Safari and big ass waterfall
Trip Start
Nov 14, 2007
1
11
13
Trip End
Ongoing
Murchison Falls, Uganda
Sunday, January 27, 2008
After a long journey up from Kampala along some pretty bumpy roads we (the tour group I had joined for this - public transport isn't really an option) arrived at our campsite. This was a permanent campsite in the national park itself with fixed place tents and a bar. It overlooked some of the national park and had some pretty good views. However the main thing that was unique about it was that being in the national park it attracted some of the animals. We had warthogs wandering around the camp and into the bar area - we had to ensure we didnn't leave any food in our tents or the warthogs would try and get it (those tusks can be razor sharp!) Also hippos were known to wander the camp so we were all given a briefing on what to do if we encountered one - especially at night if we went for a toilet visit. Essentially the main thing was don't get between mother and child and that you can't outrun a hippo so its better for you if you have some form of religion!
Leaving the next moring (after a fairly fitfull sleep - those hippos are loud but thankfully invisible for the night) we headed off on a safari drive. This was pretty good although not quite the serengetti. We saw plenty of Impala, hippo, giraffes and warthogs as well as some pretty spectacular birdlife. The highlight was coming across a lioness and her 5 cubs playing around with each other - don't know where daddy was but the cubs were having a great time scrapping with each other.
After a quick lunch we headed off on a boat safari down the nile towards the falls. Surrounding and in the river were dozens of elephants and many more hippos. It was amazing being this close to them and again I was overawed with just how big and powerful they all were. We also saw a lot of crocs sunning themselves along the riverbank and again an amazing variety of birdlife including a couple of fish eagles.
After another night in the bar swapping travel and safari stories we headed off early the next morning to go and look at the falls themselves. Whilst not in the same league as Victoria Falls they were amazing. The whole of the Nile crashed through a 6m wide hole - the sheer power of it was trully incredible and I felt very insignificant standing next to them getting covered in the spray off the rocks.
We left there to journey back to Kampala - I was eager to get back as I was to meet up with Carlie again so was really excited - also wanted to make sure I arrived at the airport before she did!
