hotel near the LAX airport, where I could park free for the duration of the trip.
On Thursday we left our hotel at LA and drove to LAX. We checked in to KLM and went to the KLM lounge to wait for boarding. The flight was delayed an hour and a half at LAX due to computer problem for verifying passengers . As result when we got to Amsterdam on Friday we had missed our connection to Kilimanjaro. KLM meet us at the plane and had new tickets for us going to Nairobi via KLM and a coupon for a connection flight to Kilimanjaro. In order to get on the flight to Nairobi we had to go thru another screening of our carry on bags and ourselves, even though we had just gotten off a screened flight.
When we landed at Nairobi we had to go thru customs, but we had to show our vaccination record first. Lucky we had had our Yellow Fever shots. We had to fill out the custom form with passport info etc. We than went into the Nairobi Airport to find our connection flight. Nairobi Airport is vey crowed with narrow aisles and no seating. Restrooms were very small and ill equipped. Our coupon said we were flying on Kenya Air, which my iPhone said was listed as "KQ" We found a flight to Kilimanjaro but no KQ was listed. We asked at the desk but were told to come back in an hour. We found a man who was helpful and directed us to another help desk, not much help. Finally went back to the gate that was going to Kilimanjaro, stood in line and waited. When our turn came I showed the coupon and they accepted it and made out a handwritten ticket. The lady asked how many bags we had checked and what they weighed. She also gave us a laminated card. We then had to go thru a screen process which included x-ray. We were directed to a room with chairs and finally a person came and led us away down the stairs, collected our laminated card and put us in a bus for a drive to the puddle jumper plane. We sat in our assigned seats, but the flight attendant moved us to the back of the plane for weight and balance. On landing at Kilimanjaro we had to go thru Tanzania customs. We were pleased to see our bags had made it. Our scheduled pick up at the airport was long gone but I was able to talk to a man and showed him my itinerary which had "Tauck" on it. He recognized Tauck and made a call to the number Tauck had given us for transportation. He gave the phone to me to talk to the person. The service person told me to take a cab to the hotel, but not to pay him and he would pay him separately. The first man than directed a taxi driver to take us. We got in with all our bags and drove off. I don't think the taxi driver was very happy, but we were stuck with him. Our first experience at driving in Africa. It was about 11pm and they were driving on the left side of the roads. I was in front and Judith in the back seat. I kept noticing on coming vehicles flashing their lights at us, but the driver just ignored them. I finally deducted that his low beams were not working and he was driving with his high beans only. The road was paved but had numerous raised speed bumps which he had to slow way down to go over. It was dark, but I guessed they were placed at towns etc. We drove a long time on the road and finally he turned off on a dirt road with no lights. I started to get a little nervous. About a mile up this road, I saw the sign for the Arusha Mountain Village Hotel and he turned up the side dirt road. The Hotel was 60 kilometers from Kilimanjaro International Air Port and 20 kilometers from the city of Arusha. We approached the hotel gate which was locked. Driver honked and a man came out and opened the gate and the taxi parked in a small lot. The guard escorted us to the lobby where the receptionists was waiting for us. She had been called by the Tauck transportation person that we were coming. She gave us a key which was attached to what looked like a hand grenade. Guard than escorted us out, picked up our bags and led us to our room which was a single lodge. Rooms are in lodges with a central lounge, bar and restaurant. We arrived two days before the tour starts, one day was a free offer from Tauck and the other day was to get a good airline connection.
On Saturday met tour director who is very nice person. Actual tour starts in two days. Tauck director said we are staying in best hotels in east Africa but there are no five star hotels. She also warned us not to drink the water and to brush our teeth with bottled water. We had two half liter bottles in our room every day. We also got two bottles in the vehicles. She said that they had paid for as much water we wanted at each meal, so we should take unused back to the room so we prevent running out of water. She also advised against taking pictures on the public without asking their permission.
We looked around the hotel but spent most of the day sleeping. It was raining on and off all day. Every time I went from the lodge to the main area, a walk of about a block, one of the attendants would bring an umbrella to me. Sometime in the late afternoon, an attendant would come in and surround our bed with the floor to ceiling mosquito nets. Whom ever it was had a very serious BO problem, and I had to turn on the ceiling fan and open the windows to air out the room. By the way the ceiling fan had two speeds, airplane and faster. We would turn it on and it would get loud so we could not sleep, so we would turn it off.
On Sunday (Day 1) got a group together to tour the Arusha National Park one of the national parks near Arusha. $250 for guide and truck plus $35 each to enter the park. The entry fee to the park you could charge on credit card. We had 7 people so it would not be that expensive. Hotel fixed box lunches and we were off. Driving thru the towns we notice that every one was dressed up as it was Sunday. The streets were muddy, but the people did not seem to mind. Lots of small shops made out of corrugated metal. Alleys leading off the main road were all muddy . The guide was very good, only 32 years old. Got to the park and my credit card would not work so I had to pay cash. I had called bank but something happened. Great tour saw giraffes, zebra, blue, vervet and colobus monkeys, warthogs, cape buffalo, baboons, water buck plus more.
Tour director told us to pack our bags for early morning pick up. Carry a hand bag with our jackets and Safari gear, cameras, binoculars, sun screen, bug repellant, hats, etc.
On Monday (Day 2) left in rain for Lake Manyra and the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, which lies immediately adjacent to the Serengeti National Park and 180 kilometers from Arusha. The shops that sell the same products are clustered together. Lumber stores, door stores, bed frame stores etc. Have 4 Toyota Land Cruisers each has 6 people in it. The roof folds open in two places so we can stand and look out the top of the vehicle. Drivers are natives, speak English and are very good at spotting animals and describing all about them. They carry a guide book to answer questions they do not know. The drivers speak at least 3 languages, their native tribe's language; Swahili, which is the universal native language and English. Tanzania has around 120 different tribes each with their own language. The guides had African names, Asanti, Abdula, Masani, and Fast Eddy. The Arusha airport was 45 minutes from the hotel. The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, lies immediately adjacent to the Serengeti National Park and 180 kilometers from Arusha. At the Lake Manyara National Park we saw lots of baboons, elephants, monkeys, hippos, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, giant élan, flamingo and more.
The lodge clings to the rim of the magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, the largest and most perfect volcanic crater on Earth. Long and low, the lodge is built from local river stone and camouflaged with indigenous vines. Designed to blend completely into the landscape, it is entirely invisible from the floor of the Crater 600 meters below. Linked by arched stone passages and timbered decks, its walls are decorated with stylized prehistoric cave paintings and lit by flaring torches. At the stone heart of the lodge burns a glowing fire, which is kept constantly alight. Decorated with cave paintings, the rooms are strung around the Crater rim. Each has its own rock- enclosed balcony, and all enjoy completely uninterrupted views of the volcanic amphitheatre far below. It was much better than the ones in Arusha. We were met with wet wash cloths, a juice drink and than a welcoming dance by the local Massai. The rooms and bar are 40 steps down a timbered covered but opened staircase. To the left was our room, to the right was the bar. Inside the bar there was a spiral staircase up to the restaurant. Tauck hosted a cocktail welcome reception then we went to dinner. Came back to the room and they had put hot water bottles in bed. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's best-known wildlife arenas. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it offers a unique biosphere, which has remained virtually unchanged since the dawn of time. Deep within the Crater, enclosed by towering walls, some 25,000 large mammals wander the plains, lakes and forests of ‘the land that time forgot', dominated by enormous bull elephants, rhinos and lions.
On Tuesday (Day 3),Trip down into the crater was fun today. During the morning and afternoon game drives we saw lots of cape buffalo, wildebeest, elephants, lion, rhino, jackal, hyena, hippos, flamingo, monkeys five legged zebras and a five legged elephant. All of the vehicles spread out and drive on different roads to look for game. As soon as someone spots something interesting they communicate over the radios and all 4 vehicles converge. At noon the hotel had set up a catered buffet with table cloths and porta-potties, all in the crater. They had to drive an hour from the hotel to the crater floor and then set up the buffet. We had to pack down into duffels for the trip tomorrow when we go to the Serengeti and a new hotel. The Wi-Fi connection is bad.
On Wednesday(Day 4) we left the lodge, 7000 foot elevation, on the Ngorongoro crater and visited a Massai grade school. The name of the school in Massai means cold and it was. I even had to go back to truck and get my jacket. The kids have to walk to school as much as 7 miles and bring a stick of wood so they can have a fire. The classroom was very cold all of the kids had on stocking hats and were seated 3-4 to a bench desk. Same desk shared a book. We gave them enough money to buy 40 books. Traveled over an hour to the Oldupai Gorge where civilization may have started. Lucy's fossil was discovered here. In 1976 Mary Leakey discovered the footprints of Lucy's cousins earlier humanoids. The lecture said all humans originated from there.
Traveled from there over some of the worst roads I have been on. All deep sand with wind blowing dust. Used 4 wheeled drive to move and yet there were Massai walking in the distance. Had lunch at entrance to Serengeti. Hotel from crater had packed huge box lunches. Tour director suggested we donated what we did not eat to give to the African rangers..
Drive thru the first of the Serengeti was very dry with few animals. Things picked up with a pride of 7-9 lions gathered around a rock outcropping with two in top serving as lookouts. Saw a leopard , lots of elephants including a band of over 20 with a lot of nursing calf's. Lots of giraffes, hippos, zebra, gazelle etc . Also saw two dik-dik.
Arrived at the Bilila Kempinski lodge at 5pm. Bilila is a 77 room hotel located in the heart of Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, the hotel offers very high levels of luxury and comfort with great food and a great location looking over a water hole frequented daily by elephant herds. The lodges location is just North of Seronera. The rooms are very luxurious with balconies looking onto the plains Took a shower with two elephants about 20 yards away drinking out of a pool.
On Thursday (Day 5) we left this am for another game drive. Area around Lodge is very lush but within 5 miles it starts to dry out. Large hippo pool near the lodge also has crocodiles driving along we turned a corner and were in the middle of a heard of Cape Buffalo. Probably around 300 animals on both sides of road. Lots of wildebeest in small beards of 50-75 animals each about 100 yards apart. Saw a Impala with a harem of 45. Must keep him busy. Many elephant herds of 10-15 individuals. Two more lions. Mongoose, rock and tree Hydrax. Elands, hartebeest ,giraffe, zebras. We are getting somewhat jaded in that sometimes we don't stop for just ordinary giraffes or elephants.
This lodge is super. Excellent food last night and breakfast this am. They prepared a small picnic for us to eat out on the drive to hold us until we got back for lunch. Forgot to mention we had baboons and gazelles outside our window this am at a pool below our window. Even sitting on the John we can look out at the animals.
Tomorrow we leave at 615 for a flight from the Serengeti to Arusha where we will pick up our luggage and drive to Kenya, first stop Amboseli National Park.
On Friday (Day 6) packed our duffels and left this morning at 6 am for a hour drive to the local Serengeti air port for a hour flight to Arusha two planes each with 12 on them. We left our drivers here and pick up a new bunch in Kenya. Original drivers have to deadhead to Arusha, about a 8 hour drive. At Arusha we loaded up into two small buses and our stored luggage and drove a couple hours to the Tanzania Kenya border. Had to clear immigration in Tanzania. There was a long line, fortunately we had filled out the forms ahead of time. We than went a block to stand in the Kenya immigration line. They took a digital photograph of each person. Finally got with our new set of drivers and started our drive to Ambossell Kenya. This set of drivers all have English names, Norman, Wilson etc. Kenya has about 40 different tribes.
Roads were pure wash board that we went at 50 miles per hour. After about an hour we than drove over a dry lake bed which was very smooth but dusty. Switched back to washboard roads on the other side of lake and drove to the lodge for a late lunch. The Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge enjoys a uniquely privileged position at the heart of this world-famous national park. Secluded within a grove of acacia trees, the lodge looks out over the golden savannah plains, with uninterrupted views of the mountain itself. Close by are a series of emerald green swamps, which are fed by the melting snows of Kilimanjaro. These, the only sources of water in this otherwise starkly beautiful but arid park, attract huge numbers of wallowing elephants, hippos, buffalos and plains game.
Went out on game drove at 430-630pm. Saw lots of elephants in small groups and some solitary ones. Ran into a heard of elephants that numbered over 80 and was stretched out over 600 yards. Drove around some more and saw a female cheetah with her cub. Also saw two hyena moving around. As usually lots of zebra and wildebeests.
On Saturday (Day 7) drove to a Massai village about 45 minutes away. Trip went thru volcano debris field that was immense with thousands of boulders. The Massai welcomed us with a dance and song with both men and women participating. They had a jumping contest to see who could jump the highest. We than went into the village which consist of two concentric thorn bush rings. The inner ring holds their cattle at night and the outer ring protects the people. The huts are inside the outer ring and were made out of cow dung which the women construct. They last 7 years and are water proof. Had a demo of how they start fire. One of the men brought a handful of cow dung and crushed it into the fibers. They then took two sticks, one on the ground and the other they twirled until friction started the fire. No one of our group offered to shake his hand. We went inside the cattle pen which was covered with the previous nights/years droppings. The chief's son than showed us how they bleed their cows. They had put a rope around the neck which acted as a tourniquet, one of the Massai twisted the head, another held the cow's tail and another shot a arrow with a sharp object, I think perhaps a nail into the cow's neck. The arrow had a knob that prevented the sharp object from going to deep into the neck. They proceeded to collect about a liter gourd full of blood. They than got some cow dung to press on the wound to stop the bleeding. The people drink the blood are mix it with milk. They than took us into their huts. I could barely get in because the door is only about 4 feet high. The rooms inside were almost pitch black. Only one tiny window. The Massai medicine man gave a talk on herbs they use for treatments. If his medicine does not work than they might go to a clinic. He had remedies for headaches, stomach problems, malaria, menopause and since the men have many wife's, up to at least four, he has a treatment to make them strong in certain areas
They had some of their bead work for sale but we were able to walk away without buying. The flies were very bad
Drove back to lodge and had late breakfast and were free until the afternoon game drive. Sat outside my room and watched the monkeys. The dominant male has very colorful private parts. Blue balls and red penis's.
Nothing unusual on the game drive just the elephants, zebra, wildebeest. Lots of pretty birds and some that were quite large. Also number of ostrich.
Fly to Mt Kenya Safari club tomorrow am. William Holden started a animal orphanage there years ago will see that and Jane Goodall chimpanzee sanctuary tomorrow
On Sunday (Day 8) Today we drove about thirty minutes to the air strip. All of our luggage went ahead on a van, but they had a baggage pickup at 630 so we had to get up early. Have been taking showers at night to save time. Than a one hour flight to Nanyuki, Kenya air strip followed by 20 minute ride to the Mt Kenya Safari Club. They had damp towels and fruit juice waiting for us. With magnificent views of majestic Mount Kenya, the club is set in over 100 acres of landscaped gardens. Originally the retreat of movie star and Club founder, William Holden, the Club's illustrious former members have included Winston Churchill and Bing Crosby. Manager gave overview of facilities. They have horse back riding, golf, bike riding and a hedge maze that the manager said he would rescue us if we got lost for two beers. We then went outside past the bar and where we had the equator ceremony. The equator passes right thru the bar. On one side about 10 yards from the walkway that defined the line he had a basin that he poured water in and observed the clockwise flow of water. Went to the other side which was in the southern hemisphere and he did the water thing again, but the water went in the opposite direction. Next there were three tribesmen from the local tribe whose name escapes me. They had a red carpet leading up to the chief. The chief would call out a couple and they would walk up to the carpet and hold hands with two other tribesmen we than walked in a strut knees high, neck back up to the chief where he presented us with a certificate with our names on it certifying we had crossed the equator. We then turned around and strutted back where we jumped in the air but not very high.
Went to the William Holden animal orphanage. They take care of orphans animals and other animals that have been injured. The antelope were very tame and would eat from your hands. Ostrich would take a corn cob from your hand, but they were behind a fence. They had two cheetah pinned up but they were just sleeping. Lots of monkeys. Have picture of one on my shoulders eating corn off of my hat. Lots of birds on grounds. Had a giant tortoise that some of our group got on for a short ride. Four foot tall Marabou stark runs around scaring other birds. When he flies you head a thump, thump, thump. After lunch went to our room which is very nice with a patio overlooking the grounds. Has a big fire place with wood outside. Elevation is 7000 feet so it might get cold. Had a shower right after our bags got here. Going to spend the rest of the day walking the grounds
On Monday (Day9) Got to sleep in today, left at 830 for an hour drive to the Ol Pejeta Conservancy and the Jane Goodall Chimpanzee Sanctuary. The Ol Pejeta is a large wildlife area where they are protecting animals and trying to breed them so they can reintroduce them to areas of the country where they are endangered. A good example is the White Rhino where they have a successful program of shipping them back to South Africa after they spend time getting used to wild living. We saw about 4 of them. Saw Grevys zebra that has narrow stripes, white stomach and Mickey mouse ears. They were in a bunch of regular zebras so the pictures I took will show the differences. Chimpanzee were a long walk to get to where they were. Most of them came from the Congo where their mothers had been killed for bush meat. In the day they roam a large enclosure with trees, bushes and streams. At night they know to head to an enclosure where the rangers feed them. It costs $3000 each a year to maintain them. They have over 60 and try to return the offspring to the wild. Walk was tiring.
Saw the reticules giraffe which means the pattern on the coat. These are different than the ones elsewhere we have seen. Males get up to eighteen feet high. Also saw the gazelles, impala, yellow baboon, water buck, hartebeest, eland.
Our guide/driver stopped and got his binoculars out and started scanning the horizon. We stood up but did not see anything. The driver turned around on the road, all of the other vehicles in our group had left. He drove back and stopped to talk to another driver from a different tour group and they had a long conservation in Swahili. The driver continued down the road and took the next left. Went a mile down this road and saw a lioness just laying by the road. Driver approached very slow and we were standing up as he approached and stopped right next to the lioness, about 5 feet from the vehicle. We stayed there about 15 minutes and she would get up, turn around and lay back down again. She may have been stalking something. One of her eyes had something wrong with it, driver said they do get eye injuries while hunting. Hope my pictures will show it. We now have bragging rights over the other travelers. I got a chance to dance with the Africans. They put a monkey skin on my head. It was fun.
On Tuesday (Day 10) Went to a African center where they teach women to spin wool and weave it, dye it to various colors and make stuff with it. All of the dyes they use come from plants or a certain species of snails. We bought a few things to hang on the wall. Got back to lodge about 1200 just as it started raining. We stayed at lodge and had lunch. It is still raining after 4 hours. Yesterday and this morning we had a good view of Mt Kenya which is 17000 ft I think. It slopes up on both sides and at the top rises in a point like an inverted V. Tonight we were invited to a cocktail part at the home of Donna Hurt who was married, now divorced from one of the founders of this Safari Club. His name is John Hurt. The director said he was in the latest Indiana Jones movie. I of course do not recognize him. She entertained us in her home and 10 acres of land. She got the house in the divorce and has not left Africa since 1995. We enjoyed the visit. Lots of museum quality carvings and Hollywood memorabilia, including John Hurt's golden globe for best supporting actor in " Midnight Express". She has been here about thirty years and has not left Africa sine the mid nineties.
Tomorrow fly to Masai Mara which is the northern part of the Serengeti. Have to pack for two days into our duffle bags. Our luggage will be transported to Nairobi where we will catch up to it the day we leave in a hotel day room.
On Wednesday (Day 11) we left Mt Kenya for a plane ride to the Masai Mara which is in the northern Serengeti. The guides from the Masai Mara SafariClub picked us up and drove us the 15 minutes to the lodge. Surrounded on three sides by the Mara River, and on the edge of the world’s Seventh “New” Wonder of the World – the Masai Mara. Along the way we drove down by the river that was full of hippos. Our lodge has a main lobby, bar and restaurant. All of the tents are located down paths from the main building. The tents are raised wooden decks with tile floors on the inside. They have a couple of walls around the shower area and the toilet area. The rest of the cabin are canvas walls. They two windows on each side and two on the front. You enter by unzipping a zipper that goes from ceiling to floor and pulling the bottom Velcro open. They do have electric power and lights. The Wi-Fi is only at the main lodge. Right outside our tent is the river about 30 yards wide with river bank coming right to our door. The river is full of hippos and crocs, but they can't climb up our side. Yesterday afternoon we went on a game drive as soon as we started it started to rain so the guide stopped and lowered the roof. We continued down the main dirt road from the lodge, about a mile and took a left right into the plain. No roads. We drove around and saw a few animals and intersected some ruts which we followed. The rain had made every thing slick so as we went down gullies we often went down sideways even in 4 wheel drive. Got stuck a couple of times but were able to get out. Drivers all surrounded a thicket of small trees and after some searching we saw the back half of a male lion laying down. We were able to back up and were able to see his head. A huge lion. His eye was mangled so I guess he had been in a fight. Drove around and found a small heard of elephants with calf. Came back thru the brush to dinner. had mud up to the doors. They have mosquito netting around the bed. They turn off the power at midnight and it must come on again around 3 am. They provided a flashlight for our comfort.
On Thursday (Day 12) Woke up this AM at 430 for a 520 departure. Drove 40 minutes to balloons. They had two, one held 16 and one 12. The basket was on it's side so we had to get in laying on our back with knees bent. Were able to get in. Africans lifted Judith in, but she made it. They turned the burners on which were in the middle compartment between the passengers. The balloon started lifting and the basket righted itself so we were on our feet. We took off and saw a lot of minor animals with some giraffes. Every time the pilot turned on the burner the noise scared the animals and they would start running. We were flying 30 to 100 feet high, but twice we did scrape some trees. We were able to see the game trails that led to salt licks. Also could see where Massai villages used to be because there were large black circles where the cattle were kept at night and the resulting dung and urine had stained the land. Pilot said it would green up in a few years. Landing was in a rock field and a little bumpy. African balloon workers were there to stop the balloon. Our guides were there and drove several miles to a catered bush breakfast with Champagne, Omelets or eggs made to order, fruit, rolls. All in the middle of a plain full of animal poop. They even had set up a porta potty.
Continued on after breakfast with a game drive and they drove us to where two semi tame white rhino were grazing An African ranger had a stick which he would scratch the younger rhino. The rhino really liked it and tried to lean on top of the ranger. We were within 5 feet of the rhino.
In the evening we went on our final game drive. It was raining moderately so the roof was down. We drove around on the plains for about 45 minutes and the only big game we saw were giraffes. We were driving the tree lines looking at all of the animals who were trying to stay out of the rain. Usually slipping and sliding. Than suddenly we saw two leopards following each other thru the bushes and trees around a gully. They were a lot bigger than I had expected. Guide said they were looking for a place to breed. Needless to say that made our day, even better than the balloon ride Since it was raining when we left we could not have a bush cocktail party, had to come back to lodge. Good time with lots of eats and drink. This AM went down to the hippo viewing area, 5 tents from ours, and most of the hippos were on the bank resting. A lot of young ones. Went back to my tent and saw croc resting across the river. Later he hauled out across from main lodge. He was a big one.
On Friday (Day 13) Flew into Wilson airport a commuter airport in Nairobi took bus to Serena hotel and bags were in our room. We took a shower, repacked our bags for a luggage pick up at 5pm, dinner was at 6pm and it was a seafood buffet with grilled lobster, shrimp and also prime rib. We left to go to the airport at 7 pm on board a bus like vehicle. All of our bags were in a van. The traffic was horrendous with stops with no movement for as much as 10 minutes at a time. Street vendors and beggars would come between lines of traffic. Fortunely our windows were up so we were not hassled. Local policemen were directing traffic, but it still took an hour to get to the airport. The streets around the airport were very crowded but we were able to stop in the middle of the street next to the bag van. We got a luggage cart, with the help of the lady from Hong Kong and got into a line to x-ray our bags. The flight to Paris on Kenya Air (code share with Air France) had a different number than on our agenda, but we were able to check in on our e-tickets and check our bags to LAX. The Nairobi airport is one of the worst I have ever been in, but since we had been there on our flight in , I was used to it. Very crowed with narrow aisles and very limited seating. You find your gate, show your passport and ticket and go thru another screening and come to a junction T where you either go to the left or the right to seating areas. No direction as to which way to go. We chose one and soon after a lady came out and said if we were going to Paris to follow her We did and walked out a jet way and instead of going to a plane we went down the stairs and onto the ramp. We proceeded to walk to the plane and had to walk up the plane stairs. We left at 1030pm and arrived at Charles DeGaule airport in Paris at 630am, a nine hour flight. The airport is very large and our flight to LAX was not listed. Found a attendant who was able to access a computer and tell was where to go. We had a very long walk but they did have moving sidewalks. We were able to use the Air France lounge which was very large with lots of food, water and drinks. Also had a good Wi-Fi connection, I was able to charge my iPad with a connector I got from the lounge attendant. Flight to LAX was 11 hours. Judith was sick and unable to enjoy the French cuisine. We got to LAX at 130 pm, an hour for customs and 3 hours to drive home. I struggled to say awake on the drive home.
It was a fun trip.
Jambo, Asante
Thank you so much for all the great info we are so.... excited about our trip. Sounds as if you had a wonderful trip nice to hear how fantastic the Hotels are and the food. We have been planning since about July 2011 and have read a lot of information, I believe we are as prepared as one can be for this adventure. My husband will do a blog so others can hear how our trip went!
Thanks again, Beth
We look forward to meeting you both. We will look into a tour when we arrive and would be thrilled for a group of us to perhaps go out together.
See you soon!
Beth and Leo