In search of lions and elephants

Monday we set out for Queen Elizabeth Park in Uganda.  We left Kigali at 6 and allowed plenty of time for the journey, we actually arrived just after 4 that afternoon, Uganda being an hour ahead of us.  The combination of directions on my phone and the lack of road numbers etc meant we had to stop and ask the way several times.  Also it took an hour to cross the border.  I don't like getting preferred treatment due to my skin colour....but at the border it does speed things up.

Uganda farming

The Ugandans, like most Africans, name their businesses with much imagination.  We passed a shack which boasted Executive Bar and Accommodation.  But my favourite to date has to be 'Esteemed Jerk Computers'

So it was quite a long drive, I'd made sandwiches and flasks of coffee to sustain us and save time we would have spent in a cafe using yet another currency.  It was strange arriving at the Park because you don't actually know you're in it!  We were driving along a main road looking for the lodge I'd booked and suddenly there was an elephant looking at us.  A very large bull!  A little further on, spotted the sign to Bush Lodge, and yay!  Another large bull ele, in the middle of a little village.

First elephant

Ele 2.  So close to the houses 

On we went and located Bush Lodge, greeted by Bonny who told us all we needed to know and showed us to the tents.  There was a frisky young elephant outside my tent!  I confess I was a little apprehensive as Bonny said the young ones are aggressive!   

 The tent was comfortable and self contained with loo and outside shower...no hot water, but not needed actually.  I had a rest on my terrace, then looking across a valley there was a large group of elephants, then to the dining tent for dinner.  It was a lovely evening and the tables were set outside around a fire pit.  Lots of animal noises off stage...we were warned not to walk in the dark alone, a member of staff always came along with a powerful torch.

I was very tired and had an excellent night's sleep, just as well as we had to have breakfast and leave by 6.30 to hunt the lions.  apparently you can pay an extra 150USD per vehicle to stay closer to the animals, we didn't know that so had to take pics from afar.  There was a happy male mating, we were informed he can do it 35 times in a day with the poor female!  He looked very frisky!  saw a family of cubs..  

This park is famous for its tree climbing lions, although my friend Katy who's lived in Tanzania many years says all lions climb trees.  So off we went to see a lion up a tree, and a little later another one.  

We were on our way back to the lodge when a cry for help was received, one of the vehicles was stuck in mud under the tree with lion snoozing above.  The driver and 2 tourists leapt from that car into ours...we said they probably had some great pics.

Eventually a knife was procured from another vehicle and we returned to the tree with 3 more drivers who proceeded to cut the seatbelt and endeavoured to use it as a tow rope.  The lion descended from above, you've never seen such a swift reaction from the guys as they threw themselves into our car.    Anyway after several attempts to pull the car out we gave up and all returned to the cars.  A rescue mission was deployed from the authority, and the driver fined for being where he shouldn't be.

We went out again late afternoon, on our way, again along the main road we came across a large group of elephants of all sizes, there were so many babies there must be enough food and water for them.  One baby was so small, very cute. 

There was more game about, but we only saw one more lion and he was up a tree, looked like the lion from the Wizard of OZ.

It is totally different to Akagera which is enclosed to protect the animals and the people farming near by.  In Akagera you drive you own vehicle and hire a very knowledgeable guide for the day, and you get adequate time to take pictures.  In QE it seemed to be a mad dash from one place to another and you relied on the vehicle driver for information.

Another great meal, all the food at the lodge was excellent, but rain was on the way so tables in the covered area.

Wednesday we had another driver, we could have gone alone, but the drivers know how to get tickets etc with minimum hassle.  We definitely had to have pic at the equator, I was expecting a bigger sign though.  

Then to Mweye Lodge, quite pricey but very nice....we just had lunch which was very very good, Nile perch fillet with a sauce of tomato and ginger....yum!  There are crater lakes in the park   the water contains sulphur, the Cape Buffalo go and bathe there as the sulphur helps any wounds heal.

Mud mud glorious mud

Then to a boat to take us along the Kazinga Channel  which joins the 2 lakes of Edward and George,  lots of birds and yes, you've guessed it, more elephants, and of course lots of hippos and a rather large croc swimming along.

It is a croc!!!

We left the lodge yesterday morning and came face to face with one of the large bull elephants, they really are big.  We stopped until we thought he'd gone into the acacia patch, carefully edging forward, he stood still giving us the eye, so we stopped again and eventually he wandered off.

I enjoyed the visit very much, I'd like to go again and pay for the Wildlife experience to get up close to the lions.

   The speed bumps in Uganda are very many and most consist of  5 small ramps, it's like driving over corrugated iron. 
Helpful Hint:  Ladies, if you visit bring a sports bra.

No time like the present

There seems to have been no time to blog of late for which I apologize.   But I've decided there is no time like the present so have put my work aside and will blog.  I only wish I'd remembered to make notes each day, my mind is blank.

Already 2 days gone by since I wrote the above so today I'm concentrating on the blog.
I don't usually come to my office on a Friday but Jean Paul is going to be in town and he's stopping by for a chat before going to a pre ordination retreat day.  Hopefully he can give me the info about the graduation on the 26th which I shall do my best to attend.

The traffic has been awful here of late, resembling the Algarve in August!  Although I am getting used to the lack of courtesy and abiding by the highway code I really need to keep my wits about me!  Of course I'm not used to driving to work each day, but why is it that I can leave the house at the same time each day and sometimes have a clearish run and others face an onslaught of vehicles.  This morning I was on the inside lane at a roundabout clearly indicating that I want to move across to exit......motos, cars and several buses come screaming along the dual carriageway, do not slow down, do not give folk on the roundabout priority and drive right across our bow!  See what I mean.

The worst drivers are many with buses, but apart from them the drivers of NGO vehicles, Embassies and High Commission...and they are nearly all in enormous land cruisers and Land Rovers etc, very intimidating, especially the black ones with tinted windows.  Their favourite trick is to stop at the lights on the lane turning left across the dual carriageway, then when they are stuck behind someone actually waiting to turn left, they force their way in front of those of us who have been patiently waiting in the correct lane.  Also when one is in the correct lane turning left, drivers pull up on your right in the straight ahead lane and then do a double turn left with you, it takes some getting used to.

You may remember from the 2015 blog that I was quite taken with the counting down traffic lights.  There is a little confusion though as sometimes if you're waiting for a red countdown, you move across....it appears to be when the road is clear and there is a red circle above the second counter. But I'm not sure.  I just follow the car in front and cross my fingers.  Ditto when you hear a police whistle but can't actually see the whistle blower.

The other day I was approaching a zebra crossing and a cop signalled to stop so a pedestrian could cross.  I pulled up, the driver in the car didn't, despite the cops frantic signalling....he was so taken aback he couldn't blow his whistle.

On my way home on Wednesday I was turning left at an intersection, the lights were red, but a policeman was whistling with gay abandon and waving us round frantically.  A bit further along were more cops all whistling and waving, then from the other direction a huge police car all red and blue lights blazing....what's up, I thought, but then from around the corner coves HE's Cavalcade, 4 0r 5 large black vehicles again all with flashing red and blue lights.  I always think heads of state would be safer in nondescript cars.   I actually saw the President two days running, he's very busy.

Tuesday I went to the Ugandan High Commission to get a visa, what a nice place, room to park, quiet, I was the only person there, and such nice people all inquiring if I was being attended to as they passed through the very nice reception area.  Collected passport and visa on Wednesday, now just have to get some Ugandan shillings later today.  I'm heading to Queen Elizabeth Park on Monday on a great expedition to look for heffalumps (and lions) as Winnie the Pooh would say.  Or was it Piglet?  Actually the lions in this park climb trees and lounge on branches which is very unusual.

So I'll post this now and be back at the end of next week.