28th - Gorilla photos

All photos are in random order.

28th - Only gorillas, no guerillas

The gorilla trek lasted three days; one day to get there from Kampala, one day to do the actual trek, and one day to get back. The drives back and forth lasted around 9-10 hours. Passing through a lot of nature and small towns and settlements, the drive was quite uneventful. We did stop a place where we had fresh pineapples. Fresh as in “harvested a couple of hours ago”. That experience has forever ruined any pineapple for me in the future. Very fresh, sweet and juicy as I have never had one before.

The hotel we stayed at had a 1st assistant manager by the name Friday Fred who serviced us (who looked a little like a small young version of Don Cheadle). I’m not kidding – we even asked him, and that is his real name. He was apparently born on Good Friday, hence the name.

The trek day started early, as we were supposed to show up at a briefing at the gates to Bwindi Inprenetable Forest National Park at 0800, and it required almost two hours of rough driving. After a short briefing we were away, and walking for less than an hour later our guide was contacted by the two trackers who had left earlier that they had made contact with the gorillas, and that they were just waiting for us to show up. An hour later walking though some rough terrain we finally arrived. We met a family of 19 individuals; 3 silverbacks, 1 blackback and otherwise covering all ages. It was a beautiful sight, but unfortunately we only had one hour with them before we had to leave. We were lucky that they were out in the open so they were easier to see, but the foliage was still so tall that the largest silverback could take a few steps and completely disappear from view.

Getting back to the gate was actually surprisingly tough; going upwards wasn’t much different from climbing Kili, but now it was hot and humid. And you had to wear long pants so that you wouldn’t get bitten by ants. But we got back and got our diplomas (!), got back to the hotel and had a much needed bath.

Travelling back to Kampala was just as uneventful, but that changed when we reached the city. It had been raining heavily for some time, and as the city doesn’t have much of a drainage system, water was literally flowing everywhere. We were completely stuck in one place almost half an hour due to the traffic getting jammed, and it took us 1½ hours to travel the same distance which took a couple of minutes going out. Fun.

24th - Going to Kampala

People drive in the left side of the road in Tanzania.

This part of my trip deserves its own post. Not because of the flights (Kilimanjaro -> Nairobi, waiting 3 hours and then Nairobi -> Entebbe), the taxi drive to the hotel or the waiting game at the airport. Not because of the mentioned, but because of the first five minutes from leaving the lodge in Arusha. The taxi picked me up at 0600, and when leaving the gravel road where the lodge was located and going onto the paved road, it happened. Ever since I arrived in Africa I have been surprised how crazy people drive without any accidents happening. People drive aggressively, but not angrily, which might be part of the reason why things are the way they are.

Anyway, leaving the gravel road in darkness, the driver looks very briefly to the right, after which he looks to the left, and not seeing anyone, he begins pulling out and turning to the right. At that moment a very dark shadow enters my vision from the right – a guy on a bicycle. He got bigger and bigger, and I thought it was my depth of vision screwing with me (very early, and not much sleep as we were staying quite late at the bar last night to say our goodbyes with the group) until I heard a loud thunk. What did the driver do? Still looking left, he didn’t brake, he actually tried to speed up. This resulted in that the poor biker went up on the hood, across the windscreen and over and down on the ground down behind me on the left. The driver swore, completed his turn, and then hesitated just long enough for me to suspect that he would have continued if I hadn’t been there. Fortunately he pulled over and left the car – and checked the front first. He then went over to the biker, and came back a couple of minutes later, which felt like hours. He drove on and when asked he said that the biker was fine. Maybe he was, but he could just as well have given him a bunch of money so that he’d keep his mouth shut or something. Or just given him a whack on the head to get him to stop complaining for all that I know. Fun morning!

The really fun part is that 5 minutes later he almost pulled off the same stunt again – the biker did stop by himself this time so nothing happened, all while my driver was looking to the left.

Vacation confirmed

I have just received notice from Kilroy that my next vacation has been confirmed. So - my travel plans this time looks like the following:

10th of September

Fly to Kilimanjaro Airport via Amsterdam (thus flying with KLM)

11th - 24th of September

A combined Kilimanjaro trek and safari. We will be starting of by spending 6 days on Kilimanjaro, following the Machame trail (if that means anything to any of you) up and down the mountain (hopefully!) reaching the top before descending again. I am looking forward to this - if for nothing else then pushing myself, as it will be a tough walk. It is a technically easy trek, but the oxygen levels are not impressive - at 5500 m asl the amount of oxygen in the air is halved, and the top is at 5895 m asl. But the view is going to be great!

This will be followed by a safari, where we get around in Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater. It will be some great opportunities for wildlife sightings. The only problem will be that this will probably ruin every trip to a zoo thereafter.

24th of September

Plane to Entebbe (outside Kampala) via Nairobi.

25th - 27th of September

Gorilla trek in the south-western part of Uganda. We will be spending one day to go on the trek (on day is required to go back and forth), where we (hopefully!) will get to see a gorilla family. I am really excited about this.

28th - 29th of September

Plane home, via Amsterdam (again with KLM)

Put short - I am really looking forward to it. I am a little worried that I won't make it to the top of Kili, but as long as I'm not the first one that gives up I won't feel so bad.

And I am already planning my trip next year. Can't I at least get this over with first?! And no - I won't tell you where the next destination will be. :)