I proceeded to google, half freaking out already, because I knew that damaged passports are invalid but had no clue if this counted as damage. Pretty sure I was screwed I ran downstairs declaring that I was going to bike to the municipality, and luckily my dad came with me. My mom was still sure that it wouldn't matter, but I refused to find that out at the security check at the airport, and running the risk of not being able to go to Tanzania.
At the municipality they confirmed my fears, my passport was invalid. They would apply for a new passport right away and give me all the forms I needed to apply for an emergency passport too. Really freaking out by now, I called my mom in panic that she had to call the airport to inquire if emergency passports were even accepted in Tanzania. On top of that, only the security forces are allowed to decide if someone is eligible for an emergency passport, so I spent my whole afternoon as a crying mess...
Armed with the forms and a passport with 5 holes in it, I drove to the nearest airport and prayed the security people would be nice. Upon my arrival they asked who made the holes in it, and I said the municipality did. They then said my passport was still perfectly valid because my plastic page with all the important information was still intact and they had seen passports in worse shape. They recommended I file a complaint with my municipality, because a new passport costs 70 euros and the emergency one cost 50 euros. That's 120 euros needlessly spent! I was pretty angry then but at least they gave me an emergency passport so I could still go on vacation the next day!
Then the only problem left was my visa. They had left that page intact in my old passport and they said that if I presented both, it should not be a problem to enter the country since I had payed for it already. And otherwise I could have bought one at the airport for another 50 dollars, but rather not of course. Anyway, slightly more at ease I finished packing and went to sleep early.
After a 7 hour flight to Nairobi, Kenya and then another 1 hour flight to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, the moment of truth was finally there. I handed both my passports in at the border and they didn't even ask about it! She just stamped both my passports and I was so incredibly relieved.
So now we're safe and sound in a lovely lodge near Arusha and we're going on safari for the first time tomorrow
