Out To Africa

On my way on the first day of summer / South African winter! When we realized 2025 was not going to work for Nancy and I to take our next trip, I revived my dream of an African bucket list trip, which she was not interested in. It has been a year of planning, but here I go.

11:40 departure was listed on time when I arrived at YLW. The plane didn't arrive until 11:10, at which time they announced a 20-minute delay .Then, a text was sent with a new departure time of 13:40. They said it was due to a "passenger medical emergency." In the end, they boarded at 13:00. After we were on, the captain announced it was the First Officer who was ill with a bleeding nose he couldn't stop, but "Captain Mark" stepped in. I am very lucky as he lives in Kelowna although based in Vancouver.

Overnight layover in Toronto getting in at 10 and heading back to the airport at 7am. Very long 13 hour flight but excellent service and a really good Ethiopian meal. Basically no sleep at all as the time was really not in line, plus a lot of people stayed up and talked, unlike late night flights where everyone sleeps. Got maybe an hour. Got into Addis Ababa 15 minutes early. Quick security screening but no immigration as I was connecting right out and got to my gate 10 minutes before boarding (50 minutes before departure).

Six and a half hours to Cape Town, again with excellent service on Ethiopian. Entry formalities were quick. Uber pickup was distant. So took a cab in.Read more