Less than a week to go - still haven't had a reply from the Ugandan high commission regarding crossing the border at Kagitumba.
Luckily however the people at Mihingo lodge have said we will be able to get across there and also be able to buy our visa as well. However I have been told that we might be able to buy multi entry visas at Entebbe when we arrive - just hope we won't be too tired to remember to ask for them.
Car hire company will deliver our car to us around 9.00 am on Saturday morning, can't wait to see the old battered jeep they've arranged for us.
Last minute preparations include getting a first aid kit from a medic friend - including sutures, syringes, pick line(?) dressings etc. Fingers crossed.
Charging batteries - spare batteries bought from ebay didn't arrive, paypal dispute going on to try to get the money back. Lesson learned - don't buy batteries from Singapore and expect them to deliver within 2 months of purchase. So we are going to have to cope with only one battery for camera and video.
Trial pack went well - managed to get all camping equipment into one large suitcase at 22.1 kg. KLM baggage allowance is very generous - 4 bags at a max of 23kg each. So loads of space left over - Karen may actually be able to take the 23 pairs of knickers she wants.
Questions remaining unanswered - can you buy peanut butter in Uganda/Rwanda?
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Camping equipment
We've had a few camping trips this year, yet still seem unable to go away for a weekend without filling the car with equipment. So we have to try to pare it down to the absolute minimum.
Tent - North Face Rock - tiny and lightweight. Hopefully lion/hyena proof :-).
Stove - MSR whisperlite - multi fuel, as it appears gas is not readily available.
Already been to New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Namibia, Botswana, Scotland! - bombproof
Pots and pans - aluminium - from an old Trangia set
Plates/cups - Orikaso fold flat - absolutely fantastic stuff. Folding cups are great, and easy to wash and carry.
Torches - Petzl headtorches - only the best will do
Sleeping mats - Thermarest - again simply the best money can buy.
Sleeping bags - not sure on this one, whether to take full bags or just sleeping liners - keeping an eye on night time temperatures, currently around 18-20C. This would be warm enough for me to sleep in a liner, but probably not for Karen.
Chairs/table - getting the car hire people to purchase these for us in Kampala, simply couldn't get them on a plane. They do make camp life much more comfortable than trying to do everything on the ground - especially with my dodgy back
Tent - North Face Rock - tiny and lightweight. Hopefully lion/hyena proof :-).
Stove - MSR whisperlite - multi fuel, as it appears gas is not readily available.
Already been to New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Namibia, Botswana, Scotland! - bombproof
Pots and pans - aluminium - from an old Trangia set
Plates/cups - Orikaso fold flat - absolutely fantastic stuff. Folding cups are great, and easy to wash and carry.
Torches - Petzl headtorches - only the best will do
Sleeping mats - Thermarest - again simply the best money can buy.
Sleeping bags - not sure on this one, whether to take full bags or just sleeping liners - keeping an eye on night time temperatures, currently around 18-20C. This would be warm enough for me to sleep in a liner, but probably not for Karen.
Chairs/table - getting the car hire people to purchase these for us in Kampala, simply couldn't get them on a plane. They do make camp life much more comfortable than trying to do everything on the ground - especially with my dodgy back
Cameras
I'm not going to bore you with camera choices - but I did buy a video camera especially for this trip.
Don't know how to use it properly or how to edit the results, but it would not be good to visit gorillas without at least getting some moving pictures.
Will take stills with my SLR - taken a lot of memory, and hoping to get the battery charged easily enough in hotels/bandas.
Got a cool little tripod? that attaches to an open car window - for those long lens shots on safari. Also taking a full tripod to get over the shakes.
Don't know how to use it properly or how to edit the results, but it would not be good to visit gorillas without at least getting some moving pictures.
Will take stills with my SLR - taken a lot of memory, and hoping to get the battery charged easily enough in hotels/bandas.
Got a cool little tripod? that attaches to an open car window - for those long lens shots on safari. Also taking a full tripod to get over the shakes.
Monday, 20 August 2012
FCO & Ebola
I've registered with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office - never done this before, but as there has been a small outbreak of Ebola in the Kibale area of Uganda, I thought it best to be safe than sorry.
I doubt that the Ebola outbreak will have any impact on us whatsoever, but there have been stories in the UK press saying that people have cancelled their holidays because of it. Which probably means that the Kibale area is going to be a bit quieter than normal - good for us - not so good for the Ugandans.
I doubt that the Ebola outbreak will have any impact on us whatsoever, but there have been stories in the UK press saying that people have cancelled their holidays because of it. Which probably means that the Kibale area is going to be a bit quieter than normal - good for us - not so good for the Ugandans.
Back to Uganda
From Akagera we want to head directly North back to Uganada.
This is where we might meet our biggest obstacle, as I have not been able to find out if we can cross the border at the Kakitumba (Kagitumba?) and get new visas there. An e-mail has gone to the Ugandan High Commission in London, but no response yet.
I don't want to have to head across country, only to travel all the way back again - but who knows we might.
Our last night is going to be at Lake Mburo - maybe a chance to have a night drive, or even a horse or bike ride. Who knows - we might just want sundowners and a long nights sleep.
Then it's off to Entebbe and the flight back to Amsterdam and then home.
This is where we might meet our biggest obstacle, as I have not been able to find out if we can cross the border at the Kakitumba (Kagitumba?) and get new visas there. An e-mail has gone to the Ugandan High Commission in London, but no response yet.
I don't want to have to head across country, only to travel all the way back again - but who knows we might.
Our last night is going to be at Lake Mburo - maybe a chance to have a night drive, or even a horse or bike ride. Who knows - we might just want sundowners and a long nights sleep.
Then it's off to Entebbe and the flight back to Amsterdam and then home.
Akagera NP
Our last few days in Rwanda are going to be spent under canvas - taking our little tent into the Akagera National Park. This was at one time one of Africa's great safari destinations - but the genocide forced refugees into the park, with a consequently devastating effect on the wildlife in the area.
However it is now starting to be regenerated, and with a bit of luck we may get a bit of a more traditional type safari - with the added bonus of having no-one else around. It seems that you can wild camp in the park, but I'm not sure Karen is going to be up for that! Not after we found lion tracks beside our tent in the Central Kalahari.
Still it has rave reviews from other visitors, mainly for the peace and quiet rather than the lions.
However it is now starting to be regenerated, and with a bit of luck we may get a bit of a more traditional type safari - with the added bonus of having no-one else around. It seems that you can wild camp in the park, but I'm not sure Karen is going to be up for that! Not after we found lion tracks beside our tent in the Central Kalahari.
Still it has rave reviews from other visitors, mainly for the peace and quiet rather than the lions.
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