Indiana Liv and the Search for the Jungle of Kymbura

Welcome to 2009! Happy New Year to everyone!

My holidays are over soon, but what a great time they have been. My time away at Queen Elizabeth was just amazing! After a 6 hour drive [in the boot section of a four wheel drive whose starter motor was broken- thus needing a strategic down hill park and man power push to start] we arrived at our destination- the Ecological Lodge at Mweya, with the Roberts, Esther and a Scottish couple, John and Judith [John and Judith will be staying with me at the place I’m at after the Roberts leave on the 20th]. Unfortunately when we got there, the check in people had no idea who we were and had no record of our booking, even though we confirmed, so we went to a place called Hippo Hill Camp- and how awesome it was! We got luxury tents for a 7th of the price of a budget tent! They must not have had enough people for the Christmas period- so we were very blessed! After check in and a bit of a scare from a HUGE hippo outside my tent enjoying a drink, we went on a really cool river cruise. We saw so many amazing animals- elephants, birds, hippos, buffalos, warthogs, antelopes- all kinds of things! That’s where I got this picture of the hippo with its mouth open! Pretty nuts to think with one little snappy snappy smoosh its byebye person! Eeek!

The next day it was my birthday and we went on an early safari where we were met with a beautiful sunrise. I spent most of the time standing up taking pictures through the sun roof- I was hoping my delicious looking meaty physique would attract us some carnivores but I must have been too dusty for them, because unfortunately we didn’t see any lions or leopards, which was a real shame! About 4 hours later we got back to camp and then headed to Kymbura gorge- it’s amazing. One minute you’re in the middle of the plains of Africa and the next minute the plains drop into this breathtaking gorge- it’s hard to describe, but I think it looks like God got out his giant ice cream scoop and took out a big chunk of ground, forming this spectacular drop, full of a jungle 16km long- including many species of monkey, [including chimps whom we were hoping to see] antelopes, hippos and elephants, whom all gathered for the fresh water stream that ran down the length of the gorge.

We began our 4 hour foot trek into the jungle via a very steep descent and yes my lack of coordination added to a few near slides on the gluteus maximus! We finally reached the bottom and entered in- and wow- how beautiful it was! We were met with beautiful green shrubbery and vines and the sounds of hippos grunting and elephants blowing in the distance. Our aim was to find the chimpanzees which had earlier been spotted, so we were headed to that area to see if they were still there. To our great disappointment we never did find them, but we did see a few cute little monkeys bouncing from tree to tree, and had a very close run in with a male elephant grazing through the jungle shrub. It was rather amusing, as our guide [armed with a rifle] was in the lead and disappeared around a corner for a little, suddenly came rushing back saying “we must turn around” and herded us in the opposite direction. As a part of wildlife protection law, people are not permitted to come closer than 8m to any animal, as they might endanger us, and thus unnecessarily endanger the animal- but the look on the guides face told me this elephant was probably very large and quite territorial!

I often imagined myself as Indiana Jones [or Indiana Liv!] as we had to cross a few streams [but for the sake of dramatic story telling we’ll call them rushing rivers with enormous hippos waiting hungrily underneath!] via a rickety bridge with no railing and a fallen tree log. Those that know me well know I’m not a fan of heights or slipping for that matter, so I felt very brave crossing that log! Hehe. We persisted still for our search for chimps, but as it was getting late, we had to head back. Even though we never saw the chimps it was still a lovely walk- and not many would be able to say for their 21st birthday they went on a safari in Africa and trekked through the jungle in search for the chimpanzee!

The last part of my birthday was spent at Mweya lodge restaurant- a 5 star lodge, which was fantastic! The Roberts very kindly shouted me for my birthday for a 5 course banquet [okay I’m the one that made it a 5 course meal!] of salad as a starter, a noodle bar where you choose your noodle, meat, vegetable and sauce and have it cooked for you straight from the wok to your plate, yummy mains, [including my favourite meal- lamb chops!] and dessert, of which I had a round each of a piece of cake and fruit pudding! We all left feeling extremely full- a great end to a brilliant birthday!

The next day, we were heading home, but on the way we wanted to stop by Ishasha national park, for another go at spotting some carnivores. Ishasha is the home of the tree-climbing lion, so we were quite hopeful to see one! I don’t know what it was about our safari adventures, but I think the majority of people on our journey must be dog lovers, as all cats stayed away! We did however find the carcass of a buffalo eaten only the day before, but that was about as close as we came to finding anything of a carnivorous nature!

Our journey home which was meant to be a slightly bumpy 3 hour drive, turned into a 6 hour bump and bounce adventure four wheel driving trek through many a mountain range, as we got hopelessly lost due to some misdirection given from some village people- and our map which should have helped was rather inaccurate we discovered, and even though each village was named, as each village had no signs or rarely people who spoke English, we ended up going around in circles! I actually have some bruises from how bumpy the journey was- but I think it was worth it in the end, as the last hour and a half of our ride was through the most beautiful mountain range I have ever seen. We were quite high up, and the view- wowsa! The surroundings were a pine forest that spilled across the terrain for miles, and just gave one such a peaceful feeling- I imagine that type of place is where God would go to get some peace and quiet! Another cool thing was when we passed through a village, all the village children would run out smiling and waving, yelling “Muzungu, Muzungu!” what I didn’t realise is that due to our getting lost, we ended up being in VERY remote areas, where we were probably the first Muzungu’s these children had ever seen! We finally gladly arrived home, to a hot cuppa tea and comfortable bed! What a fantastic couple of days away! I feel so blessed to have experienced all that we did!

New Years was rather quiet, and we spent it at home- I did however speak to Andrew for Australia’s New Year’s crossover, and it was really weird to realise that after midnight AEST it was still 2008 in Uganda! So I was speaking to Andrew who was in another year to me! How weird huh! They had fireworks here too- not very many, but again very amusing- every time one went off, some neighbors down the road, who were all female, just went nuts- they’d scream crazily and dance around! Its still so amazing to think I’m in Africa- I still have to pinch myself sometimes to know its real!

Today is my last day of holidays- tomorrow I will be going back to Akanyijuka and teaching some more. I actually can’t wait- I’ve missed the kids while I’ve been away! I snuck down with Esther yesterday as it was her last day in Kabale and we hung out for a while with them- they know the Macarena quite well now- much to our Muzungu amusement! Soon I’ll be having another sports afternoon with them, so I will be teaching them the heel and toe dance- I hope it works!

Well I better be off, I’ve got to write up some lesson plans for my teaching in the weeks ahead!
Happy New Years again, and I’ll update soon.
Love the little Muzungu.