Uganda Adventure: Day 8; Crossing the equator

Today we left Kamwenge.

I had a good night, without drugs. Our 9.30 departure was more like 11. We have a new word for it: UST – Ugandan Stretchable Time! I am glad for the experience of the past few days, but ready for something different – we were getting tired of the Spanish omelets (only option) for breakfast.

Ada was staying behind, because she was already at the wild part that last time she was here. We headed back to Fort Portal on the same bumpy dirt road. It was not as hazy, so we got some nice pictures. Since there was virtually no traffic on this road, people along side would stop and wave at us. Getting used to that. We also stopped at one arts and crafts store in the middle of nowhere and got some good deals. We had to stop for a minor car tune up, passed the Crater Lake, and the Kibale National Park again. There were many of those huge butterflies dancing around us again. Lovely!

After we dropped of some things in Fort Portal, we continued south toward the national park, but now we were on tarmac road – much better. The view of the mountains around the town was much clearer. Maybe they also had the rain the day before that cleared the air. Finally, by 4 we were at Yerya parish, where we had our lunch. Then we had couple of more hours to the park.

Down through the Rift valley we went, all alongside the beautiful peaks of Mt. Rwenzory. In some tiny town we even saw Snow Views Hotel, which sounds so out of place in Uganda. But, actually, on a real clear day, the snow caps can be seen almost year round. We were just 38 km from Congo border, not that I wanted to go there. We also passed the equator, around 6.30 PM. There was a little sign on the side of the road, marking north and south side of the world. We were now in the southern hemisphere already, and driving through the northern part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park. The scenery looked more like Africa I imagined; yellow, tall grass, sparse, mid-height trees, with wide, flat tree tops. We saw few deer or antelope herds in the distance.

We were at the first park gate at 7, and it took another two gates and long time to clear up some receipt confusion, for us to finally get our keys at almost 8. I think the original plan was to be here at 2 (U.S.T.!), so we missed lunch, for which they said they’ll compensate us. When we were almost at the second gate, we saw a herd of 4-5 elephants just a stone throw away. They were just leisurely eating in the bushes, not paying attention to us.

The hotel looked wonderful. It is owned by the same Indian guy who owns the big factories in Kampala and a few other resorts in National Parks. While we waited in the lobby, they brought us wet towels to freshen up and some passion fruit juice. The personnel and service were very professional. They took us to our rooms, on the other wing of the hotel, in the golf cart. The room was really nice, air-conditioned, balcony, specious, two ‘net walls’ that open with a cord, and a nice bathroom with a long bathtub. I even though I’d have a bath, but the hot water was yellow even after running for 10 min. But the warm shower was just as wonderful, with a strong massaging jet. It felt good after that bumpy ride.

Drinks and dinner on the porch was so different ambiance than the past few days. The hotel, about 48 rooms, was full, with many groups from European countries. Under the moon we could see the large Lake Edward bellow us. Can’t wait to see it all in the daylight tomorrow!