Trip to East Africa

I recently visited Kenya and Uganda. The reasons for my trip are
not important but I would just like to share the experience with you,
to give you an idea on what that side of the world is like.

SAA
flight 162 at 09h30 on Thursday 5th of May was one of the best flights
of my life. I wouldn’t exactly call myself a frequent flyer but I have
travelled a bit and I’m not sure if it has been a coincidence all
along, but every time I travel the flights seem to be full and
uncomfortable. Fortunately, (unfortunately for SAA) there were only 40
people on this 125-seater flight so there was more than enough space
for everyone and I knew that the 4 hour trip would fly by, literally
and otherwise.

I made myself comfortable and shamelessly tucked into the J & B
and water that SAA so graciously provided. There were no passengers
next to me that I might bother with my drinking so I capitalised on
this rarity and made myself at home. The stewards also didn’t have many
people to attend to so I’m sure they did not mind when I called them up
as often as I did, as they were getting bored. The only thing worth
noting about the flight was the breathtaking view of Lake Malawi as we
flew over it. The lake is huge and it seems to go on forever like the
ocean…

The landing at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA)
was horrible; it seemed like the pilot had been a sailor previously
because he didn’t land the plane – he anchored it!
Immigration
formalities went really quickly (SA passport holders do not need a visa
for Kenya) and I was surprised at how quiet the arrivals hall was. It
was even quicker since at Johannesburg International I had checked my
luggage through to Entebbe Airport in Uganda, my final destination. I
arrived half an hour before my lift did so I spoke to the locals who
were trying to persuade me to hop into their taxis. They are very
friendly people who happily divulged tourism information in the area.
(They informed me that their busy season is from July to September, and
they receive many European and American tourists who frequent their
National Parks). When my lift arrived, a Mitsubishi Lancer, I was
pleasantly surprised to note that they also drive on the ‘correct’ side
of the road – the left side. Little did I know that this was to be the
last thing I would be impressed by, as far as driving was concerned.

As
we left the airport, I noticed a game park directly ahead, and just
past the traffic circle stood four giraffes, larger than life and up
close and personal (no wonder tourists think Africa is a bush). We
continued through the CBD, driving past modern buildings.
Unfortunately, the roads are horrendous and the driving is worse.
Traffic is constantly backed up, as there are no road markings and no
working traffic lights. On top of this, traffic circles seem to be
installed every ten metres, aggravating the already chaotic situation.
Playing “chicken” is the order of the day over there, and only the
brave and daring make it home in time for supper. If you hesitate you
will not be given a gap and you will literally wait for hours. I also
noticed that the businesses operating in Kenya are all or mainly owned
by Indian people. Shops, garages, restaurants…mainly Indian-owned.

I
visited a complex where our East Africa Regional Manager lives and here
you will completely forget that you are on Earth let alone Nairobi. It
is a completely tranquil environment in a tropical setting. The sounds
of the crickets and the night seem artificial and I kept looking around
for speakers, thinking that they were causing the sounds. There is a
beautiful heated indoor pool with a fountain and the pool looked like
glass with not a ripple in sight. The squash court was adjacent to
this, as well as a tennis court and a fully equipped gymnasium. There
are 38 triple story complexes in this unit, but had it been in Joburg
there would easily have been 238.

I was told that there are
quite a few incidents of crime in the city and a funny story that stuck
with me is what the street children get up to. Apparently, they “mess”
in a plastic packet and if your window is open at night they come up to
your car and throw it in so that the bag bursts, spraying its contents
on you. I found the story totally disgusting and hilarious at the same
time; crap-splattered drivers – I wish that was our biggest problem in
Joburg. But those poor kids would get shot instantly here.

Anyway,
back to the airport for my flight to Entebbe. Entebbe is a town in
Uganda close to the capital city of Kampala. In fact, it is about 40 km
away, and en route to Kampala we drove along a section of Lake
Victoria, an absolutely stunning lake – if you look past the locals
bathing and fishing in some areas of it. I checked into the Sheraton
Kampala for the night (I was told that this is the only place for
visitors to stay). But please erase all images of South African
standards – this was hard-core Africa! The lifts did not work, except
for the service lift at the back, and it was a nightmare having to
climb stairs during the day to my room on the 11th floor. (Not really,
but I would’ve walked if I wasn’t so unfit; in any case, I had to wait
25 minutes for the lift).