Time to return to Old Blighty. I don't need to essay saying Ki-Swahili any more to show willing. The Ki-Swahili words and phrases I found most useful were:
Ki-Swahili | English |
Asante | Thanks |
Asante sana | Thanks very much |
Hakuna Matata | It's okay really |
Hapana asante | No thanks |
Jambo | Hello |
Kabiru | You're welcome (Asante and Karibu are like a handshake protocol) |
Kabiru sana | You're very welcome |
Kwaheri | Goodbye |
Ndio tafadhali | Yes please |
Samhani | Sorry |
English seemed to be understood pretty well by the people I dealt with.
Goodluck took me on a short farewell game drive before we reached the Seronera airstrip. We saw lions enjoying a meal, well the males were gorging themselves while the lionesses who did the hunting were waiting. Also waiting for a share of the kill were some jackals roaming at a safe distance. Striking a blow for womens lib are the hyenas for whom the females are larger than the males and rule the roost and get first dibs at any meals.
We also saw a cheetah in the undergrowth, and a pair of lions up a tree nicely close to the road. Vultures were also doing their bit to keep Tanzania tidy by going to work on someone else's left overs.
At Seronera airstrip I was hustled through security so quickly that I didn't realise going through security separated me from access to the toilets! Happily Seronera is rather relaxed about security and the like, and one can wander freely in and out so I could pay a visit. A model living in London looked after my bag and I looked after hers when needed, by coincidence we're taking the same flights to London! It was very dusty each time a plane stopped and started just outside.
We had plenty of practice getting on and off the small Cessnas of Coastal Airways as to get to Kilimanjaro involved three different flights! Firstly Seronera to Lake Manyara which let me look over the NgoroNgoro from a higher vantage point. Then Lake Manyara to Arusha - but that wasn't Kilimanjaro either! So another hop from Arusha to Kilimanjaro. These light planes are like buses people commented.
Security was a different story at Kilimanjaro. Had to scan luggage to leave domestic terminal. Had two scans to get through to departure lounge, including filling out form to leave Tanzania. On the last security scan they confiscated my bottle of water so I got a bag of crisps (too spicy) and another water inside the international departure terminal. At last I've found somewhere I can use my UK charger for my phone and iPad as Kilimanjaro airport has modern UK sockets.
Eventually flew from Kilimanjaro to Doha (very busy at midnight still) then Doha to Heathrow and caught coach back to Cambridge.