We traveled by camp vehicle to the airstrip, then by small plane to the border of Kenya and Tanzania where we were met by a van. There were 6 (2 couples who were on the plane with us) of us being taken to the border crossing to go through immigration. We had purchased our Tanzanian visas in advance but the other 2 couples had not. As we neared the offices the driver asked if we had our visas and when the others replied no, he asked if they had $100 US dollars each….one of the couples did not. Although there was an ATM there was no way it was going to give dollars so we loaned them the cash. They promised to send a check as soon as they got back to Colorado and we hoped they would. So you ask: why would you lend $200 to 2 complete strangers? We decided it was worth the risk if it allowed us to get through immigration and meet our next flight as scheduled.
We walked from one building in Kenya to another building in Tanzania and all well smoothly. Our van took us to the next airstrip. There was actually a little place to sit in the shade and wait for the plane as we ate our boxed lunches.
This flight was easier than the first…can you see the trend here? We were the first to get off; these planes are like commuter trains and people get on and off at each stop.
I’m the copilot!
When we got off there was no one to meet us…hmmm. Not good. We asked a number of the drivers who were waiting for other flights if they had heard of the lodge where we were going…no one had…hmmm. We asked if they had heard of the tour company that was supposed to pick us up…no one had…hmmm. The pilot called his office to ask if we were at the correct place…we were. Now we were getting worried. We called our travel professional in New Jersey and after a few phone calls back and forth we found out that there was a miscommunication and we were in the wrong place!!!!! We were about 8-10 hours by car from where we should have been (keep in mind that there are only dirt/rock roads that the locals laughingly describe as “African massage”. Hippo Creek Safaris to the rescue: they made arrangements for us to stay at a different lodge and rearranged our schedule for the next few days. We were picked up about an hour later by a camp vehicle with a grill that flipped down into a table that was used to serve wine/liquor/soda/snacks. Off to a rough start but things got better and better.
And we were off on our first game drive in The Serengeti.
Tip: always travel with extra cash, preferable new bills…you never know when you’ll need extra money. PS: there was a check waiting in our mail when we got home.
so…