The college is currently on a term break so we've had plenty of time to travel. We have been bidding farewell to some of our favourite volunteers who are going back home...Fransje and Hilary in Bushenyi, and Barbara and Michael in Fort Portal. Plans have been made for future meetings when all of us are back in the UK/Europe.
Last week we spent a couple of nights at one of our favourites, Kingfisher Lodge, where we said farewell to Fransje who will soon be back in Holland. Then we headed to Fort Portal to spend a couple of delightful days with Barbara and Michael, a married couple who teach at a PTC and will soon be returning to England.
With a wee bit of prompting we decided to stay in Kibale Forest which is in the Fort Portal area. Our accommodation was the Primate Lodge Kibale which is a short walk from the meeting point for the chimp trek. The ambience, comfort, and service was superior. It was a pleasure to wake up to a symphony of birds or watch monkeys in the trees whilst resting on a comfy sofa on a veranda.
The chimp walk took nearly 4 hours to complete. Three groups consisting of 6 each were guided by a ranger and the rangers kept in touch via walkie talkie to increase the chances of all groups viewing the chimps. The walk was rough as we went off-trail and straight through the rainforest for the majority of the walk. The effort was worth it as we came upon a group of chimps after they had been spotted by one of the other groups. We could hear the chimps screeching loudly for some distance prior to our arrival because <<vegetarians: skip the following details>>
they had killed a monkey and were loudly 'discussing' which of the male chimps would be lucky enough to partake of fresh, raw monkey flesh.
The rules for walkers was to keep a distance of 8 metres between us and the chimps. It was very easy to watch them indulging in the meat-eating, plant-eating, or just lying or sitting around or swinging in the trees. With so many people trying to take photos, the ground being rough and uneven, and the chimps not understanding the need for them to 'be still' and pose without a tree leaf or branch in the way, the number of good pics I took was few. But we thoroughly enjoyed being close to the chimps and watching them in spite of the lack of good pics.
Last week we spent a couple of nights at one of our favourites, Kingfisher Lodge, where we said farewell to Fransje who will soon be back in Holland. Then we headed to Fort Portal to spend a couple of delightful days with Barbara and Michael, a married couple who teach at a PTC and will soon be returning to England.
With a wee bit of prompting we decided to stay in Kibale Forest which is in the Fort Portal area. Our accommodation was the Primate Lodge Kibale which is a short walk from the meeting point for the chimp trek. The ambience, comfort, and service was superior. It was a pleasure to wake up to a symphony of birds or watch monkeys in the trees whilst resting on a comfy sofa on a veranda.
The chimp walk took nearly 4 hours to complete. Three groups consisting of 6 each were guided by a ranger and the rangers kept in touch via walkie talkie to increase the chances of all groups viewing the chimps. The walk was rough as we went off-trail and straight through the rainforest for the majority of the walk. The effort was worth it as we came upon a group of chimps after they had been spotted by one of the other groups. We could hear the chimps screeching loudly for some distance prior to our arrival because <<vegetarians: skip the following details>>
they had killed a monkey and were loudly 'discussing' which of the male chimps would be lucky enough to partake of fresh, raw monkey flesh.
The rules for walkers was to keep a distance of 8 metres between us and the chimps. It was very easy to watch them indulging in the meat-eating, plant-eating, or just lying or sitting around or swinging in the trees. With so many people trying to take photos, the ground being rough and uneven, and the chimps not understanding the need for them to 'be still' and pose without a tree leaf or branch in the way, the number of good pics I took was few. But we thoroughly enjoyed being close to the chimps and watching them in spite of the lack of good pics.
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3 comments:
Glad to have found your blog! I am aslo happy to have found Kingfisher Lodge and as I am living in Kabwohe it is only an hour drive (with own transport) or maybe three hours in a taxi!
My blog post about Kingfisher: http://travelwithleahgrace.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html
Love the little details of daily life in your blog! Thanks!
Leah
Leah,
Browsed your blog and enjoy your writing.
I'm familiar with Kabwohe and have passed through it many times.
What is your field of study and how long are you here for?
Maybe we'll meet up sometime!
annie
Hi Annie!
Looking at your picture I realize I haven't even stopped at the equator yet. I'm always on public transport and they don't stop for photo opportunities! ;)
My MA is in Human Security & Peacebuilding and I am in Kabwohe until early Dec.
I would love to meet up sometime! I come to Mbarara often for the great market. Kabwohe's is unfortunately not as diverse in vegetables.
My email is leahgmiller (at) gmail (d@t) com
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