Sometimes, dream vacations can turn into unexpected ordeals, testing the limits of resilience and resourcefulness. Several couples have found themselves stranded in Africa due to unforeseen circumstances, from missed cruise departures to breakdowns in remote areas. These stories highlight not only the challenges faced but also the kindness of strangers and the strength of the human spirit.
Map of SĂŁo TomĂ© and PrĂncipe, where several passengers were stranded.
Cruise Ship Mishaps: Left Behind on an African Island
One such story involves Jill and Jay Campbell, an American couple from South Carolina, whose cruise vacation took a dramatic turn when their ship left without them. The Campbells boarded a Norwegian cruise and found themselves stranded on the African island of SĂŁo TomĂ© and PrĂncipe after a tour ran longer than expected. They were not alone; seven other Americans and two Australians shared their predicament, including elderly individuals, one with a heart condition, and another who was paraplegic. There’s another married couple from Delaware and the wife is pregnant.
The tour operator had contacted the captain to inform them of the delay, but upon their return to the port, the ship's captain refused to let them board. According to Jay Campbell, the captain could have easily sent a tender boat to pick them up. The harbor master tried to call the ship, the captain refused the call. They said the captain told the Coast Guard to take the passengers back to the island.
After numerous attempts to contact Norwegian, the group scrambled to find a way back on the ship to get home. None of the other passengers have their medications or credit cards that are accepted on the island. The Campbells are the only ones with a Visa card and they’ve paid over $5,000 in food, toiletries and hotels for the group. While they’re almost 6,000 miles away from home, Jay is just happy to have Jill by his side. This woman has been a saint. I don’t know where the whole group would be without her strength, guidance and compassion for others," Jay said.
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The Plight of a Fellow Passenger
The number of stranded passengers rose from eight to nine after the group eventually met another 80-year-old woman, who they said was hospitalized on the island after she got a concussion and lost part of her vision following a cruise line tour. The Campbells said she was left at the hospital without any money or her belongings, and her emergency contact was never notified by the cruise line. Jill and Jay also told ABC 15 News about another passenger from the cruise ship who had been on a different tour, and while on it, had some type of medical emergency causing her to experience memory and vision loss.
The Campbells were able to reach her daughter back in San Fransisco. Together they helped coordinate getting her on a flight from Sao Tome to Lisbon. Now she’s hopefully on a flight back to North America. However, they said she’s not being escorted, and they haven’t been able to reach her daughter to find out if she made it. "We put an air tag on her mother so that her daughter could keep track of where she is. Well, the air tag is saying she’s still in Lisbon right now.
Julie Lenkoff (middle) with her daughter (left) and granddaughter (right).
Julie Lenkoff made it to the hospital in California after a 30-hour flight from an African island, where she suffered a medical emergency during a cruise. Jill and Jay saved our mom when they didn't have to. But a mega-corporation with all the funds to help our mom and bring her home did nothing. They couldn't even give us answers."
Her family expressed immense gratitude towards the Campbells, who they considered heroes for assisting Lenkoff during her ordeal. Lenkoff, a visitor to 120 countries who can speak 10 languages, resorted to French while she was in the medical facility on the African island, and they couldn't understand her and didn't even know she was an American, Gies said.
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The cruise line stated that their Care Team was activated to provide support, but due to privacy regulations, they could not share medical details without the guest's consent. The guest has since been escorted on a flight to Lisbon, Portugal, and then put in the care of airport staff to continue her journey to the United States, where she has now made a safe return."
The Journey to Rejoin the Ship
The Campbells, along with the other stranded passengers, faced numerous challenges in their attempt to rejoin the cruise. On Sunday, the group is flying to Gambia, another African nation. However, they can only get on the ship if the cruise line approves their request. The Campbells said they haven’t heard back at all.
They spent 15 hours traveling through six countries to reach a port in Gambia, only to find that the ship was unable to dock due to low tides. Now the Campbell’s and their party are scrambling to find a way to get to Senegal, which is where the ship should be in port on Tuesday. “We have to cross the ferry to get into Senegal,” he added.
According to Jill Campbell, the couple traveled through seven countries in a 48-hour period to reach Senegal. Following that ordeal, they said they aren’t sure if they’re going to board the ship again to rejoin the cruise. “After what we witnessed, we truly believe that although there’s a set of rules or policies that the ship may have followed, they followed those rules too rigidly,” Jill Campbell said.
Stranded on Safari: A Breakdown in the Bush
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Another type of stranding occurs when couples venture into the African wilderness on safari. One couple's experience in South Africa illustrates the potential dangers of self-driving on safari without adequate preparation.
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While driving around 4 PM, they noticed a light flashing on our dashboard after driving on a dirt road. It had handled far worse road conditions than what we were driving on, but it turns out a very pointy, very unlucky stone had punctured our oil tank, and once we turned off the car, we couldn’t restart the engine. We called the emergency number listed on the brochure we were given at the entrance, but there was no answer.
Minutes ticked by, inching toward the park’s closing time of 6 PM. We frantically started calling our hotel, which said it couldn’t help as we had chosen to self-drive instead of booking a safari through them. We kept trying the emergency line for the park, but no answer. Closing time came, and closing time went. Darkness fell. Without being able to turn on the car, we couldn’t roll down the windows, and the car became stifling hot. Instead, to cool down, we had to fearfully open and close the doors as fast as we possibly could - it’s a Big Five reserve, after all.
Eventually, they were able to find help. The receptionist at one of the bush lodges we randomly called (Kwa Maritane) connected us to one of their game rangers named Francois, who asked us to describe where we were, which was tricky in the quickly fading light. Eventually, our knight in shining armor (read: a game ranger in khakis) came to our rescue, and we clambered into his game vehicle - mere seconds before a herd of elephants came around the corner where our car was. If Francois had arrived even just two minutes later, the elephants would have surrounded us in the Suzuki Swift - and in the dark, we wouldn’t have known they were there.
My car had to be left behind and Francois escorted us back to safety. The next day, he helped us tow my car to the parking lot, where it was towed back to Johannesburg. The lesson learned? Trying to go too budget on our safari not only ruined the game drive, but also endangered our safety and left us in what could have been a nightmarish scenario. We also ended up having to buy a new car, and put a strain on ranger resources to come find us.
Tayla Swift getting towed from the park entrance.
Tips for a Safe Safari
Based on their experience, here are some tips for a safer safari:
- Opt for an escorted game drive: A driver knows the terrain better and has backup help available.
- Choose the right vehicle: Ensure high ground clearance and familiarity with the vehicle.
- Pack essential supplies: Include water, snacks, and crucial medications.
- Stay on main roads: Avoid going really off-road to minimize risks.
- Listen to your guide: Pay attention to safety tips and follow instructions.
- Dress appropriately: Wear insulated clothing, sunscreen, and bug repellent.
- Secure your belongings: Use a backpack to keep items from falling out during the drive.
Cruise Line Response
Norwegian Cruise Line told NBC News in a statement that the Campbells’ situation was unfortunate, saying “guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time” and noting the group was on a privately-run tour. A spokesperson for the cruise line claimed the passengers were left on the island “on their own or with a private tour” and missed the “all-aboard time” by over an hour, according to the company.
The Campbells were thankful for the people of Sao Tome as they tried to navigate how they were going to catch up to the ship. "It’s a very difficult process," Jay Campbell said. "You’re dealing with multiple languages, language barriers. "You’re dealing with different currencies, currency exchanges, finding someone that even has dollars, taking dollars, the minimum amount that we had, trying to convert them to local currency, (and) trying to get an agent to understand where we need to get to."
Norwegian Cruise Line's full weekend statement
“While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship’s intercom, in the daily communication and posted just before exiting the vessel."
“Guests are responsible for any necessary travel costs to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call. When the guests did not return to the vessel at the all-aboard time, their passports were delivered to the local port agents to retrieve when they returned to the port.
“Our team has been working closely with the local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed if the guests were to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call. We are in communication with the guests and providing additional information as it becomes available."
Lessons Learned
These stories serve as a reminder of the importance of preparation, flexibility, and reliance on others when traveling in unfamiliar territories. Whether it's a missed cruise departure or a breakdown in the wilderness, being resourceful and open to assistance can make all the difference. The kindness of strangers, as demonstrated by the people of SĂŁo TomĂ© and PrĂncipe and the game ranger Francois, can provide a lifeline in challenging situations.
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