not on trip advisor

Heading from Kajo-Keji to Juba today (both places in South Sudan). Flying ‘safari’ airlines, which doesn’t register on a Google search…

I stayed at the clinic in South Sudan last night, and actually the night was fine. A little light rain around 5 and a good breeze no doubt helped. In fact dare I say it the night was a little chilly, I actually had the sheet over me, haven’t done that for a very long time!

It was an early start to get to the airstrip, for 7. There was a combined check-in & departure lounge with complimentary breakfast, and no security.  Different from Heathrow for sure. 

I paid the guy my $80 USD, was given a receipt (!) and laminated reusable boarding pass and took one of the plastic garden chairs he had arranged under a large tree. A lady then came with sweet (very sweet) black tea and a flatbread. Awesome!

As I say that was 7 (“you must not be late”, I was told), as I am writing this, it is already gone 9.30. 

“It will be here today” he said when asked.  Africa Time.

It came at 1020.

There was literally no pre-fight safety brief, so I conducted my own personal one, memorising exactly how the emergency door worked, should I survive the crash.  Now I’m not one for photo’s, let alone selfies, but I just had to.

In an update to this anecdote, for our return journey we were told to come by 0530 (the flight was due to leave at 0730), so OK.  But I decided to go native and make that 0530 (Africa Time) and came at 6(ish).  Take-off?  1030.

That’s Africa Time for you.