I love Disneyland. And I love the Jungle Cruise. But this is the real deal! Here in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda it seems all the animals of the world live in harmony. The elephants bathe in the water next to the rhinos and buffalos. Every bird imaginable is here too, along with deer and elk and warthogs and so many more. We take a boatride along the shore and look on in amazement. I’ll let the pictures provide the words…
We even cross paths with animals leaving this magnificent park!
Once again we’re on the move, this time trekking rhinoceroses with our trusty guide, Mumica. Now, in case you’re unaware, rhinoceroses and hippos are basically the most dangerous animals in Africa. Humans can sometimes piss them off, and when rhinos feel threatened, they like to use their horn. So why on earth am I in hot pursuit of them? Good question. But for now, we are following the dung piles (on foot!) in hopes of finding a few.
After a kilometer or so, Mumica starts calling other trekkers that are already stationed in the bush. These trekkers monitor the herds day and night, recording their every movement. He uses bird calls to communicate with them.
We come through a clearing and there they are: big, beautiful, dangerous rhinos. I’m nervous but excited. It feels strange being so close to these enormous animals in their natural habitat.
Our guide lets us move in a little closer. The rhinos pay us little heed, content to eat their grass and move slowly through the area.
Here’s the bull. He keeps to himself, bigger and extremely imposing. We give him a wide berth.
Camp life:
Our little merry band of 11 travelers is quite diverse. As mentioned previously, we come from all parts of the globe: Australia, Ireland, Belgium, England, Canada, Italy and the U.S. We begin each morning with breakfast and a briefing by Joe, our local Kenyan tour guide.
(Say hi to Joe!)
He gives us the rundown over eggs and coffee. We have a detailed itinerary for our 77 day journey and Joe gives us play by play action on our next game drive, campsite, activity, or what have you.
Mornings start early, often around 5:30 am or 6. After breakfast, we break down our tents and pile into the big truck. Then for the next few hours, or sometimes all day, we bounce along dirt roads, mud pits, paved roads, moving throughout Africa, across borders, driving to the next campsite. Lunch is often a quick stop along our route, or a meal on the truck. When we arrive at our campsite, it's time to break out the tents and start all over. Who's on cooking detail?
A fridge onboard holds all our food. We're split up into 4 groups with rotating chores: cooking, dishes, cleaning the truck, and security. We stock up on food at grocery stores, each group picking the meals they will cook. The food has been delicious so far: stir frys, burritos, chili con carne, mac and cheese with bacon. Lots of fruits and veggies. Cooking for a big group with different dietary needs can be a challenge, but we adapt and learn.
I can feel my body getting stronger and healthier with each passing day. Africa is good for me. My mind is at peace. I'm able to be present. And I'm surrounded by amazing, courageous people. The Irishman is heading to South America then Asia after this trip, traveling for a year. The Canadian couple will set sail on a yearlong trip cruise around the world soon. The Brit, a young female traveling solo, heads to India and beyond after, for 18 months! Many more are continuing their travels after Africa, this just being the warm up course, the appetizer.
Views from the road:
