Scare at Kilimanjaro

The Real Kilimanjaro
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We decided to take a chance and go straight to the airport rather than call the travel agent to see if the flight were to be on time. Hailing a cab, strangely the same driver who dropped us off - i am sure he was just waiting for us - we set off. the drive was another eye opener, slums, smiling kids and people milling about doing what they do. One of the most bizarre sights was a ramshackle marketplace, and sitting atop the buildings were some of the most massive storks i have ever seen. At least 5 foot tall!

Arriving at the terminal we were relieved to find the plane was on time. We set off to Kilimanjaro dead on 7. With  any luck we would be landing in Dar around 9, leaving us plenty of time to check in for our KLM flight. But this was Africa, and luck, seemingly, wasn't on our side.

Africa truly is a place where anything is possible.

All was going well, we landed at Kilimanjaro airport and were told to wait aboard whilst other passengers got on for our onward journey. Ten minutes later however the pilot announced that this plane wasn't going to Dar es Salaam anymore and we had to alight and wait information in the transit lounge. We were stuffed! We stood in the lounge, 8:45 on the clock and seemingly a million miles from home.

Then a miracle occurred, of which i can barely explain. Out of nowhere a KLM plane landed at the airport. Scores of tourists got off the plane, obviously going on safari. Finding a monitor i was astounded to find that the plane was the very same plane we were booked on in Dar es Salaam. It had stopped off en route to drop off some passengers at Kilimanjaro. Our plane was 50m away from us, we weren't booked on it, but by God i was determined to get us both on that plane. I know that if we were anywhere else in the world the mere logistics of getting our luggage, checking us in, going through customs and getting on the plane were next to none, but here - it was worth a try.  I found an official and told him our story. Ten minutes later his boss shows up and asks for our story again. Pleadingly i explain that the KLM flight is the plane we have to get on in Dar. Thinking all is lost the manger then calmly says no worries, i will get your bags and check you in here. He calls a luggage handler and five minutes later we are presented with our bags and ushered towards the check in desk. US$100 later we have a boarding pass and are pushed towards immigration, who then proceeds to stamp our passports without any difficulty whatsoever. From the moment i spoke to the official to us boarding the plane, some 20 minutes had elapsed and we are the last onboard. How we made it remains a mystery, but i could see some of the looks on the people's faces when we passed them in the transit lounge. They were still awaiting their connection and we were homeward bound. John was delirious with joy and i was merely amazed that it had worked out. Africa truly is a place where anything is possible. We were on the flight and, fingers crossed, on our way home.