Step 1 - Check!

So, this week it all became real. Flights to Africa are booked! I've never traveled somewhere so far that there are no possible direct flights from the US. The most direct way to get to Kilimanjaro is to fly KLM from New York (JFK) to Amsterdam (AMS) then on to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO). Unfortunately booking this late in the game meant that I could only get this direct flight on the way TO Kili, as the daily flights from JRO - AMS were booked for both the Saturday and Sunday that I was considering returning. Therefore, I'll need to return via Nairobi, Kenya before traveling on to Amsterdam and eventually back to New York.


This is fine with me, as the more direct itinerary is on the way out, hopefully minimizing the risk of my bags getting lost or not making a connection in AMS (it could be an issue to start the Kili climb without a down jacket, base layers, rain gear, etc...more on that later). I'm not exactly crazy about flying in and out of JFK, but it was the best option that balanced price and convenience. To quote The Dude (my dad), "Plane tickets [like textbooks] are expensive." (an old mantra from the college era.)

So, in the end my flight itinerary looks like this:

To Kilimanjaro:
FRIDAY 10-Feb-2012
New York (JFK) to Amsterdam (AMS)
Depart 6:00 PM - Arrive 7:30 AM + 1 day
Flight: Delta 9357 (operated by KLM)

SATURDAY, 11-Feb-2012
Amsterdam (AMS) to Kilimanjaro (JRO)
Depart 10:00 AM - Arrive 8: 25 PM
Flight: Delta 9349 (operated by KLM)

To New York:
SUNDAY, 26-Feb-2012
Kilimanjaro (JRO) to Nairobi (NBO)
Depart 6:00 AM - Arrive 7:00 AM
Flight: Precision Air 723

Nairobi (NBO) to Amsterdam (AMS)
Depart 8:20 AM - Arrive 3:20 PM
Flight: Kenya Airways 116

Amsterdam (AMS) to New York (JFK)
Depart 5:45 PM - Arrive 8:00 PM
Flight: Delta 9358

We'll start our Kili trek on Monday, 13-Feb so that we have a day of rest before embarking on a very active and challenging week on the mountain.

Tomorrow is Step 2...booking the trek! It's all happening!