Dear A.nutters,Due to procastination, here is last year ATCL's business class experience to Jozi - South Africa.
Also, feel free to discover more about
secret Burundi here.
June the 27th: Air Tanzania, Bujumbura – Dar Es Salaam.Air Tanzania one way ticket was booked on the cheapest OTA allowing payment with an Amex card. Just for comparison purpose within the East African Community block, only national flagships Uganda Airlines and Kenya Airways accept this convenient card through their own websites.
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11:04 am represented my late arrival time at the hushed check-in counters at Bujumbura airport. 6 min only before closure. Phew!!! Pre covid-19 era, intra – Africa travels strongly advised to present at airport 3h before STD.
Trying TC OLCI.
Due to some glitches, impossible to go beyond.
Earlier that morning at 8am, I tried to ship to France my Sony multipod VCT-VPR1 at la Régie Nationale des Postes (RNP= Burundian Post Office): as according to various frequent flyer sources – this item may not go through airports securities – especially in remote Africa. R.N.P. has always been reliable in the past, with many boxes of different size & value sent overseas and, all delivered unopened in Europe or at home usually within 3 weeks. The Sony multipod weighs on its own 1,8 kg. With the wrapping 2,1kg. A price issue? Not at all!
The now long gone 2015 crisis wreaked havoc on its feeble economy, hence Burundi still faces a dire lack of hard currencies (EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF or CAD) nowadays. Long story short, for parcels
below 2kg, Burundian Post Office allows payments in local or foreign currencies ( BIF 70,000 normal, not the quality express DHL shipping option to Europe). Over 2kg, like my Sony package – priced at EUR35/USD37, one must pay in these two hard currencies and exclusively in cash! It hurt because in Rwanda, Post Office takes also credit cards ....! That would leave me 120,000 Francs Bu left in the wallet (this currency shall be solely convertible at the land borders in DR Congo,Tanzania or Rwanda, plus Kigali & Butare/huye). Forget it!
After a courteous but too long discussion with this very professionnal public agent – not asking for a bribe for removing 102 grams
, time to give up and switch to plan B. The original box was kept just in case, and a friend was called upon to wait for me at the airport instead of losing an essential photography accessory. At 10:35 am, bugged up by the long wait of friend in town, the taxi driver raced to the terminal, 15 km away! He definitely deserved his good tip.
Place de l'Indépendance near the Post Office (R.N.P.).
First time ever to see them flying: Burundi's National Defence Force Mil Mi-24V.
Surprisingly, unlike other EAC main airports: no vehicle search, just a metal detector like in DAR.
Finally at 11am++, Thank God activity at a lethargic BJM did not imply long queues at the 2nd and 3rd security checks as when the Brussels Airlines SN456 direct, Kenya Airways or RwandAir - daily flights operate from.
A couple of weeks later, it got renamed
Melchior Ndadaye International AirportDuring check-in, SOBUGA staff – the local handling company showed a high level of service, no joke!
An American expat lady from Phoenix – AZ, shouting around in a rather empty terminal hall how important her trip to Zanzibar was (to meet some family members) on two separate tickets + asking them to be checked through, did not receive the positive feedback immediately.
The staff understood the initial request but as computers were down for a while, they could not do anything on the spot, which made her go bersek as she had only a 3h connecting time in DAR.
I wish to have heard the end of the heated story but my friendly and smiling C-I agent was too fast.
After dropping the bag at the counter, SOBUGA agent escorted me – the VIP way to the aircraft via the newly opened Mount Zion VIP Lounge at Bujumbura airport.
However, while filling out the immigration form, the phone rang!
Retaining my passport and BP, both agent and officer, allowed me to go back landside to bid adieu to Hyppolite, manager of one of the most serious TO in Burundi: Hometours & Services (
https://www.facebook.com/HometoursEa/). He had just arrived in case the bare Sony multipod would technically be banned in cabin.
Finally, he came for "nothing" since the Sony multipod VCT-VPR1 went through all carry-on checks at Bujumbura, Dar Es Salaam, Jo'burg and NBO!
There was none in Bujumbura beforehand (except one for Government and diplomats which was "illegally" reported here). Now anyone is welcome after paying $30 – not sure for PP, LK or AA card holder though. If my escort did not mention the fact that he would pick me up at the boarding time, I would have walked away immediately from this dreary room!
Brand new VIP Lounge at Bujumbura airport
Brand new VIP Lounge at BJM airport: hot food buffet was brought at noon
Boarding started at 11:55
Today, you visualizing this lounge is World Premiere on the entire web, let's try to stick on its strengths instead...
The operator Mount Zion, owned by a powerful local businessman, manages an upmarket hotel, a restaurant, a big venue and some events in the now booming economic capital.
A priceless air conditionned area. Most parts of the airport are covered but are not air conditioned relying on natural ventilation.
An "à la carte restaurant " – yes! That sounded incredible! One of the waitresses came by, presented the menu open and said that since the hot buffet starts at 12h01 pm (now 11h20), I could choose whatever I like to eat on the menu as prepared at BJM's unique cafeteria/restaurant located 30m away. I repeated back, anything? Really? She confirmed yes definitely Sir!
We were only 3 passengers (2 flying Air Tanzania, 1 for KQ) inside. After perusing the extensive menu, the lack of time (due to late arrival at airport) prevented from festing with African delicacies, let alone Burundian specialties taking ages to cook. At 11:20 with boarding starting in 20min or so, time to grab only a quick hot snack, that arrived 3 min later from the airport restaurant.
Brand new VIP Lounge at Bujumbura airport: drinks list
Brand new VIP Lounge at BJM airport: starters
Brand new VIP Lounge at Bujumbura airport: For the time being, anything from the à la carte menu for flights before noon. (This generous policy for food is long gone
).
Owing to time constraints: nibling deep fried sausage with Baron d'Arignac wine
I had wished to take more photos but a policeman stands by the entrance and can keep an eye on what is happening inside despite the tinted glasses, noticed after a while!
I truly regret to have forgetten his name, but my kind escort through all the BJM process, eased my life up to the aircraft stairs without seeking charity!
TC219
Bujumbura – Dar Es Salaam
Via Kigoma (TKQ)
Distance: 780 miles (110+670)
DHC-8 402NG, Business – 2A
12:10 (GMT+1) – 16:20 (GMT+2)
Duration: 3h10
Air Tanzania DH8 was a familiar ride as flown 3 times in the past. However the Q400, a recent variant – plus the cabin type; are the two exclusivities for you today
.
Air Tanzania Dash 8 Q400 at BJM .
5H-TCE is named after Gombe National Park, near Kigoma – a tech stop en route to DAR.
On my travels, I came across many Tanzanian crews. The non existing greeting along with a barely smiling hostesses did not give a sign of a warm welcome which tends to represent the norm with ATCL. Don't get me wrong, they are extremely kind and professional but rarely cheerful!
2 revenue pax in C and 17 in Eco – all of us to DAR (as TC can uplift pax between Bujumbura and Kigoma or vice versa on the outbound leg).
Terminal building extension was completed in November 2019.
Unlike RwandAir offering a real C class (1-2 layout) seat, Air Tanzania adopts ET method with a blocked seat on 2-2 arrangement.
Back in the day, people could see you off from the observation balcony.
A female employee (deadheading crew?) sat in eco on the first leg, then in J half of the second and ended up in the cockpit.
No welcome drink and no service on the short sector to Kigoma ( 30min)! Should you think it's normal, considering that in eco on the TKQ – BJM one gets a complimentary juice?
Cessna F406 Caravan II and Air Burundi Beechcraft 1900C.
Take off from bujumbura
https://youtu.be/W3NE4SgkEN0A brand
new ferry will link Bujumbura, Kigoma (Tanzania), Kalemie (DRC) and Zambia ports from 2021, replacing the antic and venerable 100 years old M.V. Liemba, visible later in this TR.
Bujumbura Yacht Club, La Tempête sports grounds, Zion Beach Restaurant and UNICEF Burundi...
Landscapes below are well worth the trip. By surface transports, one can be even more impressed by the natural beauty. If you fly this route eventually one day, on the right you admire the 2nd deepest freshwater lake in the world plus some majestic mounts of DR Congo.
As seated on the left, all the magnificient Burundian coastline, with all the fishermen villages clustered along the shore were contemplated.
Seat pocket contents.
Was someone tipped off for SA route fate
?
Sadly, overcast weather altered the show. However the perfect approach allowed to fully view Kigoma Bay harbour, city and airport. What a great moment – just have a look at it! To debunk a common myth, Stanley and Livingstone first meeting place is located 5km south of Kigoma – rather than Bujumbura.
Kigoma Bay: the venerable 100 years old M.V. Liemba (to be replaced in 2021) visible.
Fishing boats.
Short final.
Landing at Kigoma airport – Tanzania:
https://youtu.be/0sUrvf-LSf8 Air Tanzania also sells BJM-TKQ-BJM sectors on their own.
A short tech stop of 30 min enabled to catch up the litle delay taken in Burundi since we departed in advance. As often, Kigoma to DAR flight was, once again, packed to the brim – with a mix of 60% locals and 40% tourists.
Before taking off, the gorgeous crew served a welcome drink: only soft with apple juice or water. Not bad for a domestic flight within Africa.
Up to 6 years ago, no one expected this high yielding air link, BJM to DAR to become so appreciated! The aircraft rostered makes it uninspiring or too small for the largest East African country.
In deep core Africa, especially from Burundi serving as a hub to/from Eastern DR Congo to Dar or Mombasa, Africans/business people definitely require capacity for their large bulk of goods. 4*23kg per person at check-in ain't an exception when using the southern corridor....
German visitors?
Take off from Kigoma:
https://youtu.be/fZv-M_WBwNMApple juice as PDB.
Sufficient legroom for 173 cm tall pax.
Urambo airstrip.
The sandwich was nothing to write home about for a domestic ride of 2h10 – at least we got some local wines. After peeking in eco first row, friendly honeymooners (we discussed at the slow immigration) got a light snack.
A positive point, the crew rushed to my seat every time the call button was hit.
Thankgod, recent Diamond Platnumz and Sauti Saul finest tunes were loaded on my Sony Xperia phone connected to the excellent noise cancelling Sony WH-1000XM2 headphones annihilating horrid Dash turboprop engines sound during the rest of the journey.
Beef or veggie cold sandwich.
Locally sourced wine to wash down the domestic leg lunch.
Peeking behind the curtain: mixed nuts on a 2h+ flight.
Clean loo.
An unpopulated TZ shore popped up through the clouds. It would mean the awesome approach, from the sea, to the sprawling economic capital from runway 23. My favorite
!
The plane stopped at a stance where 2 buses and a limo waited.
Landing at DAR:
https://youtu.be/BV1lZNMOiqcM.V. Kilimanjaro IV.
Tanzania tops East Africa on wealth list, as some 435 Tanzanians became millionnaires in 2019.
Tanzania's National Stadium Complex.
Pre-covid grounded airline.
Another E190: The Pride of Africa.
Fly the Dream of Africa.
Continent's first A220 operator: once deployed to BOM, otherwise to Lusaka, Harare and Moroni.
T2 now serves domestic and regional scheduled flights.
Sadly not for myself
Inside the former terminal, officers yelled at people to know whether they flew from Tanzania or international. Then who is/are holding a visa should follow the sign, for a 40 min wait.So long? Gosh!
Some of you may know that my dual citizenship could have fast track the immigration process on top of saving the visa fee. However, a bitter situation endured in TZ back in 2011, – [basically; entered via the land border of Manyovu post, I was unrighfully prohibited exiting Tanzania (or subsequently East Africa) on my KL flight from JRO to UK. Immigration officer and his boss stated a lame excuse to deny the stamp out, despite all valid travelling docs, with all the consequences involved...] – forced me to play it safe this time by paying the hefty $50 visa upon arrival for European Union citizens.
Yes, it took ages – seriously – like 1h with an EU passport. Why wasn't it done on line prior arriving? Hummm, a valid question here!
When applying to the visa at the nearest embassy online, one question put me off:
Have you been to Tanzania before during the last 12 months? Yes – but with my other passport. An answer that automatic online form could not perform.
Hopefully at new T3, VOA are processed much faster. 1,5h to clear immigration, what a downer
.
No priority tag.
Infamous Dar Es Salaam traffic jams can last for ages like a flat 2h without moving, the safest bet chosen, was booked over the phone the FQ Village Hotel nearby because of their special resident and East African fares for TZS70,000 incl. breakfast and free outbound transfer.
Admittedly, immigration procedures lasted forever, so when exiting the terminal, FQ Village Hotel driver or employee was missing.
Free hotel shuttle never came (or responded to the call) for the pick up. A taxi did the job for TZS 10000 (€4).
Once Shillings exchanged at airport, time for the most vibrant 2019 soccer African Cup of Nations derby gathering a good crowd at hotel's bar and around: Taifa Stars – VS – Harambee Stars.
Equivalent Testosterone rivalries like England – France in 15s rugby, USA – Canada in ice hockey or Pakistan – India in Cricket ...
A random taxi driver suggested me the Hotel Hotreef not to far, priced cheaper with the same standards – though a bit far from the lively local zone I wanted. At the end, I advised him to come back the day after for the ride back to the airport, although I could surely walk up to T2.
Along with a family of 5 japaneses; 2 Kiwi backpackers, a couple of Swiss/Austrian (not sure about their accent lol) met in the morning; implied an extremely quiet but standardized hotel.
I've strolled the busy area to look for an eatery to watch the promising derby, but for safety reasons ended up watching the game at the hotel bar. An exciting moment from start to finish even if the outcome did not pleased the local crowd .... Such is life!
Outside view from Hotreef Hotel (taken in the morning).
Top floor view from Hotreef Hotel (taken in the morning).
A very good value for money (East African resident fares available too).
As a odd one out, it was the AFCON 2019 tournament's most outstanding game. It started well for
Tanzanians but Kenyans outplayed them. Lively local crowds sulked when leaving the bar...