Day 2 AM, Gorilla Forest Camp
March 12, 2009, Thursday Morning
The boat ride back to Entebbe was thankfully uneventful, but not entirely dry. The sides to the boat were down and tied. I’m convinced Lake Victoria is never smooth. Back on shore, we were reloaded into the truck and taken to a private airstrip for our charter to the Gorilla Forest Camp in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. Since this was our second time to visit the gorillas, I had not come down with another case of the hives. I was just worried about being right on the border with Congo and the left over rage from the Rwanda genocide. When we reached the gate of the airstrip, a very tall army guard in camouflage clothes met us. After throughly checking our papers, he unlocked the gate to allow us to pass through. The airstrip was in the middle of settlements and farmland. You would never have known it was there except from the air. We drove on to the terminal area to be met by the South African pilot and the owner of the airstrip. Everything was unloaded and taken down the stairs to be weighed and inspected. The army guard in a matching camo beret was nervous. Everyone seemed a little edgy. Our transfer men were trying to make light of the situation. Steve and Nicole left to use the facilities leaving me there with 6 or 7 local men. Trying to remain calm, I just leaned back in the shade and just watched them. One of our men came to me and said the army guy wanted us to unlock the bags for inspection. The was a highly unusual request, but since they had no xray facilities, this just annoying. I asked why, since all we had were clothes. Steve unlocked one duffle for them to go through. Finding nothing but clothes, he said we could board the charter. The bags were loaded and we boarded the airplane. It was a small six seater, and cramped. Steve road shotgun, Nicole and I behind them. At least the strip was paved. The pilot radioed he was ready, and we had the go to take off. I asked the pilot why everyone was nervous. He said a few days before a Russian job took off from that strip, caught on fire in flight, and crashed. It was running guns into Somalia. That was comforting. The sky was overcast but not raining. Things had to get better after such a rough start to a safari. The flight was about 90 minutes to the border. As we winged over Uganda, the tropical green foliage was everywhere. Banana trees seemed to dot every square inch that wasn’t a house or forrest. Every shade of green was represented. We got to our airstrip easily. The pilot lined up the airplane to buzz the strip to check for animals and people. The coast was clear, and landed on the long, wide grass strip. These strips always are on a hill of sorts too! The GM from the Gorilla Forest Camp was there to meet us with our driver Bennie. The strip was right on a fairly busy dirt road in a residential area of a village near the National Park. As we unloaded, people came out of their home to sit and watch us. I could not imagine having an airstrip in my front yard. There are no paved roads, so we bounced along through the village. We stopped to buy a few cold beers, and bought all the bar had. We had to pay a deposit for the bottles’ return. As the beer was being bought, Nicole and I watched all the activity in the village. Today was market day. Everyone had brought everything they had made or raised to be purchased. The yellow plastic containers held the Ugandan version of banana wine and spirits. Aha, now that was why we saw so many banana trees! The camp was about an hour’s drive from the village. After arriving, we walked up 99 steps on a hill where the camp was perched. We settled in the main lodge with a briefing of our stay and the experience. The beer was colder there. Our luggage was carried to our tents, along with more camp orientation. At least we were not getting in another vehicle for a while. Meals in Africa are not gourmet, but they are always different. No country in the world has ever mastered the AMERICAN CHEESBURGER!! We would soon be the only three people in camp, as the two women there were leaving that day. After lunch, Nicole was tired and went to bed. Steve and I wanted to take the village walking tour to see the medicine man and the making of the banana wine. What a combination.
Tags: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Congo, Entebbe, Gorilla Forest Camp, Lake Victoria, Uganda
Greetings from Missoura! Just read your second installment- this is great, Shirley! A bit different than our vacation pictures to be sure. Forwarded the site to my wife to see if she recognizes any of the places you mention.
It’s so refreshing to find articles like the ones you post on your site. Very informative reading. I will keep you bookmarked. Thanks!
That type of diet can really work. No pasta, bread, or potatoes. Sorry, but I am not giving up my one Diet Coke a day. Take a look at Dr. David Leonardi’s program.