Day 20, May 9, 2021: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Fishing village on Lake Edward - Kihihi - Bwindi - Buhoma Gorilla Camp

After almost three weeks of voluntary work for RWECO-VIDE, my private tour of Uganda starts today. As I take CEO Bwambale on the trip with me, it will still be about the planned tourism project on the side.

First, I have to say goodbye to Julius, the hotel manager and owner of TJ Global Hotels, and his staff, who have taken good care of me during my stay. Even the muezzins from the mosque across the street have almost grown close to my heart 😊

Baluku, the owner of a tourism agency in Kasese, will drive us again. Unfortunately, he doesn't have a SUV, only a Toyota van. Later on the trip, I learn that his Toyota Landcruiser had a problem with the engine a few months ago and he had to sell it because he couldn't afford the repairs. The pandemic has also caused a big hole in his wallet due to the lack of tourists. At my suggestion, we have changed the route again and today we are driving the long way to Bwindi. We will need about 6 hours for the 300 kilometers, longer with breaks.

First, the route takes us through Queen Elizabeth National Park, but still on the main road. We will do the so-called game drive in the park on the way back. Nevertheless, there is already a lot to see when crossing the park: weaver birds, crows, elephants, marabou storks, and of course the beautiful landscape with Lake George and Lake Edward and the Rwenzori Mountains in the background.

We stop in a fishing village on Lake Edward. The people here are very poor and alcohol and drugs are a real problem. Apart from fishing in the morning (mainly tilapia), there is not much to do. Unlike before, the children here are enthusiastic photo subjects and even run after me to have their picture taken.

Our journey continues on the Ishasha Road, which is known for its butterflies. At first, I thought they were swirling leaves and wondered where they all came from, until I saw that they were rust-colored butterflies swirling around our car. After the heavy rain in recent days, the road is muddy and especially difficult to drive with the van. But we have to go through... During a short "butterfly stop", I meet Jameera with her friend. Her red turban shines in the sun and she willingly lets me take her picture. Later we meet the two again when they are helping the driver of a heavily loaded motorcycle that has tipped into the ditch on the poor road. This time, Jameera asks me for a photo - a really nice encounter.

After many exhausting hours of driving, we arrive in Kihihi. There I first stock up on some food in a very well-stocked supermarket. This includes, among other things, "G-nuts", which are popular here as a snack but also used for sauces. The name didn't mean anything to me at first, but when I tried them for the first time, I thought they tasted like peanuts. They are peanuts, just raw, not roasted, and really delicious. I also buy a huge bag of lollipops for the children who keep crossing our path. They are happy about it and it's better than giving money.

We are all happy when we finally reach our destination, the Buhoma Gorilla Camp, where we will stay overnight today. Unfortunately, a mosquito immediately attacks me as a welcome. So far, I am feeling great health-wise, which is certainly due to the fact that I have no problems because I have not taken the malaria prophylaxis, which is usually associated with very strong side effects. Fortunately, the malaria test I had done a few days ago was also negative. Recently in the news, I saw that after many years of research, there is finally a breakthrough and a effective malaria vaccine may have been found. The results from studies in two African countries seem promising. Every year, thousands of African children die from malaria. This is partly because they are already weakened due to malnutrition and poor hygiene and cannot fight the disease.

Aside from the mosquito attack, the reception at the Buhoma Gorilla Camp is very warm. I have a huge room, our dinner table is tastefully set, and the food is delicious! Heavy rain starts at night, which is refreshing after the oppressive humidity. However, I hope for a break in the rain during tomorrow's gorilla trek in the mountains.