Mikko in Mombasa

January 26, 2005

I woke up last night to an itch, and then realized that the bed had some insects which had stung me. On my way from trying to make it from under the mosquito net to the light switch I saw how the floor was swarming with ants. They got all over my legs and bit me. I ran to the other little room across the yard and turned on the light, but ants had invaded that place as well. I didn't waste any time opening the barred door and stepping outside. Wiping the ants off from my skin, I wondered what the time was.

In the outer light I saw how armies of safari ants were on their way in through the window. A few days earlier the owner of the house had mentioned about the safari ants, how they make a journey (safari in Swahili meaning journey) somewhere, eat what they want, and continue on with their journey. The whole army operates under a strict control. Some of the ants build walls through which the workers make their way into their destination and from thereon forward. I decided to go back in to get my cell phone so I could see what time it was.

It was 23:35. I had been asleep for over an hour. Maybe the ants had been in the room when I went to bed. Some of them lost their way in my bed and woke me up. I had probably messed up their pathway in the dark and caused pandemonium in the workers. While getting my phone I could get down from standing on the sofa to find some safe ground to walk on. The army was getting back into line.

Just some days earlier the boys of the family had used against the ants and termites a bug spray called "Gladiator." In the morning we figured that the dead termites had probably left their eggs inside and now the smaller safari ants had come to collect the jackpot.

I left the lights on for the night so I could kill the ants that lost their way into my bed. After staying up for another half hour I fell asleep. In the morning the safari ants were gone. The visit was unbelievable if I hadn't seen it for myself. Only a few dead ants had been left on the floor.

Read the introduction: Why is Mikko in Mombasa?