Lake Victoria

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Today we (another volunteer at the school where i'll be working, and I) headed for a wander across town to find a 'matatu' (minibus taxi) to take us to the lake for some ever needed fresh air. Pushing and shoving and holding on tight to our bags we meandered through the hustle and bustle of downtown Kampala, all along the roads taxis gridlocked to a standstill, (surely it's quicker to walk round the city the amont of traffic there is!), in most places there wasn't even enough room to get in between them they are so tightly packed together. Kampala doesn't have any street maps around the place telling you where you are, so i'm sure we walked a fair few kilometres than necessary to get to the taxi park but we weren't going to whip out a map because that just cries 'lost tourist' and there are already far too many people trying to show us where to go without looking lost!!!

the bus to Ggaba filled up fairly quickly and after a quick read of the lonely planet we decided to instead head to Munyonyo a smaller town on the lake shore. we were so close to the water yet so far and the only place we could see how to get there was through a swanky resort so we walked straight through security and enjoyed some fresh air on their nice lawn before asking how to get to the actual town. Somewhat annoyingly out here, people don't expect mzungu to ask to get to small places like where we were going and it took a good ten mins to explain that we actually wanted to local bars and not another swanky resort. after revitalising with a rolex and soda -where the two locals sat at the only two chairs insisted we took them as they say on the floor (that always makes me feel awkward but they weren't letting me sit on the floor) we found the way down to the shore and it was lovely.... real relaxed setting on the lakeshore surrounded by maribou stork eating the left overs. It's a shame it's a bilharzia ridden lake otherwise i'd have been in the water in a flash.

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Comments

[Katy]

And so the adventure continues! I love reading your posts. I had to look up bilharzia...whew, good thing you didn't swim in the water, it sounds horrendous! How'd you know? Are there signs posted or is it just assumed that all fresh water is contaminated?