46 hours...
Trip Start
Sep 04, 2008
1
2
18
Trip End
Oct 13, 2008
Nairobi,
Kenya
Saturday, September 6, 2008
But we have made it in one piece, including 2 backpacks, which we always think will get lost... so we have clothes for the next 6 weeks.
The flights over were pretty good - non eventful. Our longest section from Singapore to Johannesburg was only half full so we were able to spread out. Anthony and I having 3 seats each - which enabled us to lie down and get some sleep. I kept pretending that I was on one of the flat beds in business class...
The only two interesting parts of our journey was firstly arriving in Johannesburg and having to transfer to our Kenyan Airways flight (which I have to add we'd not been checked through on) so we had to pick up our luggage and get a visa into South Africa, to then check back out again. The helpful woman directing people to either transfer or baggage were trying to convince us to just go through to transfer and the 'someone will just pick up you bags for you and take them to your plane' we thought not - since nowhere on our bags did it mention us going onto Nairobi - we caused some confusion at immigration but they allowed us through.
The second part worth mentioning was arriving at Nairobi. Our pre-arranged transfer was not there, so we had to get a taxi without getting ripped off. A company said they normally arrange for Acacia (the safari company we are with) so we thought we'd go with them. They quote $25US, but we stood strong and said we'd pay only $20. We won. But didn't get a receipt, so we were certain the taxi man would then want payment at the end again... but alas, he was trustworthy - thank goodness. Normally the taxi to the hotel should take 20 mins, but at peak hour it takes about 1hr 30mins. We were in for a loooooong drive. Roads here are similar to Egypt. About 2 lanes wide, but allowing 3-4 lanes of traffic. Indicators are only for decoration as are traffic lights. On the main road (and there is only one main road) into Nairobi there are 4 roundabouts which we sat at for about 20mins each. It's all good though, because you can do your shopping on the drive home with locals selling produce inbetween the lanes of cars. There was everything from: kites, balls, bananas, tomotoes, peanuts to carparts, rear vision windows, and massive 4 foot maps of the world. It was all very entertaining.
Today we have just tried to relax a bit, catch up on sleep. The bodies are getting too old for 46 hours of travel. Tonight we meet our safari group and head off to the Masai Mara tomorrow. Think we have our first Game Drive tomorrow afternoon.
Catch you at the next opportunity of internet...
von and ant
