| | Dec 8, 2005 - Part II - Floating High Above the Serengeti...an Immodium Moment | Prequel .....An Imodium Moment on Our First night camping in the Serengeti
As we stand at the Balloon Safari desk at the Seronara Wildlife Lodge Eric says, "I don't know if I am feeling more sick at the thought of going up in a hot air balloon or the fact that we just paid about $1,000 for this adventure". Without a doubt it was certainly an exorbitant amount of money to pay especially when we are travelling on a budget, however the funds were a gift from my office specifically for taking the flight as they knew it was something I longed to do yet could not afford. So, the booking was made and we were off for about a forty minute drive deeper into the Serengeti to our special campsite for our first night camping in the African wild.
What we thought was going to be a year round permanent camp complete with a dining tent and sleeping tents with beds turned out to be much more like the camping we do at home in Algonquin Park. The dining tent consisted of a table set up with four chairs and a table clothe in a pattern resembling that of a Masai warrior. Our tent was nice and all set up for us, but certainly not that of a permanent camp as we had expected. Of course there was the bit of luxury that were camping with Andrew our safari guide and the whole site had been set up earlier in the day by the safari company personnel who also had sent a cook along to make our meals - not quite like we have it when we are camping at home. I guess you could call this roughing it with a few amenities! We were also sharing the camp with a really nice Portuguese couple on their honeymoon along with their safari guide.
As previously mentioned, the camp site was magical with animals surrounding it, a large bonfire, peace and sense of connectivity with nature. Our fellow campers unfortunately did not share this same sense of connection with nature. Or perhaps, felt a little too connected. Regrettably, they were a bit misinformed about their sleeping arrangements and were not prepared to sleep in a canvas tent with the wild animals about and instead opted to sleep inside their Land Rover even after Eric the generous Dr. gave them a little something from his medical chest to calm their nerves.
With a very early morning ahead, we crawled into our tent leaving the little blue kerosene lantern burning outside our door and settled in to get some shut eye. We soon were sleeping sound with orchestra of a million crickets playing loudly around us and a pleasant cool breeze blowing through the screens of our tent's windows and doors.
Several hours later I heard a noise outside coming from one of the animal residents of the Serengeti. This actually was fully expected after speaking to numerous people who had just camped out as well and described all the sounds of the hyenas, zebras and other animals they often heard throughout the night. Rolling over I was about to doze off again when Eric asked me if I heard the animal and 'Do you think it is close?'. Of course, with hopes of getting a full nights sleep, I told him that I did hear it but, "it was a long, long ways away"...although not really believing that for an instant myself.
We both fell back to sleep until about 1 AM when I woke up with a nasty cramping feeling in my stomach. Could it be that I ate something I shouldn't have? We have been so careful though. Not feeling too comfortable in leaving the tent for the makeshift washroom that was set up about fifty feet away, I rolled over and tried to ignore the uncomfortable felling. This of course is much easier said then done. Thoughts dashed through my head. Could it be the dreaded traveller's diarrhoea striking me for the first time of the trip while camping in the wild AND leaving to go hot air ballooning in less than four hours?! If that is true, then what am I going to do? We just paid $1,000 for this balloon ride and am pretty sure it is non-refundable if I can't make it. Plus, we can't even try to cancel as we have no way of doing so without making the 45 minute drive to the launch site.
What to do?!? Well, it was still the wee hours of the morning so in my mind only one answer was clear - denial! Really, it must just be a nightmare. If I fall back to sleep, if I really am awake, all will be fine in the morning. After all, could a case of diarrhoea really happen at a worst time? It must be a nightmare! I kept rolling over, trying to sleep and hoping matters would get better.
Unfortunately after dosing uncomfortably for a few hours there was no sign of improvement or that it was just a bad dream. At about 4 AM, 30 minutes before the alarm was set to go off I could bear no more and popped my shoes on dashed out of the tent clad only in my black boxers, with my little Maglite flashlight in hand bee lining for the port-o-potty. Making it just in the nick of time, as would always seem to be the case with trots, relief was finally upon me. And then as I sat on my little plastic john, in the middle of the wild I heard the noise again. The same noise Eric and I had discussed so briefly earlier in the night. Putting my flashlight to good use I scanned the area and saw nothing, finished my business and then bee lined back to the tent.
Here Eric and I discussed what to do. Should we cancel? How? No show and lose our money? Go ballooning and risk a second attack coming on while we do the 45 minute drive? Worse yet, what if we go ballooning and the second wave of attack happens in the air? For those of you that think this travelling stuff is all fun and easy, here is a case of some serious decision making!! Before there was time to worry about making the decision, round two hits with a vengeance and off I go with my little Maglite flashlight, again still wondering what they wild animal is that I can hear just outside our camp.
Arriving back in the tent it was almost 4:30 AM when the alarm was set to go off. Popping 2 Imodium pills I said to Eric with confidence (thinking please let the wonders of medical drugs work!) "We are going." I figured we first had to go to the lodge where I knew there were good facilities. If I was dying there then, I would cancel at that time and see about a refund if possible, but we might as well start our journey and see how far we can make it.
As we climb into our Land Rover Andrew greets us with his typically friendly 'hello' and asks us how we slept. As he cautiously manoeuvred the dark, dirt roads to the lodge he asked us if we heard the animals last night and knew which ones they were. We told him we heard several but didn't know what animal belonged to what sound. Much to our surprise, with his expert sound imitations we learned what it was we were listening too and more specifically, what I was searching for while sitting on my little Johnny-on-the-Spot. It was nothing but the King himself...no, Elvis didn't move to the Serengeti...that is the Lion I am referring to!
Adding to the excitement of my stomach cramps and our upcoming balloon flight, now we learned that we were sharing our camp with the King of the Serengeti. Apparently we had a large male Lion strolling through our camp and between our tents, prowling his territory and more than likely looking for some nice zebra or wildebeast to prey upon. Quite the morning already! Andrew assured us though while we are in our tents we are completely safe and the lanterns they leave burning keep the animals at bay. Not that that did too much to reassure me about my two mad dashes to the outhouse though!
Arriving at the lodge I was feeling okay and made the final decision that we were going ballooning. Popping an extra Imodium for some insurance, I prayed it would do the trick while we floated high above the Serengeti...and thankfully I can say it did!!
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