Why Kenya?

November 4, 2006

The natural answer would be why not Kenya? Well it really should have been Tanzania, but Tanzania wasn't one of the options available to me if I wanted to use my "Airmiles" points to fly to Africa. I wanted to go to Tanzania because I guy I met in a bar on a hundred year old Dhow on the Micronesian Island of Yap during a typhoon invited me to come a visit his safari and dive operation there. Well it was sort of an invitation, but I would still have to pay - but he'd give me a discount, not a big one - but a discount. Hey! A discount is a discount. So the first roadblock I had to deal with was the fact that I couldn’t use my airmiles to fly to Tanzania, but I could get to Kenya - and that was right next door. The problem is that it might as well be on the far side of the moon! There is no cheap and fast way to get from Nairobi to Pemba. Then there was the little problem that my good friend, Raf, somehow lost a family of 5 scuba divers and to this date their remains have yet to be found. So staying with Raf, desipite the discount - if I could find away to get there seemed somewhat less appealing. I threw my energies into looking into taking a trip to Kenya. I've always been lucky finding really good local travel agents, and after sending emails to about a half dozen I settled on Raza at AfricanMecca. Raza and I hit it off really well and he designed a 17 day combination scuba and safari trip for me. We agreed on dates in April. I would finalize everything in early January. Unfortunately about a day before I was to book my flights, I woke up and peed blood for about half an hour - not a good omen to book a trip (I'm a strong believer in omens - particularly ones involving blood - my blood). A few short months, several trips to the Urologist, and a simple "procedure" (Simple to him. He's not the one with s tube shoved up his penis!!), and I was good as new. A new target date was set for this November.

In late August I called up the Airmiles people to book my trip only to be told:

“Sorry, no flights available for those dates.”

“Okay,” I said, “I’m flexible. How about something a week on either side?”

“Nope, nothing available.” The agent said after much computer clacking

“How about a month?” More clacking. “Nothing available>”

“Three months?”

“Sorry.”

Upon a little investigation I found out that Airmiles was having issues with it’s overseas carriers. In fact there were NO seats at all. Nothing Nada on any of it’s international flights on NWA, KLM, and Air Italia. I was told to try again in a few days – maybe they’d resolved their “issues”.

In a few days I called again. A different agent insisted on going through the same routine. When I asked her if the “issues” had been resolved, I was told I shouldn’t have even been told about the “Issues”

So, folks, it appears that you can collect all those double airmiles at Safeway and Rhona, but be warned if your thinking of using them to book an exotic trip to one of those far away destinations they list on their website you may be out of luck. I have no idea whether they resolved their “issues,’ but after three weeks I gave up and booked a flight at Flight Centre” for about a thousand bucks return out of Toronto.

Getting to Toronto shouldn’t be too bad – the good news is that I”ll be flying; Westjet – an airline I like to fly. The bad news is that I’m flying standby, the good news is that since my daughter works for the airline I get to fly at a reduced rate – but standby. That means flying a day or so early to make sure I make my connection. That means staying in a hotel in Toronto for a night or two. So when I add up what the room would cost me I could fly regular fare and make my connection, but my daughter would be insulted that I didn’t take advantage of her generosity of getting a job that benefited her father; not like her lousy brother who’s only an engineer.

So, dear friends, that, in a nutshell, is why Kenya – and hey! I haven’t even left yet! This should be one heck of a trip!

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Between a Rock and a Hard Place


I am constantly amazed at my Raza, ravel agent. Just when I think it can’t get better it does, particularly in terms of accommodations. I thought that Satao Camp was luxurious with my “suite’, so I had little expectation for their auxiliary camp, Satao Rock camp. A smaller tent lodge based high on a rock bluff overlooking the Savannah. On a clear day you can see Mr. Kilamonjero.

Although Satao Rock Camp is only 18 km from the other camp, it took two hours to get there. The camp has eight “tents”, but only one other was occupied so I basically had the camp to myself. The “tent” here was even nicer than any of the others, with a balcony overlooking the Savannah below, and a water hole where the animals come to drink during the hot season. Unfortunately it is the cold season, so not too much there. The tent has all the amenities of the others and is attached to a large stone washroom featuring a huge bathtub and shower.

After an afternoon game drive, they took me higher up on the rock bluff to see the sunset. They had porters bring up director chairs, a table and drinks. I like sunsets, and this one was particularly spectacular.



It’s a bit weird when I’m dining, as there is a staff of about 8 looking after me and just a couple of other guests. This morning,, the resident guide showed up with an armed guard and took me and the other guest for a two hour “nature” walk. The problem with some of these camps is that they keep me so busy I hardly have time to enjoy them. One night a few hours then on to the next one.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)