Geo: 0.664314, 30.2796Today we visited the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This is a small sanctuary which protects the Magombe Swamp. It is a great example of conservation and tourism and it also directly benefits the local community. All the money raised from the trail is used in community projects in Bigodi. It has already funded a library and a secondary school in the village. The extremely well-informed guides make the walk all the more enjoyable. Our guide, Alex, could spot birds we might have otherwise missed as well as small creatures like frogs, snails and centipedes and a good sized lizard with a yellow body and brilliant blue head and tail. We saw a lot of birds, for which this area is most famous. We saw Great Blue Turacos, Greenbuls, Weavers that look a bit like Grosbeaks ... read more

Geo: 0.664314, 30.2796Up early again and headed to catch the bus to Kampala and then on to Fort Portal. We had debated taking the bus on hard surfaced roads versus a shorter trip, in kilometers, via matatus but after yesterday on bumpy, dusty roads, we opted for the bus. After about 10 hours we are now in Fort Portal relaxing at the Rwenzori View Guest House –a lovely, quiet, respite from the noise and pollution of the day. Ugandan's love loud music so the bus ride is anything but relaxing. We plan to use this as our base camp for the next 4- 6 days as we explore Kibale National Forest and environs.Dinner at the Guest House was very good and enjoyable. The place is full with travelers from around the world. We chatted with a ... read more

Geo: 1.67444, 31.715After a not great night with loud music and loud people, we managed to snooze through our alarm and were awakened by Moses, our driver, knocking on our door for our 6am pick up to go to Murchison National Park. We packed up fast and headed out. The drive to our first stop, the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, was less than 2 hours so we still got there right when the gates were opening. The Rhino Sanctuary was started to reintroduce rhinos to Uganda. They were completely wiped out during what the locals gently refer to as 'the political unrest' of the 70's and 80's. This was an all out civil war with horrendous genocide under Idi Amin. Many people killed the rhinos for food and others just slaughtered them during conflicts. The rhinos at ... read more

Geo: -14.4113, 31.6098We spent the day walking around Kampala, dodging a couple of downpours. We visited the Kasubi Tombs which is the official resting place of the first four Kings of Uganda. The tour did a great job of explaining the early tribal/clan history of Uganda and its continued importance today. The building that contains the tombs is closed to the public now because it was destroyed by a terrorist fire started by the Sudanese in 2010. Fortunately the tombs are underground so they were not destroyed. A new building is under construction and will be completed by sometime in 2015. At the site there is also a cemetery where family members of these four Kings are buried. From the cemetery you can see views of two other hills in Kampala – there are seven in ... read more

Geo: 33.4479, -112.083... read more