European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 17, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Project Kenya workers on safari Ponder the problem of a washed out and photographs by Rosemary Sawyer staff writer when Highway robbers failed to hold up our safari Van i almost Felt cheated. Our safari had provided every other african adventure Short of being hurled off a Cliff by elephants so i figured a late night stick up would come with the package. A safari was among the Kenya experiences of 160 americans who participated in a Spring break service project. Project Kenya organizers had arranged for the work teams to take two Day Breaks from digging ditches to see the country s exotic wildlife. I went with a Bunch of Baboons. Lest you think the trip was More adventure packed than it actually was allow me to explain that the Baboons were humans from Simonella Sicily. Each work team had been Given an animal name an idea of questionable prudence. 1 mean what would happen if As we toiled in the w ids of Africa someone screamed Quot Lions a would the Frankfurt team look up and say Quot huh Quot when they should be running for their lives Simonella s five men five teen age boys and a girl were sort of a Brash locker room Bunch with the endearing Quality of married with children a Wax Allen Lilu rough ride through the Bush a lion prowls through the Masai Mara came Reserve. Bob Goff left looks for souvenirs. Masai Shields and rugs Are displayed at a souvenir shop in Narok. Al Bundy. They were also a tight group especially after we spent most of the first 12-hour Day on safari with 1 2 people in a nine passenger Van. Our Odyssey began at 7 30 . The trip from base Camp in Olte Pesi Southwest to our hotel in the Masai Mara came Reserve was supposed to take five and a half hours. We were to arrive at the hotel in the Early afternoon and then go Back out into the Reserve on a game run. Our tour guide told us that the Road to the Reserve was built in 1941 by italian prisoners of War. He did t have to Tell us that it had t undergone any repairs since. We had been warned that the ride would be rough but we never dreamed that we would have to clench our Teeth to keep our fillings from being jarred out. Driving Over elephants lying end to end would seem like a trip on a superhighway compared to this ride. To make matters w orse the potholes were filled with water so the Driver could t judge their depth. Eventually we came to a smoother stretch of Road and then to Narok the largest town along the route to the Masai Mara. We loaded up with souvenirs in Narok not realizing that the warriors Spears might come in Handy later. Outside of town we encountered a stretch of Road covered with fast moving floodwaters. James our Driver stopped at the water s Edge for a Short conference with the Drivers of the other vans in our caravan. Then he quickly jumped Back behind the wheel. Quot we had better go now Quot he said Quot because it s not going to get any we breathed a sigh of Relief when our Nissan s wheels gripped dry pavement on the other Side. But our Relief was premature. James looked at his rear View Mirror just in time to see one of the other vans Wash off the Road. Quot they went in Quot he said hitting the brakes and sending the Baboons into action. The Baboons arrived at the Van just As the water began lapping at its headlights. Thigh deep in water the Baboons and members of other teams helped the people from Wurzburg West Germany escape through the Van window and Rescue their now floating belongings. Just when we thought we were out of danger however they told us to get out of the water 10 stripes Magazine May 17, 1990 zebras Graze in the Plains of the Masai Mara game Reserve. Because floodwaters carry snakes and leeches. Wurzburg youth Leader John Berlin who had climbed out of the wayward Van tried out the swahili phrase that eventually became the project Kenya byword Quot Haku a Matatia Quot no problem. At least for a few minutes 14year-old Dorinda Faith had thought it was a problem. Quot it was after i got out that fear hit me Quot she said. Her Friend Alicia Thomas 14, who panicked at first later said she d Chalk it up to experience. Quot it added another chapter in my life Quot she said. Quot it added after the flood the Baboons who had been Riding in two vans made room for the wet ones by cramming into one Van with Simon. We had t driven very far with Simon when he suddenly pulled to the Side of the Road next to a Herd of wildebeest. Quot Fiat a he said. Quot does this happen a lot a we asked. Quot no Quot he said. Quot sometimes i go two months without a Flat Quot but do the Flats always happen right next to cat Paw prints As big As a grapefruits As Simon changed the tire we noticed snakelike scars running up and Down his arms. He got them when the Tail end of an Impala came crashing through his Windshield he said. Simon got the Nissan Back on the Road quickly and drove boldly off the rutted red dirt Road to give us a closer look at the animals. We gazed at herds of wildebeest Gazelles and impalas. We focused our cameras on hundreds of Zebra stripes and strained our eyes to see Distant elephants. We laughed at hyenas. We looked for Lions. The animals seemed quite accustomed to the onslaught of gawking tourists in pop top vans and jeeps. Simon said that s not the Case i i u increasingly popular hot air balloon safaris who Chase and frighten the animals i wondered i Simon criticized the balloonist simply echaust they were cutting into his business. If so it would t admit it. Even though we had passed into the game Reserve we weren t quite sure if the safari had officially started. It seems Simon knew we would t have time to go to the Lodge first so it gave us our game run in route. The Otier Drivers we later heard stuck to the Roa s o they d get stuck in the mud. Simon masterfully spun the tires out of several such mud holes before one particular of would t let us escape. The mud was 30 Waitts from the Lions of course. Quot Simon what Are we going to do do you want us to push Quot asked one of the always eager to help Baboons. Quot Well wait for the Lions to go away a Simon said. The Baboons were pretty hungry by then and quite a few Miles had passed since the last bathroom Stop so they talked Simon into letting them push. Fast. Despite Simon s ability to part puddles like the red sea the Baboons adventuresome spirit began to Wane. Quot eighty six the water puddles a Boh Goft said when we came upon the next one. Quot i think we be done enough water puddles today. As the Sun Sank lower Over the game Reserve Simon said we were still a Long Way from the hotel. His 1 3 years of experience showed on his face As he said we needed to hurry because he did t want to be out with Quot the night a safari trips to Kenya and other african destinations can be arranged through military travel offices and most travel agencies on the Economy. Sato of offices on army bases in West Germany for instance handle bookings Lor the Germany company Abr. Its 10-Day Quot out of Africa Quot tour july 27-aug. 5, sept. 14-23 and dec. 21-30 takes in Nairobi Ambo Seli National Park Nauru and Nai Vasha lakes the Aberdare mountains and the Sarn Buru game preserve. It costs 3,350 Marks about $2,095including round trip air fare from Frankfurt double occupancy lodging and most meals. A Quot Kenya summer special Quot Lour to be offered june 22-30 by Globetrotter travel service can be booked at itt offices on air Force bases in West Germany. Package prices Start at 2,490 Marks about $1,555and tourists can choose tour or five Day safari outings. Guides for both Tours speak English. I hat May not he the Case with a Lour booked on the Economy if language in t a problem Check with any travel Agency in West Germany for similar arrangements. Prices and itineraries vary greatly. English language information on Kenya can be obtained from the Kenya tourist office 13 new Burlington st., i London England. That was before our second that. Simon said he d never bad two Lyals in one Day. Quot this Quot he said As lie dropped the spare to the ground Quot is our last Simon also mentioned something about going to visit his Witch doctor. I be thought tin1 Baboons might have hexed him. Quot and by the Way Quot Simon said As the t. Amera Laden Baboons began to disperse Quot Don t go far in the High grass. by the time Simon finished mounting the lire Quot the Mara Quot was growing dark. The Baboons maintained a Fiauna Matatia attitude Quot hey we re going to see the Sunset Quot said Janies Quot Woody Quot Woodworth one of the Baboons two doctors. Quot and maybe the Sunrise Quot chimed in priest and Optimist father Boh Hrdlicka. Quot if we have a Flat now it s Over Quot said Dot number two Tim i Arrell. Quot what i m worried about is that wheel bearing Quot l Ather Boh said referring to the makeshift bearing Simon bad fashioned from a Nail. Quot is that what keeps the wheel on Quot asked one of the loss mechanically minded a Hooks Quot a the rest of the ride was relatively uneventful. I lie Baboons got their obligatory Sunset photos Complete with an Quot out of Africa Quot style tree. The next Day after a night s rest at the luxury Lodge the vans pulled up for the return i 2-hour-Long Quot five and a halt hour i he Baboons decided to go with another Driver while i stuck with Simon the Moses of the mud puddles. The ride with Simon turned out to be one of the smoother ones. I heard Back at base Camp that night that the Baboons had lost a Windshield to a flying Rock and had another Flat tire. I also Learned about the Highway robbers. Simon told us not to Shine a flashlight in the Bat k of the Van because it could tin1 culprits. Quot flow do these Guys operate anyway Simon. What do they do Quot Quot i m not lolling you Quot Simon said firmly. Quot because every time i toll you something it More project Kenya stones and photographs will appear in sunday s editions of the stars and St pos 17, 1990 stripes Magazine 1 1
