Arthur and Paul are two ceo / drivers. Arthur is our driver today and we will switch it up as we go. Paul is the senior CEO with more than 15 years experience doing this Classic tour, the 18 to 30 something groups and the National Geographic Journeys.  He used to be a school teacher and left that for this choice in his work. Arthur has been doing the work for 5 years, also very experienced.  

I asked a few questions about Uganda as Arthur is from here in this area. 

In Uganda, there are 52 tribes who speak a total of

47 languages – most speak one common language   English. Swahili. Ugandan are common to most  

Built on kingdoms. Now one country 

745 am departure. Stopped first at ATM so people can get Uganda shillings for next two days. We will stop every two days to replenish. 

At first view, in the city of Kampala, the ground and area seems cleaner. Definitely still Africa and the use of speed bumps, rumble strips. This is very effective to prevent speeding in traffic area including school zones and pedestrians crossing 

Last night was a wedding in our hotel / forest lodge. The stay was one night, rooms were unique, clean and really enjoyable. Nice single beds with private washrooms and nets over the beds.  

The currency here is hard to figure out and changes from country to country.  $50 usd = 18500 shillings 

$1 = 3500 shillings approximately 

Uganda has very fluctuating weather. Been hot but getting cooler. The rainy season has started they say.  We have had a few big rains but not continuous.  

I notice the sign says 300 Kms to Fort Portal where we will stay.  The only place in Uganda with an English name.  

On our drive we spy Maribu stork. Fish or meat they eat. They are a very large bird, a bit looking like a vulture.  They can be seen on the ground or on tops of trees.

Black headed weaver birds are tiny creatures that build those nests we have seen hanging from branches in the trees.

In this country the big crops include coffee. Tea. Bananas. Corn. Sugar cane. (Some rice but not in this part of the country) Matoke green bananas are a staple, they are eaten mashed and cooked …. Used for cooking, everyday. Cassava root is also a staple, we see it sold along side of the road.  The locals eat fresh foods only. Every day they slaughter cows or goats and the meat is cut and sold.  There are larger butcher shops and then people come to purchase from them and sell in local small village shops.

This country is lush and we see all manner of exotic trees and plants along the way.  Bamboo. Eucalyptus trees. Plants and flowers are colourful and plentiful.  Mahogany trees. Mango. Papyrus along swamp. To make thatched type roofs and also used in weaving.

Coffee is personal so everyone grows it for own use. And also it is grown on larger plantations and exported. Tea also grown more for export. We pass many tea plantations.  I have learned a lot about tea production in East Africa.

We travel through Rural areas and see many cows and goats on rope leash   Grazing along roadway (where the grazing is free because that shoulder area along the roads cannot be purchased or built upon.  Sometimes it is a bit treacherous ensuring we don’t hit any who are not leashed and wander across the road.  The folks who tend the animals are pretty good about keeping them corralled together and out of harms way.

I spy a fellow driving a motorcycle. Strapped across so the full length of the bed frame is visible to oncoming traffic … he is transporting full size bed. Loaded on top arewhat looks like all of his belongings. Balanced. Oh vey!   Motorcycles are used as taxi and delivery here. 

Market stalls colourful in some small villages. It’s weekend Saturday. Busy busy with masses of people, colourful items for sale, animals, children, moms with babes strapped on their backs and baskets balanced on their heads.  Mostly we see the women dressed in what we might call evening wear, fancy velvets, modern styles, hair done in braid extensions with the younger adult women.  The older women with scarves circling their heads, usually from colourful fabrics.

Mounds of red mud we ask about …. Some large and some about half that size.  The smaller are usually Used for making charcoal and bigger ones are kilns. 

1962 Uganda gained independence   Land here was Founded on kingdoms. Land still divided up in kingdoms / regions. Many tribes within each kingdom. 

Kibale national park is the worlds largest park for being rich in primates – 13 kinds of monkey and baboons- is what makes it unique and only place in the world like it.  Tomorrow we are scheduled to be there for a walk to see the chimpanzee.  This park is the Home of 376 varieties of birds, types of antelope. Mostly primates are the interest for most for us. 

Thee are 10 national parks in Uganda. Murchisom falls national park is most famous and is 3000 sq km and River Nile starts here at lake Victoria and goes to Egypt. We are not going there. 

Stopped at Fort Portal for buffet lunch – I have adopted a cooked vegetarian diet while here. Yay. Tasty and safe. And easier to navigate my food needs.  The washrooms are more basic, and sometimes only the squat variety available at public stops like gas stations.

We have arrived at the peaceful Kluges guest farm. They have lodge and 10 tents are furnished and include in the tent a charging port. Shared bathroom and toilets. Opportunity to upgrade if wanted. They have a swimming pool and forest walk guided to see monkeys. I better go find the pool!  Then a nature walk, a meeting to get to know fellow guests. And dinner at 7 pm. 

Stay tuned. More later.