African Safari - 2026
Wednesday 14 October'26 - Nairobi (Kenya)/Johannesburg (South Africa) [the 15th is further down this page]
We had overnighted at a new airport hotel in Nairobi, the Argyle Grand Hotel and to say it was incredibly underwhelming would be an understatement. Whilst the hotel itself is rather well appointed, the service level was at best POOR... Upon checking in and despite handing over the booking confirmation that clearly showed a booking for 2 Superior Double rooms, after handing over our passports (as is the norm), we were handed a single key. When I asked where was the 2nd one, the receptionist said there was only 1 room. I pointed out what the booking confirmation said and she then took back the key and told us to sit down whilst she sorted it. Some 15 minutes later, I went up to see what was happening and a few minutes later, she handed me 2 keys. They both were marked as 8nnn but after getting in the lift and looking for the 8th floor, a passing staff member explained that the 8 was a "dummy number" and the 2nd number determined the floor so that meant we had one on the 6th & one on the 2nd floor. Seems our very helpful and not so friendly receptionist didn't see that as an important thing to tell the guests. As we discovered a few minutes later when coming back down for a drink & dinner, the 6th floor room was an Executive Double room whilst the 2nd was a basic double room. But wait, there's more. We asked for a table for 3 (but only 2 were there at the time) and were shown a 3 seater but settings for 2. A drink menu was provided on request. We sat down and after being joined by the 3rd amigo, ordered our drinks. 45 minutes later, they arrived, just as the 3rd place setting was being provided. The room I was in, despite being for 2 people, only had a single dental hygiene kit in the bathroom and the kettle had a Australian 3 pin plug with no adapter for the power outlets so I had to use my own adapter to make it work. All these issues were addressed with reception with massive apologies being offered but actually not being rectified. It claims to be a 5 star property but on my visit, struggling to be a 3! Here endeth the rant. 😎
The flight to Johburg was scheduled for 1235 so the 1000 shuttle to airport was used and after checking in, clearing Immigration and wandering through the Duty Free shops, it was time to head to the gate and await boarding. Just over 30 minutes late in departing and a comfortable 4 hours later, we were in South Africa. A rather lengthy Customs & Immigration process of just over 1 hour. Once bags were collected it was an easy 10 minute walk to the InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport, which is literally just outside the arrivals hall. Very comfortable and nice property and once settled into the rooms, a pre-dinner drink, then a great meal and sleep. The end of the trip is coming unfortunately... 😞
Thursday 15 October'26 - Johannesburg (South Africa)
Today was, after the past week and a bit of early morning, long days on the trail, an R&R day. Much lolling about plus a massage was the on the agenda, interspersed with obligatory meals and drinks. The airport is named after Oliver Tambo, an major anti-apartheid activist in the early days of the struggle and just outside our hotel, is a statue dedicated to the man.
