On the top of the world at the Bunyonyi Lake

The lake Bunyonyi is one of the most beautiful spots at the southwest of Uganda. It stays at around 2000m height 8 km far from Kabale.



We took bodabodas (kiswahili for "motorbike taxi) and wet up hill to the. Up there we got camping places at the Kalebas Camping.



Awesome fauna and flora.



For free one can just hike around the lake and enjoy the breathtaking scenario. Definitely worthy stoping there for one or two days.




Papirus plants belong to the typical vegetation around the lake.

On the carrier of a bodoboda: the best way up to the lake.





Next!? across the border to Rwanda BAAM!

The Ugandan stroll: 30km through the Queen Elizabeth's National Park

The initial plan was to cross the Queen Elizabeth's National Park in Eastern Uganda. Me and my friend Roman headed to Kassese with bus starting from Fort Portal. After reaching the bus station of that city we started walking down south aiming at the first city after the southern boundaries of the park.

On the first day, we managed to walk the whole afternoon and were happy after counting more than twenty kilometers, some of those already in the northern areas of the park. Most of the time we were following tracks off of the road avoiding the proximity to the trafficking lorries.

Along the way we could observe the foggy mountains, the Rwenzori chain, growing in the west. We passed fields populated by butterflies and amused ourselves with the nest bearing trees. Every now and then, the local wildlife, like impalas or baboons, came out of the bushes to greet us.

It was hot, humid, and late in the afternoon we were exhausted. The Rwenzori could no longer be seeing. Our legs were tired and our feet already had gotten blisters. We stopped at this hotel by the road, had some food and, literally, crashed.

Next day morning we started as early as our legs allowed us. We reached the north of the park right after leaving the village where we slept_ well, that was more kinda few houses at a traffic junction than a proper village. At the very same point we had crossed the Equator, stop for pictures, then we moved on and kept counting down the kilometers.

We were already counting the 15th kilometer of the day as we were approached by these policemen, or national park guards, or something similar. There was kinda check point out there. They explained us the danger of walking in that area and prohibited us to continue. Right away we had to take an available vehicle and reach the next village. So much of our "crossing the National Park by foot."

We head to our next destination earlier than planed and this attempt became a traveller's tale.

Cheers ;)

On the rapids of the Nile River

I really have a good curriculum when the talk is about unexpected environments and crazy adventures but this one has been so far the greatest traveling experience I've ever had: a day on a dingy boat on the Nile river paddling trough a few level 5 rapids. Fun is guaranteed!

To reach the location where the whole adventure starts we drove up north almost one hour starting from Jinja. Reaching the river side some security training took place, groups were formed_four to six people plus guide on a dingy_and the fun could begin.

Already in the first rapid, one of the highests, one can expect the boat will flip. Said an done! BAAAM!

Everyone flies into the water, is dragged down for a few seconds, gets on the surface, the groups gets together, unflip the boat and the fun goes on. Scream and shout is also allowed.

On the very beginning you'll get that bad feeling in your stomach, be a bit scared or even ask yourself: "What the heck I'm down here?. Immediately before the first rapid you also may think: "Fuck! There it comes!" But after the third one the adrenaline goes up, you get the feeling for the whole thing and just wanna have more.

The flipping of the boats is actually all what it's about. The excitement before, the physical effort while in the rapid and the victory after it. Whether the whole crew landed in the water or not the outcome is always pure adrenaline.

Besides the yelling an shouting and people pulling each other back on the dingy we had our paddling sessions on the quiet segments of the river. Then we had enough time to enjoy the fantastic scenery.

The rapids are also a place to get to know people. Oh yes! Imagine you sharing a boat on the Nile with people you never met before, in a wonderful sunny day and all that fun. Definitely people get to talk to each other, tell their stories, tell about what brought them to Africa and at the end of the day you will have, in worst case, an additional Facebook friend.

Those were almost 30 km, around 6 hours on the Nile and, if I remember well, we went through 8 rapids and landed in the water in at least half of them. In one of the last rapids, a "weaker"one, we were allowed by the crew to jumping in "in the case we wanted.". Guess what I did? Fuuuuuun!

If you're planing to travel to Africa any time soon, include a stop in Jinja, Uganda, and book a one day rafting adventure. A whole package, including some free camping, can be booked at the Nile River Explorers (http://raftafrica.com) either in Jinja town or in the campsite on the Bujagali Falls.

Well I don't think I have to say I recommend, do I?  It's an experience for life.

Lovely peeps don't forget: "The world is small and we are free."

Cheers everyon!

Victoria lake and the Nile River, giants in size and beauty

The Nile river and the Victoria lake are two giants in the African continent. Giants not only for their sizes_both are the largest river and lake, respectively, in the continent_ but also for their economical significance and for their natural beauty.

The Nile river and the Victoria lake are two giants in the African continent. Giants not only for their sizes_both are the largest river and lake, respectively, in the continent_ but also for their economical significance and for their natural beauty. A number of birds, reptiles, mammals, plants, etc. have found the perfect environment to survive close to their waters, on their islands and along their shores.

The waters of the Victoria lake, which are shared by three East African countries: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, start flowing into the Nile River at the Ugandan city Jinja. A few kilometers outside Jinja, on "The Source of the Nile" one can have an idea of what I'm talking about. This is probably the best place to observe what the Nile River/Victoria lake have to offer on matter of natural attractions.

It's been my second time to come to Uganda and to come here. The last time I come I introduced the place to my Austrian friend Roman.

Once there we booked a guided boat ride, which took us up to the lake and down to the river for about one hour and provided a couple of unexpected encounters with monitor lizards, pelicans and white king fishers.

An stop at the fish farms in the and a look at one of the fishmonger's villages is also on the plan.

Most of the villagers have their subsistence guaranteed by reduces offered by the lake, whether it's the fishery or the tourism. Also the Chinese are very much present with their fish farms around here.

Weaponed from with my brand new camera I didn't lost any time and tried to get as many good shots as possible. The environment offered more than enough motives to photograph for my happiness.

According to the history the Victoria lake was first sighted by a European in 1858 when the British explorer John Hanning Speke reached its southern shore while on his journey wither hard Francis Burton to explore central Africa and locate the Great Lakes. 

Believing he had found the source of the Nile on seeing this "vast expanse of open water" for the first time, Speke named the lake after Queen Victoria [source Wikipedia].

The entrance fee to the park costs 10.000 Ugandan shillings [ush], around 3€. For the one hour guided boat ride with two people one may count with 150.000 ush (approx. 50€). Definitely worthy visiting it.

Loads of fun peeps!

Cheers everyone.

Across the African continent

There we go!

After a long time of planning and preparation I am leaving on a long journey to get to know more of Central and Southern African countries.

With me, my travel companion And good friend, Roman Köppl.

Starting in Chwele, the place I currently call home, we will first head to Uganda, where some rafting on the Nile river and tropical forest hiking are planed. From there we'll move further to Rwanda and cross the country walking. Further down we want to enter Burundi an from its capital, Bujumbura, take a ferry on the Tanganyika lake and enter Tanzania in Kigoma.

Further south we will reach Malawi and spend a fee days exploring the forests and lakes in the southern part of the country. After Malawi the next destination are the Victoria waterfalls in Zambia. For that we may travel across the country and stop by at the capital Lusaka.

From Zambia my friend Roman goes back home and I move further, alone at first, to Botswana. Some safari is planed for the country of the Okavango delta.

The next great adventure is going to be on the Kalahari desert in Namibia, where I'll be heading to after Botswana. Stops in Windhoek, Swakopmund and at the skeleton coast are included.

The almost two months long journey will finish in South Africa with some mountain hiking, a few days in Cape Town and Jo'burg. A visit to the table mountain is included and the accommodation in Soweto already booked.

The excitement about getting to know more of this continent, it's people and nature is tremendous :). I'm hoping for a great time, awesome adventures and unforgettable memories with my friend Roman and those I may meet "along the way."

First stop Uganda :D

Cheers everyone!

On the Mount Elgon every now and then

Every now and then I jump on the carrier of a "bodaboda" (Kiswahili for motorbike taxi) and take a ride  through muddy roads to enjoy the most beautiful piece of nature in the neighborhood, the Mount Elgon.

    This is where the adventure starts: with the Mount Elgon in front of us.

    PICTURE: PRIVATE.

In less than half an hour motorbike ride from my home, in Chwele, one can reach the first villages up on the mountain at approx. 2500 m altitude. The challenging slopes and the muddy roads, specially during the rain season, can only be mastered without further problems by the bodabodas. They, the slopes and the mud, provide a lot of adrenaline for a lot of fun on the way up.

A day ride on the bodaboda, including the guidance services of the driver, will cost 1000kes (Kenyan Shillings) = 8,33€.

   Who sits on the carrier of a bodaboda is in advantage. PICTURE:PRIVATE.

Some facts about the Mount Elgon:

It is an extinct volcano located half in Ugandan half in Kenyan territory and its highest point reaches approximately 4300 m. It is the oldest and largest solitary volcano in East Africa, covering a area of around 3.500 km² (Wiki.).

For those, who love being in contact with nature, hiking, climbing and camping, this is perfect place. A real nature sanctuary in the middle of an awesome scenery and adorned with unexplored caves, impressive waterfalls and a vegetation of an unique beauty.

During my last visit to the mountain, I had the pleasure to introduce it to my Kenyan friends Derrick and Patience. On the back of two bodabodas we reached the village Kopsiro, where I first took them to a walk along the cliffs, having an breathtaking view of the flatlands beyond the Ugandan border.

The very same way leaded us through a piece of forest on the way to the highest waterfall I got to know up there. The water drops approximately 70m down the cliff. An awesome view of an hidden wonder!!!

    Derrick and the waterfall. PICTURE: PRIVATE.

Another 10 minutes walk further along the cliff and we entered one of the many caves scattered on the surroundings of Kopsiro. With an 5m high and 10m wide entrance and two big galleries, it's one the largests in the area.

Hints: don't forget carrying a torch and be emotionally prepared for some bats flying around you. 

    Inside a cave. PRIVATE: PICTURE.

From Kopsiro we continued our excursion. We left the edges of the mountain and headed to its central areas, towards the Ugandan border, aiming the reminiscent local forest, a mixture of rain forest and and bamboo vegetation.

    The "mixed" forest on the Mount Elgon. PICTURE: PRIVATE.

We left our motorbikes at the edge of the forest and went for hiking through the dense green vegetation. According to the locals we would find further waterfalls and caves along that route.

Before reaching our destination we first met a few of the locals_ that area of the mountain is inhabited mainly by the Saboat sub-tribe_  with their oxen on the way. They use to collect bamboo trees in those areas to use in the construction of their houses. A very peculiar encounter indeed! Considering that I was told the Saboat people would be hostile people. Prejudice by side, my Kenyan friends facilitated the communication and at the end those guys seemed very friendly and, like most of the Kenyans, curious about the "mzungu" (Kiswahili for European, or generally foreigner) roaming around in that forest.

    Sabaot guys, their oxen and the bamboo. PICTURE: PRIVATE.

After almost one hour hiking we reached the promised "oasis". And what a one!!

We left the forest behind us as we entered this cleared area. It was cut by an short creek, and at both side a number of flowers of an awesome beauty decorated it.

    Isn't that a paradise? PICTURE: PRIVATE.

We took a break to refresh before moving ahead. Such a nice and relaxing place and this on the slope of an extinct volcano. Just great!!

    Break at the creek: me. PICTURE: PRIVATE.

    Break at the creek: Derrick, Patience and the "bodaboda dereva"

   (Kiswahili motorcycle driver). PICTURE: PRIVATE.

What I didn't realize was that the creek disappeared a few meters after the place where we decided to stop and fell down along an stony wall of approx. 40m height.

Following our friends we found a way down along the wall ann after reaching down had that just paradisiacal view. Behind the waterfall the entrance of an huge cave, exactly like those hiding treasures in the pirates movies. Proper gorgeous!

    A view of paradise in Western Kenya. PICTURE: PRIVATE.

No doubt we had our exploration moment motivated by the exciting atmosphere of the place. We entered the cave and walked into its two main chambers till where darkness allowed us, definitely, far of reaching its end.

In his excitement our guide joked: "if you keep walking ahead you may get ou in Uganda." :)

    The explorers at the waterfall. PICTURE: PRIVATE.

The expression natural sanctuary describes this place perfectly! Although the footprints of the locals can be seen in many areas of the forest, it still seems to be in perfect balance. Rumor has it, that the Bungoma county, in the Western region of Kenya, has plans to transform the whole area in an National Park soon.

A motorcycle ride to a forest on an extinct volcano to explore caves and jump into some waterfalls. If it's not worth adventuring?!

Glad to share with you peeps!

Cheers,

Mácio Simyiu Mzungu :D

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