Where the Safari Begins

I (heart) Civilization

I land in Nairobi and am picked up by my safari rep. Then we get stuck in traffic! Traffic! I'm normally not so excited about traffic, but having lived in Rwanda for a while, I felt like I was re-entering "civilization" what with the high rises, street names, and traffic lights that actually work, all of which I hadn't seen in ages.

At my hotel, I stood under a hot shower until my feet ached. Why? Because I had not experienced running water for months, no less a stand-up shower, WITH water pressure. AND it was hot. Blew my mind, I tell ya.

Group Dynamics 101

The next day, I started my 10 day safari from Nairobi (Kenya) to Zanzibar (Tanzania) with Africa Travel Co (ATC). I arrived early to get a good seat on the bus. But as Murphy would have it (me and him go way back), I was put on the wrong bus. By the time it was all sorted, I got the last row. Thank goodness for Gravol!

My seat-mate Jaime (the other Canadian) and I chatted along the bumpy road until Arusha. I then setup tent with Katie, a fun-loving Czech girl. Having overlanded with Nomad before, I was a pro tent-propper-upper. But other newcomers had trouble because the ATC leader didn't do an orientation. Oh, but she wouldn't miss a change to pick at you if you did something wrong. Like wtf? Already I can recommend you NOT to go with ATC.

This group was highly fragmented. Some were in the middle of their Cairo to Cape Town journey. Others had joined 3 weeks prior in Uganda. Some were going to Zanzibar and others all the way to Victoria Fall. It was a perfect illustration of "Group Dynamics 101". Clicks and outbursts of "I'm not your friend anymore."

Crossing the Border

Anyhow, on to Tanzania.