Rafting, painting and bushcamping - Uganda to Ethiopia

The past couple of weeks have brought us out of Uganda, through the desert and bad roads of northern Kenya, and into Ethiopia – currently in Addis.

Traffic in Kampala

Jinja in Uganda is near Lake Victoria and the source of the Nile. Our camp up in Bujagali had an awesome view of the Nile, and provided opportunities for many water-related activities, as well as quad-biking and helping out at a nearby school. The White Nile is notorious in the paddling world. The commercially-run section has changed slightly in the past year as another dam has been built for hydro-electric purposes, covering up a couple of the better-known rapids. However, there are still enough sections of white water that will give you a run for your money, as Mike, Jen, Jon and Adam found out. Mike had a full 2 days of kayaking the Nile solo, and Jen, Jon and Adam completed it in tandem kayaks – pretty hectic!

 There were also cruises on Lake Victoria – some booze and some not, and jet-boating in the new- ‘gorilla jet’ stylishly painted black. It looked a bit like one of James Bond’s get-away boats.

Quite a few of us spent some of our time in Jinja helping out at a project called Soft Power, which helps build and maintain schools for the community in Bujagali. We got involved with hands-on stuff, painting the walls of a nearby school (and ourselves) with blue paint.

Jinja was our last stop in Uganda, and from there it was back to Kenya, crossing the equator for the 4^th time on our way down to Nakuru. And then again on our way up to Samburu. These were the last of the game parks for our trip. Nakuru is centred around the lake, with beautiful fever trees, and was particularly good for rhinos this time.

Samburu by contrast is in a much more arid area, with different terrain and vegetation and a few unique species of animals that you don’t find in the southern parks (reticulated giraffe, gerenuk, grevvy zebra, Somali ostrich and beisa oryx). The Samburu people living up here are so striking with their brightly beaded jewellery.

Samburu National Park

This was also a ‘turning-point’ if you like for our trip, as we have left the typical overland route behind (I doubt we will see another overland truck this trip), as well as the campsites with better facilities. It started with bucket showers or a wash in the river at Samburu, and since then we have been bush-camping (no showers, no facilities, no toilets) or camping in hotel grounds in Ethiopia where you are lucky if the water runs, or if there is a toilet seat.

Bushcamping in Ethiopia

2 long slow days on the road from Archer’s Post to Moyale (with our first official bush-camp of the trip), and we made it in to Ethiopia. The road is bumpy, rocky, corrugated, deserted, hot, dusty and luckily dry. It took its toll on Athena, with a crack in the exhaust which had a few other repercussions in the following days, affecting other pipes, but after much investigation and time under the truck by Rogan, we’re good to go again.

We had a couple of nights in southern Ethiopia in Konso and Arba Minch, on the outskirts of the Omo Valley, on our way up to Addis. This region is known for the different tribes living in the area, and the different ways they construct their homes and villages. Some of the group visited a Konso village, and some opted for an overnight trip up to Dorze in the mountains. The Dorze are particularly known for their weaving, which we got to see (and purchase), and also learnt much about how their houses are constructed, why the huts are so tall and how they are compartmentalised, as well as staple foods and local brews. The tej (honey wine) was great!

Our 3-night stay in Addis has been time to visit the many museums, including the National Museum which houses Lucy, evidence of one of our oldest ancestors. Also had a chance to get a feel of the city, taste local and international cuisine, take care of Athena, and get our Sudanese visas. Our hotel, the Taitu, is the oldest hotel in Addis (and there are certain aspects which don’t hide that fact, and things that may not ever have been repaired, like the door handles that fall off, for example), but it is a great location to be in, right in the heart of it all, and has most things that travellers need (internet, laundry, banks, safe parking and lock-up facilities), especially if you’re lucky enough to get hot water! But bring your own toilet paper. Get the picture?

Taitu Hotel, Addis Ababa