Packed and ready to leave the lodge at 0700, we headed across the park for four hours to the Kichumbanyobo Gate. The total journey time back to 2 Friends Beach Hotel is about 7 hrs.
Heuglin's Spurfowl posing nicely in the early morning sun.
Another African Grey Hornbill, or maybe it's actually the same one as yesterday.
Crossing the Murchison River for the last time.
I can't believe this baboon could be comfortable perched on the sign.
Here you can see the type of boat we had for our river cruise, the larger double-decker.
Fork-tailed Drongo
A large troop of modern day highwaymen - baboons ready to jump on unsuspecting vehicles.
They were to be the last wildlife we'd see before leaving the National Park. From now on it's back to people, their heavy loads and whatever else I snapped through the truck window.
I don't believe this guy could actually see where he was going.
Passing through one largish town we saw this group in yellow who Gerald informed us were prisoners and the majority would have committed drug related crimes. He said it would be OK to take photos as long as we were discreet.
Female prisoners too.
Plastic is a problem here as it is all over the developing world. At least in some places they are doing their best to keep the villages clean and bottle free. I'm guessing his spoils can be sold to make a few shillings.
Back into Ankole Cattle territory.
I love the different shapes, the spotted one's horns practically touch in a perfect arch.
I really don’t know how these guys keep their motorbikes upright, the loads must be really unbalancing.
Driving through the towns north of Kampala I felt a little less comfortable with photography as we weren't experiencing the welcoming smiles and waves we had done to the west of the capital.
A dreadful photo but this stall fascinated me - all they were selling were black lacy cardigans.
Most of the houses appeared to be one or two rooms only so goodness knows how they manage to fit in huge bed frames like these.
This large lorry's entire load was just sticks.
This makes me laugh, logic tells me there is someone else driving the motorbike - but I can't see anyone!
These chairs are just massive.
A pile of durians for sale.
Yes, we have plenty of bananas.
I wonder what's in this young lad’s sack - garbage I would guess.
Obviously I was taking the pots etc and didn’t notice the white faced, blonde haired doll in the bottom right until later.
I think these are coffee/occasional tables but they look more like coffins.
No comment!
This is of course a genuine wreck of a building but at a quick glance it almost looks like a trompe l'oeil.
We're now in the middle of Kampala and some interesting things get carried on motorbikes here too including the guy in the middle carrying his orange crash helmet aloft.
Table and 4 chairs.
Lorry wheel complete with hub which must weigh a ton.
A few shots as we sped past on the freeway down towards the airport and on to Entebbe.
Back at 2Friends Beach Hotel Ian and I were greeted like old friends (which of course we are) and shown to the same room we'd had on the first night. The others are all leaving for the airport just before midnight and so were given "day rooms" for a few hours.
There was a bit of confusion about dinner which to be honest left a bit of a bad taste; Olly assumed he would be paying for everyone's dinner as he had done all holiday, although the itinerary clearly said it was at our own expense. Gerald then confirmed because we were staying the full night our meal wouldn't be covered whereas the others would. Not a fortune, 2 pizzas and a bottle of wine so why not just pick up the tab for everyone which would be less than£20pp on a £6,000+ holiday, besides which we’d paid extra for the whole night plus breakfast anyway. Olly was most embarrassed but we didn’t want it to spoil the last evening.
Rather than go back down to the beach bar, we opted to stay in the reception hut as the kitchen is right there and the food only gets cold being carried across the road.
After another delicious meal we kicked off the goodbyes and said our thanks to Olly and Gerald who were both very grateful for their tips (Olly certainly didn't expect one).