An adventure in the wilds of Africa

As the plane started to move on the runway, I was reminded of the world famous Nairobi roads. Even the runway had potholes and the plane moved with all those bumps that you experience on a tonga,
writes Divya Sharma

TIRED of being overworked and underpaid, away from my family for the first time, in Nairobi, I decided to give myself a break. As it is, I have always had a soul of a tourist, the one that’s never tired of travelling and always willing to go for an adventure. I lovingly call it tourist Atma. I had four days off for Easter. So, alone, in alien land, I decided to go for a world famous African Safari. Whosoever I contacted, suggested to me to go to a place called Masaimara. Masai is arguably the most famous tribe in Kenya, a tribe of warriors!

I had my ALS flight from the Wilson airport at 1.30 p.m. I was excited beyond words and my tourist Atma (TA) was ardent to leave at the earliest. At 12.45 p.m. I said a goodbye to everyone at the office and happily picked up my bag, a camera that I had borrowed, shades, cap and a mineral water bottle. I was happy, more so because rest of the people at the office had nothing to do for the Easter! I was sailing on the ninth cloud, proud and exuberant. As usual, the Nairobi roads were packed with traffic that is slow and often misdirected. But nothing could dampen my spirits and my driver made sure of it. He managed through the dense traffic, took the roads that I had never heard of and at 1.15 p.m. I was at the Wilson airport. There was another girl with me in car who was to be dropped at her place after me. Her name was Pooja. There was not a single passenger in sight. She got down with me and we went straight at the counter. A pause! A pause because that’s exactly what happened to my die hard spirit. The flight was at 2.45 p.m. instead. My all eager TA was being activated but I controlled it, ignored it. Pooja asked me if I wanted her to give me company while I waited. I hate to wait but it was inevitable. Like a true innocent I answered in affirmative and the poor girl had no option but to sit with me!

After about half an hour my driver got restless and I feared that he would leave without Pooja. So, she wished me a happy journey and left. I sat there, hoping that time would fly, but I actually felt each and every moment pass by. This was my first on-my-own-trip, and though I had travelled all the way to Kenya, all alone, this was what you call an adventure! There, while waiting, I had a Coke and bought another mineral water bottle. At 2.50 p.m. a guy came and carried my bag and once again, my TA started to activate. Happily, I boarded the twelve-seated plane. It was a small, cute, toy-like plane. I was seated at the third seat from the front, single, on the left side, by the window. Rest of the seats were occupied by the members of one family and a pilot. There was an elderly lady in that family who was really scared of heights. But at least she had the advantage of crying her heart out. I was alone, on my own, and I was sure that if I start revealing my fears the gentleman in front of me will give me a Jhapad. So, I wore my shades, hid my eyes that reflected my fears, and chewed hard on a gum, as cricketers do to control their nerves.

As the plane started to move on the runway, I was reminded of the world famous Nairobi roads. Even the runway had potholes and the plane moved with all those bumps that you experience on a "tonga", it was a 45-minute flight and the view from above was simply magnificent. And so exactly after 45 minutes the plane landed at the Siana Spring camp. All of us got off the plane. It was in the middle of a jungle. There was nothing but trees all around. The moment I got off the plane a guy came running towards me and asked my name. My joy was enormous, overflowing, and I gave him a broad smile and said ‘Divya Sharma.’

He never understood the first name and started saying, "O’ ya. Ms Sharma, we’ve been waiting for you. You’re with them." He pointed at the other family, But I told him I was alone. He paused but again said, "O’ya, ya, come. You go in that big truck." And I started walking towards the big truck. Suddenly he said: "Where’s your luggage?" Oops! I almost forgot. So, I went where all the bags were kept in a neat line. I concentrated hard but no, my bag wasn’t there. Mr TA gave me that wicked smile, but I once again, ignored it. I went to the captain and asked him about my bag. Even he was a little confused. But then he opened another cabinet beneath the plane and there it was, my bag. Meanwhile, a lady called Rose, whom I shall address to as Lady Rose for the rest of my life for her generosity, arranged for me to go on a game drive. Ikept all my fears aside and exactly at 4.15 p.m. I went for my first ever game drive. It was a big truck and besides me only had a driver and a European couple. The sun was shining bright and hot, cool breeze was blowing and my soul, both, ‘tourist’ and otherwise, were effervescent. There were vast, huge, unending green lands, and the surrounding hills provided them outline, but still they seemed expansive and boundless. There was no limit to their beauty, their measureless immensity. I had never seen in my life something so enormous and yet so neatly beautiful. It was almost spiritual to be so close to the mother nature. I saw hundreds of Zebras, impalas, tomis, topis, secretary birds and wild beasts. There were also Masai kids, waiving and smiling. The Masai tribals also live in these areas, in harmony with the animals. On the way, there was also a small river-cum-drain, which we crossed, with the truck bending at a 45 degrees angle. And to top it all, at that adventurous, novel place I witnessed one of the most fantastic sunsets in my life! The vast lands, the enormity of the sky, the golden purity of the sun — everything was amazing. And though I clicked a few snaps, no camera can ever capture those moments.

At 7.15 p.m. we returned to the camp. I was numb with what I had just experienced. I had even forgotten that I had landed at the wrong place. But then, the moment I got off the truck a guy came rushing to me and said: "We’re from the Fig Tree camp and looking for a Ms Sharma." Happily, I said: Yes, that’s me." They apologised for the inconvenience caused and asked for my luggage. Luggage! My bag! Lady Rose told me that she hadn’t seen any bag in last three hours. I was speechless. And once again ‘operation luggage’ started. After about 15 minutes, that seemed as 15 years, my bag was finally located on the office table, sitting comfortably and smiling.

One of the guys from the Fig Tree camp, named Andrew, immediately grabbed my bag and started walking towards the Range Rover that they had come in. I thanked Lady Rose with all my heart and left.

After about two hours, my TA once again started smiling and I was constantly telling myself that no, nothing can go wrong now. We spent the next half an hour pulling another van from the mud. It had rained heavily during the day, so everything was muddy. Anyway, I brushed aside my hunger and kept on smiling as we pulled the van out. Meanwhile, the manager of the Fig Tree camp was frequently talking to us, on radio.

At 10 p.m. we reached the much awaited Fig Tree camp. The manager and his ‘supporting actors’ welcomed me. They were apparently worried and had not even taken dinner. He apologised for the mix up. I was tired of forgiving, but anyway I obliged once again.

The next morning, as I opened the zipper of my tent, I saw one of the beautiful sights ever. Outside my tent, there was a little space to sit and it was all wooden, and just two or three feet away was flowing river Taliq, right there, in front of my tent. It was so peaceful that I could sit there for hours. But I had to leave for a game drive. So, I took shower, carried my borrowed camera and a water bottle. At 6.35 a.m. I reached the reception area. The moment the manager saw me, he came rushing and apologised as he had forgotten to give me a wake up call. More apologises, I almost felt sorry for him.

The van was ready. There was another couple with me in that van. As there were just three of us, it was very comfortable. And we went for our morning safari game drive. The morning itself was so beautiful, so clean, so peaceful, away from the normal rush of cities. Then, for the first time, I saw giraffes, a baby giraffe as well. It was small and cute. The way giraffes moved, it seemed to be in slow motion. Then, I saw a lioness with its two cubs, then encountered nearly 10 elephants. In fact, the African elephants are far more bigger than the Indian ones. They are darker in colour and have longer tusks. They look quite furious as well. I again saw a lot of hyenas and others wild beasts.

I had my flight from Ol-kiombo airstrip at 3.30 p.m. I was feeling hungry after the long 4 km walk but decided not to have lunch. Instead, I thought that I’ll eat something the moment I reach Nairobi. I thanked everyone at the Fig Tree camp, gave tips as a mark of thanks and got on to a Range Rover. The manager, just before I left, once again, for the last time apologised to me. I thanked him for his hospitality and told him that I had thoroughly enjoyed myself and did not have any complaints.