Hello from the airport.  I’m in my pajamas, which feels weird but everyone else is wearing theirs.  We’re about to board Delta #200, direct from Atlanta to Johannesburg … I mean Delta #1, NYC direct to London … I mean Delta #4371, operated by Virgin Atlantic, from NYC to London … I mean Delta #9357, operated by KLM from NYC to Amsterdam.  Actually, I won’t really be sure till I see the paint job.

For this first leg we are flying on a 787, or Dreamliner.  Made by Boeing, it’s the first jet to have a composite airframe and is probably the prettiest aircraft since the 747.  The windows are larger, which allows more light, and the cabin is pressurized to a lower altitude than other aircraft.  This means you arrive not feeling crusty and gross because the inside air holds more moisture.  Jet lag is supposedly reduced.  I’ll report back.  I’m so tired I think I could sleep outside on the wing if given ear plugs.  

The name “Dreamliner” was the result of a public vote.  While it is rumored that “Jetty McJetlinerface” technically won by number of votes, Boeing went a different direction.  Democracy sometimes needs guard rails.  

We arrive in Johannesburg at 10 PM local time.  There is a six hour time difference between South Africa and the Eastern seaboard.  Approximate travel time is expected to be about 24 hours door-to-door.  

We’re spending the night in Johannesburg due to how the flights worked out, and will depart for Ngala, which is located near Kruger National Park, the next morning.  This involves a regional jet and jeep ride, which I think will be really neat.

After three days, we drive to Tengile Lodge in Sabi Sands, a private game reserve located adjacent to Kruger.  Originally we were to fly to a different camp on a Cessna Caravan further south.  That flight was canceled because we were the only people on it.  Like in the U.S., airlines there have a variety of ways of legally prodding your sanity.  The airline offered an alternative that took over 12 hours of travel time, which wasn’t a serious solution.  Instead we go to Tengile and will lose the money for the flight we aren’t taking that the airline isn’t flying.  Worry not, though.  Tengile is a superior lodge at a much higher price point than what we originally paid.  So, zero complaints.  Apparently elephants drink from the pool there, I can only assume because the lodge uses the freshest, most sparkling and delicious pool water imported from Sweden.  Rebecca is really looking forward to witnessing this.  I’m pretty curious about the pool.    

    

From Tengile, we drive to an airport in Nelspruit … not to be confused with Hoedspruit, the airport we flew into … and fly to Cape Town on another regional jet.   

A COVID test and few tours of Cape Town later, we head home via Amsterdam (hopefully).  If Europe closes, we’ll have to fly home through the Middle East and that won’t be fun.  Or cheap.  Fortunately, the testing infrastructure is well established and full-on closures, like what happened a year ago, are unlikely.  

We will meet again in South Africa.  

From gate B22 in Terminal 4 on board some company’s plane going somewhere over the horizon, goodnight.