My alarm interrupts , my dreams the 2nd time this Vacation. Montezuma has lifted his ban, but the early morning Game hunt is supposed to start at 6 am and i need to prepare and take a shower before. I am nervous to miss the car that should pick me up but manage to get out briefly before pickup time.Checking every car passing by, i wait for the driver and call the agency 15 minutes after pickup time. He tells me the driver is right at the next corner – for four calls over the next hour. I can’t get used to Kenyan time, i am afraid. Some time later the car shows and i am the last guest to be picked up. We drive to the National Park right away. It’s still so early and i am surprised how many people walk along this busy road.
After what feels forever we get processed and are allowed to enter the park. There is an incredible row of 4×4’s waiting to get entry permission: You do have to sign up to eCitizen and pay a fee, which is a bit of a hustle to manage. The Lions are supposed to show in the early morning.
Over time we get lucky and i only miss one of the big 5 for the total of my visit – timestamps are a bit messed since some of the pictures and videos are from my co-tourists.
The tour feels great and i have to mind you: this is within the area of a 5.X Million people City!
Again – there is only one fence across the whole area. We are driving through lion, crocodile, leopard and everything territory. It feels wild and we are happy for every spot – nothing is guaranteed.
My reason texts me again and asks if we should have lunch. I am a happy man. We meet at Kilimanjaro Jamia and order a giant plate of delicious food.
Despite all attempts we don’t manage to finish it and ask to have the rests to go, so we can hand it to a begging woman with kids – this is a way of giving i like: I goes where it should and no one is profiting of the poor.
Again, time flies while we get me some good Kenyan Coffee and talk – before i can blink my eyes we close in for the goodbye hug – i miss her the second she leaves my arms. So many things left to be said, so many things left to do, so much more time to be spend together, but i can’t let my plane leave without me either, no matter how tempted i am.
My Driver is on time, but for some odd reason has to refill gas on the way, we did calculate to be at the Airport 45 minutes before end of luggage drop off, but oh my god – i never checked in at Jomo Kenyatta International before. Remember when i wrote about the security at the train station? There are levels to this. When entering the drop off Area there is a first check where everyone but the driver has to get out to b checked. The traffic jam at the Airport feels horrible and we drive in walking speed for like half an hour – my German mind get`s nervous and i start considering to jump out of the car to walk. When we finally arrive at my gate, there is another security check with X-Ray and luggage scans before dropping of the luggage. I am 10 minutes after luggage drop of when i do, but there is no problem – Kenyan time, i guess. After that, surprise: There is another security check.
I meet a comrade that has been serving in a Division i know all to well, quite hilarious, he left just before i went to that useless war with them. We talk about our girlfriends, Kamba culture, Health Insurance and a lot more – he is waiting for his retirement to move.
When it`s time to go to the gate – the flight is delayed – i seemingly do select myself voluntarily for the 4th security check at the gate.
I am happy to have a window seat and enjoy the views until i fall asleep.
