ITFA-2018, my memoirs……….

 ITFA-2018, my memoirs………. D.S.Nagesh

How the direct experience can turnaround our perception accumulated over the years based on hearsay: ITFA-2018 was an epitome of such twist. The name Africa couldn’t make a positive impact on me from childhood onwards, first of all as the Dark Continent from school geography books, then from Gandhiji’s bitter experience and S.K.Pottekkad’s travelogues, later as seen the pathetic life of majority of African Americans there during my stay in the USA, and at the last but not the least the highly dramatised sensational prey-predator relationship in African jungles as seen in channels like Discovery and National Geographic. Planning of our Kenyan trip was crystallised as an 8D/7N trip commencing from 19^th October 2018, during the third quarter of 2017, exactly like an UN mission under the leadership of Fazal. Within a short span of time various committees and WhatsApp group were formed, Satguru was chosen as tour operator, budget was estimated, payment schedules worked out and to a great surprise almost 75 registrations (which became 78 later) – inclusive of full families, part families and some odd ones like me even alone, were made.

By June 2018 full payment was made to the Satguru, partial payment was given for the flight ticket in Air Arabia. By then the tour operator sent a brochure for travellers, which detailed almost everything including the eVisa and yellow fiver vaccination.

And finally the D-day has come – to me; it was the first trip to African continent and also to the southern hemisphere. The flight from Trivandrum to Sharja was at 4.45 am on Oct 19^th. 18^th was Mahanavami and as usual adding to the confusion there was a harthal in Kerala. The Cochin, Chennai & Trivandrum teams were met at Sharja and continued the journey together by the same flight to Nairobi.

The experience at the Nairobi airport was not all that pleasant – small, crowded, slow and lethargic. We came out and waited for Satguru’s men. After awhile they came with vehicles – one mini bus and cars. Luggage was loaded at the  top of the mini bus mostly by us recalling the unloading of luggage at Batote at the middle of winter and rainy night reroute Jammu to Srinagar during the all India tour. Is it going to be another nightmare substantiating the earlier perceptions about Africa – natural to be doubtful?

Destination was the place of stay- Winsor Golfresort & club. Fazal greeted us and entering that place was a really pleasant surprise – a colonial golf course with palatial building and 5 star accommodations.

On arrival, local mobile sim card, mediclaim policy, essential local currency etc were arranged.

By the evening one by one almost every one reached (except Ninan- due to health reasons- who joined us later) from different parts of the world, the grand gala opened and the rest was nothing less than wonderful, unforgettable, enjoyable, great, interesting, memorable, pleasant, positive, rewarding, rich, valuable  etc etc… experience which completely ruled out all prejudices.

First night was filled with a traditional spectacular cultural cum acrobatic show by Masai youths, along with a delicious dinner.

Next day onwards the trip was planned in a fleet of 13 Toyota Land Cruiser Canopy with 6 of us in each. Each day the occupants were shuffled providing ample opportunity to interact with everyone. The drivers were all natives, well versed with English, polite, pleasant, smiling and helpful, greeting with Jumbo / Habari gani in native Swahali.

As per the itinerary, every day about 200 to 300 kilometers were covered, stayed at 5 different great to greatest places, dined with  delicious dishes including Dosa, Roti, Poori, Fried rice and what not…. and had entirely new and different experiences, every day.

Reproducing the whole like Pottekkad did is not the intention; however I will snap through a few of them, which stuck me, the most.

First of all, it was a union of friendship, that too, of the close, judgments free college mates along with their families including the young ones from next generation. Added to that, there was a mission mode, zero defect planning and execution.

And the safari itself was much beyond the expectations and imaginations – watching the animals in their natural habitat in the Savannah of Masai Mara and at other places with horizon as the limit. Some of them were in uncountable – many thousands in numbers, like Wildebeest, Waterbuck and other Antelopes and Zebra. Whereas the big fives – Lion, Rhino, Elephant, Wild Buffalo and Leopard, along with Hippo, Giraffe, Hyena, Cheetah, Jackal, Wild Boar, Monkey, Ostrich, Vulture, and other birds in air, land and water were in groups or alone. Most of them were very near – many times crossing the road close ahead of us, unbothered about the human presence. And their cohabiting, in spite of the prey-predator relationship, was something amazing which words cannot describe. Two things the drivers cautioned us: don’t get out of the vehicle: don’t make loud noise.

The place where migrating Wildebeest cross the Mara River, where Crocodiles wait to catch them – a regular seen in wild life channels was really marvellous. The Hippo colonies on the banks, we were told the most dangerous animals to visitors were also leisurely living.

Hippos were also used to move around the cottages at night during our stay at Sopa Lodge at Lake Naivasha and also we could see many of them in that lake during boating.

There were also opportunities to feed Giraffe, Rhino, Elephant etc at the sanctuaries meant for that. However, Africa doesn’t have Tiger. Looks like, India is the only country where both Lion and Tiger live together.Normally our impression about a new place is influenced highly by the first level of contact like guides, drives and hotel staff, places we visit and the events which we come across.

The drivers were guides also, following the safety regulations without compromise, along the terrain and animal habitat, well coordinated among them, very passionate and devoted to make the visitors fully satisfied according to the needs of watching and photographing. With them we fully experienced the endurance of the safari vehicle – Toyota Land Cruiser and its four wheel drive, moving at a speed of 60-80 kmph, even in the hostile terrain, without hurting much, the passengers inside. It was really interesting to watch how they get together and replace the tyres quickly, whenever tyre punctured in the vehicles.

Added to that, the staffs in hotels also were of the same type. Almost all Hotels, there were few staff with native attire. Even the people seen along the highway sides also were pleasant against the expectation from a society of such a low economic status.

Moreover, the whole experience including the interaction with the local people as well as the wildlife totally changed the complete perception about Africa and that way all those who have interacted with us did justice to Kenya.

Regarding the infrastructure and social life, good roads, clean premises, city with high rise buildings, as good as any capital of the developing country and the traffic without honking horn and within the speed limit are the notable highlights. The highways were full of trucks especially those moving between Mombasa port and Uganda, strictly following traffic rules.

All along the roads, we could see men and boys taking care of sheep and cow in the fields, women selling fresh vegetables, youngsters with two wheeler taxies and children moving to schools.

Even on hot sun, men and women wear Shuka and Kanga and many times cap also, but use of umbrella was not seen.

While we didn’t face any problem with water in the resorts/Hotels, severe water shortage is evident for local population. On the roadside, people, donkeys and two wheelers carrying water in cans was seen everywhere.

On the road side village commercial centres, green coloured wall with advertisement of Safiricom – the popular mobile network of Kenya, was very common.

To highlight the Indian presence,  companies like Tatamotors, Airtel, Bata showrooms were widely available in city centres.

For those who scientifically curious, as a feast, on ourway, at Nyahururu a place on equator, we could witness a unique live demo of the Coriolis Effect – draining water rotating on opposite directions on northern and southern hemispheres.

 

Above all, as we follow in all our gatherings, here also almost every day there were pre/post dinner gathering evoking nostalgia and had many open discussions, cultural programmes. In addition, this time,  there was an open session by the next generation about their concerns on future.

Personally, I was alone for the trip, without my family alongside.  However, Koshy – my roommate all through- – was a person of simplicity and unassuming in nature, even after his decades of stay in US – and made the stay very comfortable, friendly and enjoyable.

At last, only when it was the time to say sayonara, we realised that a week is gone, mostly without much aware about the date, time and the world outside.

And on return at Trivandrum on 27^th 4.00 am, and while looking back, it was a week without comparison, meticulously done, perfect in all respect, and recognised what I would have missed, if I decided not to join, and felt bad about what my family lost by not joining.

To conclude, Kenya is no more an Africa that used to be in my mind. And thanks to Fazal & Nadeera who made this trip a reality, through  their yearlong devoted efforts, and also thank each and every committee members who worked hard, friends and their family members – especially the young ones – who made every moment cherishing, the tour operator-Satguru and others who contributed to make this trip at the highest level, at the lowest cost. And more over to the almighty for providing such an excellent, exciting and marvellous opportunity and bringing us back safe, without even a single untoward incident.

What next …. looking forward to the domestic meet of 2019 and international meet of 2020 ………