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Published: July 14th 2008
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We have to pay $50 for visa to enter Uganda at the border. The scenery is similar to Rwanda, lots of planted vegetables green mountains etc. When we had a pee stop i saw 2 birds, the Ugandan national bird cant remember the name of it at the moment, it was in the cultivated field searching the soil for grains i guess.
After a long cold drive we stopped to bush camp on the side of the road, few policemen later on stopped and ask us what we are doing there, they promised us protection from bandits etc... It was a difficult bush camp, terrain is rocky and not much space, but we made it through the night anywaysNext day arrived in Kampala and we are staying at the Red Chilli campsite. It has a nice atmosphere, lots of overland trucks, a bar and lots of lawn space. On the way here we met 2 Drago trucks, one was on their way here, they got here well before us as we got lost a bit and did an unscheduled tour of Kampala.
The next day Craig, Chris and I rented badminton sets to play as they have a badminton court
in the area. Craig broke his racket and so we stopped abruptly and went back to the truck to try and mend it with sticks, the racket throat broke so we have to steady it as we put a gaffer tape around it. it worked for a bit but I asked for another racket just in case. we played for a bit then got tired of it and decided to head to town and see a movie or 2. We took the local matatu to get to Garden City mall, we got to the center of town and walked a bit to get there but saved heaps on taxi fare. We had lunch at the food corner in the mall, we had Cuban food and it was really good. Headed to the cinema and saw Incrdible Hulk and Indiana Jones. later that eve we met up with the others and walked our way to a fine Chinese restaurant called Fang Fang, really delicious treat, not cheap but i think worth the effort and money. Made our way back in a Matatu again and just chilled out at the Red Chilli bar then bedtime. The camp is a bit noisy so
JINJA
APPARENTLY THE SOURCE OF THE WHITE NILE i made sure we pitched the tent far from the noise.
Left the capital the next day stopped at Shoprite for last minute food shopping and bank then off to Jinja, 100kms away. When we got to town we spent a good 2 hours walking around and lunch as well at a nice Indian restaurant before heading to the campsite the Nile River Explorer right at the purported source of the White Nile at Bujagali Falls. It is Sam's birthday when we arrived there and so we celebrated that night at the bar, jack as usual got quite drunk and entertained us with his antics by learning how to pirouette(dont ask why), needless to say he woke up hung over.
Chill out day there were no activities on sched. Craig and Chris quadbike in the dirt road around the village, they look scrummy when they got back. Went craft shopping outside the camp where there are souvenir stalls, but did not buy a thing. groups of young high school students from the USA arrived that afternoon, bit rowdy and crowded the camp is now but were used to it by now.
Whitewater rafting the next day big
group, us and the American students. We all were grouped into7 or 8 persons a raft, Sam and I got the girls(Jo, Chrissy,Christina, and Trudi). The rapids were grade as level 5 but only a few actually are but all of them are all scary anyway, we were briefed on what to do in case the raft turn over, so we had practice, i was a bit worried as I wear contacts and worried it will come off, the goggles Marky lent me leaks so in the end did not use it and luckily did not lose my contacts despite our raft upturning twice!! It was a scary experience, split seconds you are in the water and have to do your beat so stay afloat at the same time going with the flow of the rapid feet first, easy to say hard to accolpish especially if there are big waves knocking you over, the second time we turned over, mt feet hit some rocks as I struggled to get into one of the rescue kayaks, then when i got hold of it and struggle not to swallow the whole river by keeping my head above water, the kayak turned over
JINJA
JACK AT THE NILE RIVER EXPLORER CAMPSITE, BUJAGALI FALLS as well when it got hit by a wave, double whammy for me. Finally I got rescued and was taken to another raft, our other group's raft, teasing me to no end just because they havent fallen over yet. In the end it was an awesome experience and the last rapid we opted for an easy pass as we cant take turning over again!! Lunch was pineapple and some bread, really cant eat much when you are too nervous... We got back to the campsite and treated to a wonderfull dinner included, BBQ meat and veggies and 2 free beers. I had water in my ear on the last rapid and was struggling to balance myself when we got back, I feel dizzy but eventually it went away.
The next day John was not feeling well so did not leave as scheduled, we are cooking that night so Zoe, Sam and I went to town with the other cook group and find food, i got Chicken meat so decided to cook the adobo. Everyone loved it except for the veggies which we cook mung beans for... Another Oasis truck arrived and more kids, it really is time to go,
JINJA
CHRIS AND CRAIG AFTER QUADBIKING ON DIRT ROADS it is overcrowded.
Left the camp early and drove towards the border with Kenya. Oh along the way we also arrived at the equator in the Ugandan side, just cant remember when we did that....
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cegrmr
Ryan Rodriguez
Thanks for sharing
Hey Gil, What a wonderful trip. I hope your friend is feeling better now. The pictures were great. I totally want to visit. Oh yeah... how was the Chinese food in Africa? Seems interesting. Ryan