Day 155: Beli – retour – Serti

No diesel in Beli. And our impression is: the further east, the less diesel. So back. It's actually crazy that in a country like Nigeria, which relies largely on oil exports, the fuel supply is so uncertain. And that the hinterland benefits so little from wealth and that the towns can only provide electricity for a few hours a day.

We are a little lucky in misfortune and don't have to drive 150 km back to Takum but find a gas station with diesel about 60 km beforehand. The visual inspection says the Diesel is clear, so hopefully not the worst quality and no water contamination. We have to risk it and take an additional 20 liters with us in a canister that the gas station operator provides. We should be able to make it, even if we will have higher consumption (poorer quality, altitude in the mountains, four-wheel drive on the slopes, a lot of braking and acceleration due to bad roads). 

And back to Beli and on to Serti. 

Unfortunately, both places in Serti are fully booked due to a wedding. But we can't manage another 60 km further with serpentines up to 1,600 m after driving for over six hours.

The manager at Young JP is extremely unfriendly – actually strange, the same name as last night! Under no circumstances does he want to let us stay there (even without using the room). The alternative that a young woman offers us of driving to Gembu with a chief in a few hours is no longer feasible for us today. 

So we go back to the National Park Administration’s “Transit Camp”. Anyway, there is now a free room there where we can use the bucket shower and the toilet. 

While Brigitte is clarifying the formalities, Wolle is drawn into conversation by a few young guys. They claim that they have never shaken hands with a white man. And so we gradually shake hands with a dozen boys, take group photos, selfies and have a lot of fun until everyone is proudly walking off. 

We shower, cook and listen to the sound of the wedding disco. Let's see how this wedding works out tonight. Ultimately, we are happy to have a safe place to spend the night.