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Day 7 - Friday 27th June
I woke up at 530am this morning, as I wanted to take advantage of another hot shower.
730am hits and we sadly say goodbye to beautiful Kibale, to begin our 5hr journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
I've been having quite a few technical issues with my cameras - I'm pretty sure I've got the kiss of death when it comes to electrics on this trip. Firstly, my 1st camera battery died, followed by my back up battery, then the Go Pro battery was dead just before the chimps, and now today I think my solar charger is on the brink. We've joked that soon I'll be like the Asian Tourists, taking photos with my IPad.
We made a quick pit stop in a nearby Ugandan Town, so Juma could purchase some fresh foods, and John could fill up the truck. My luck turned today (I think), as I managed to find a little camera shop, where the man sold me a Universal Battery Charger for US$4, and I'm hoping it will be enough to bring the Camera Batteries back to life. Fingers Crossed.
Our drive through the townships has proved interesting, and I wish taking photos of the local Ugandans was more accepted, as we've seen some doozies. We've seen livestock being killed and filleted, prisoners in yellow jumpsuits working along the roads, and then today - a couple of people standing out side a Mortuary staring at our passing truck, but they had a guerney with a dead person on it, covered with a blanket. The contrasts in lifestyles between here and our Western World are amazing.
We continue driving south west approximately another 3 hours, until we hit zero longitude and zero latitude - the equator. This is not the first time we have crossed the equator, but the first roadside sign to get proof! We muck around, straddling the line and taking happy snaps, and eventually continue in the Southern Hemisphere towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. This NP lies at the end of the volcanic Rwaenzori Mountain range, which separates Uganda and the DR of Congo. It is made up of 2 giant natural lakes - Edward & George, as well as a few crater lakes.
After arriving at our 'simple' camp - Hippo Hills Lodge - we have a quick lunch, and the head out again, and onto a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel (which joins both lakes). The cruise was very leisurely, and I mainly sat up on the roof (working on my tan), and Jade sat downstairs. Again, we were not disappointed, as we managed to see all the animals we hoped for such as Hippos, Elephants, Crocodiles and Water Buffalo. There was also an excess of water birds such as the Pelican, Kingfisher, Yellow Billed Cranes and the Maribu Stork (that scary huge bird I mentioned from Nairobi). The cruise went for about 2 hours and then we headed back to camp.
Dinner tonight was quite special - as Juma had prepared a traditional African Meal, and was very excited to explain how each item was made and eaten - mainly all by hand! He had made us Ugali, which is made out of Maize Flour. Then there was a beef stew, a spinach stew, Chapati (like a roti bread) and a Green Banana Curry. It was all really nice, with exception of the Ugali, it reminded me of Deb.
We went to bed around 1030pm, after charging our cameras (mine working!).
Day 8 - Saturday 28th June
I had the worst nights sleep as the other tour truck of Germans were so loud all night and all morning. The only time they actually shut up was when it thunder stormed at 330am for about an hour.
We attempted an early morning departure, but we got bogged in all the mud from last nights storm.
Today was fairly uneventful, and more a bus ride from hell! We travelled further south taking probably the roughest, bumpiest road with intense road works towards Kabale, located not too far from the Rwandan Border!
The Ugandan weather had been much hotter, finally in shorts and a singlet. Uni cooking duty tonight, so better head off and start chopping veges!
N x
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