trd0201

Ive now been in Joburg for 2 weeks and its a very diverse city.... The only things you ever hear about the city is that it is very dangerous and you shouldn't visit, as you are likely to get mugged, stabbed, shot or raped...or a combination! When I landed, i knew nothing except what id been told about the city (the negative things...). So I was very apprehensive to begin with. I was met off the Gautrain (a train that runs from the airport into Sandton (the very nice, expensive area in the middle of the city)) by Rashid, the taxi driver. As he drove me to where I was staying he showed me some parts of the city...except for the weather and the beggars there is very little that is different to London or Manchester. ... read more

Today I left Uganda to fly to South Africa. Yesterday, i traveled from Red Chili to Entebbe Backpackers! which was ok, very small, but still very cheap! after ordering my food, I waited 2 hours for it.....the Kitchen was tiny, with just a double ring cooker, to cook food for all 15 residents...! The next day i had to be up at 4 30, to make it to the airport to check in at 5, it was a 5 minute drive to the airport! after checking in, waited for the flight! having had very little sleep the previous night i tried to spend as much of the wait, and the flight, asleep! Once the plan landed, i went through customs, collected my bag, and tried to find my way to the train station, where i was ... read more

Again.....Another trip to Jinja, this time with the aim of actually doing something! I went up on the Friday, again on the free shuttle! i spent most of friday chilling at the bar with the magnificent views over the river! I even went for a swim down on the beach that NRE had made, the current on this part of the river was rather fast! I had a relatively early night as I had to be up early saturday to go rafting! :) Having rolled out of bed and into the bus to take me to the main NRE site to get the briefing, equipment for rafting, breakfast and to meet the other rafters we where finally on our way to the start point. The drive to the start point took us out of Jinja and ... read more

Today I took a walk downstream to look at the falls! I left the campsite and went through the main gate at the entrance to the falls, where you have to pay 3000Ugandan Shillings (about 80p?) and walked towards the river, firstly i walked down to a small area that sticks out just above the falls, where there was some local people doing their washing and fishing, I then walked back up to the road/track and carried on down towards the falls, passing through an old hostel that some local families had moved into! from here i could see the Bujagali Falls, and some of the smaller falls up and down stream of it! This particular area is full of people trying to sell you trips across the river or kayak/rafting trips! As i was leaving ... read more

After the 5 days of doing very little, I decided to take a trip out to Jinja for a few days away from Kampala. Another early start, and I was the only person on the free shuttle bus between Kampala and Jinja! I read for a bit then went to sleep for the rest of the journey. The bus reached Nile River Explorers Backpackers in Jinja Town at about 9 45, and I had some breakfast, before getting a Boda out too Nile River Explorers Campsite out at Bujagali Falls, set on the top of the Hill, overlooking the falls! After putting my bags into the dorm, I cam out to the bar, where the balcony overlooks the river, very impressive view. I took a Boda back down into Jinja to get some things (much needed ... read more

Andrew and Yasmine asked me if I wanted to come to Jinja with them for the day, so having nothing else to do, i said yes! We got Bodas (motorbike taxi thing) down to the bus station, where we got a minibus taxi into Jinja! The thing with the minibus's are that they only leave when they are full! and its very cramped! Again like with the drive to Murchison the scenery soon changed from the city suburbs/slums into lush green countryside! As we neared Jinja the scenery became even greener as the Nile supplied large amounts of water to the local farms! Again the journey was littered with the small villages and towns, and markets selling the usual array of local food, fruit and veg! the freshly cooked food smelled amazing! but im still reluctant ... read more

The final day of the Murchison Falls trip saw us up at a resonable time for once! :) We had a relaxing breakfast and then got back onto the bus for the drive back to Kampala with a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where they are breeding Rhino's for reintroduction into the wild. At the centre we were given a brief by our guide we had a short drive to within a Km of the Rhino's, and then went on foot to within 30 meters of them! along the walk the guide showed us things that indicate the rhino's have been in the area, such as footprints, markings on tree's and piles of poo..... We got to within 30 meters of the Rhino's where we were allowed to take pictures! then the guide took us ... read more

On the 2nd day, we had to be up really early, for the game drive which began at 6 30! We picked up a packed breakfast and then got back into the minibus, which took us down to the Paraa ferry which took us over the Nile for the beggining of the drive, we got to the ferry just as the sun was rising above the river! On the far banks we could see a school of hippo's just wallowing in the water. The Vehicles all boarded the boat, and we all got on! the crossing took 5 minutes and once on the other side we all got back into the bus and began the drive! we drove for a few KM's through the bush, seeing only various species of antelope! after about 7 kms we ... read more

I had to be at the main reception/bar by 8 for an 8 30 leave. The weather even at that time was hot! We got onto the mini bus that we'd be using for the trip! As we drove through Kampala you could see the locals queueing up to Vote, as it was election day (the 2nd democratic election in 28years!!) Driving through the suburbs shows a real mix of large industrial units surrounded by the housing of the majority of the population of Kampala. All along the side of the roads are stalls selling hand made wooden furniture, Sofa's, Iron Gates, coffins?? and a variety of foods, ranging from bbq'd chicken, to pineapples and bananas, and almost every 20 meters was someone or a stall selling simcards or phone credit, even in the most remotest ... read more