Fire and fuel

The next three days are scheduled as mini-vacation.  Alarms are set for 4:30 am, as we want to reach Murchison Falls National Park by noon to catch the afternoon river cruise.  Our hotel rooms open into a courtyard, and we're surprised to find it locked.  A call to the front desk is required to summon the clerk who frees us to enter the lobby and leave, finding to our surprise that Abraham has slept all night in the van outside the hotel.

Hoping to avoid the Kampala morning jam, we have mapped a route taking us north of that city, and were told by a local that the roads are pretty good.  Abraham is doubtful with good reason, as tarmac gives way to dirt roads marred by potholes and crevasses, and we are impressed by the long stretches now under construction.

Stopping at a small village we treat ourselves to a rolex breakfast and Abraham coaches Alan on buying mobile phone data from a vendor.  A young girl approaches us but runs away when I ask to take her photo.  After 5 minutes she has reconsidered and returns to pose.

village shops in the early morning.  a loudspeaker announces local news and events

a shy model

rolex's are becoming a staple

bikes are pretty common in the countryside

Reaching the north gate of the park, we still have almost 20 km to travel to the river and calculate that we may still make the afternoon sailing, when Abraham announces we do not have enough fuel.  It turns out the nearest petrol station is some distance back, but we do find a vendor in the nearest village who offers diesel fuel and gasoline in jerry cans or pop bottles.

mud hut village

choose your flavour of fuel

mzungu gangstas in their new Big Boy caps

jerry can refueling

In the rural area northwest of Kampala, we have driven by many patches of field actively burning or recently scorched.  Abraham tells us the locals will burn the dried grass in the dry season to allow for better new growth when the rains return.  We marvel that these fires do not get completely out of control.  About 10 km into the park we come to a field actively burning and approaching the side of the road by about 10m.  We are eyeing the circling birds hunting for fleeing rodents when we realize the fire is closing on us as we are passing by.  Abraham guns the throttle to save us, and we're amazed the paint on the van has not bubbled.  See the video by clicking the under "Cool Links" to the left.

nearing the park entrance

Carly lends her cap to the park ranger

Susan can't resist another baby

we're just as glad to have the luxury to stop and enjoy these gentle giants

wildfires in the park

We're almost relieved to know we've missed the afternoon cruise departure, and enjoy some quiet time at the pool. The cocktail specialty is a vodka drink with plenty of fresh lime, dubbed a "Dawa", which means "medicine" in Swahili.  Dan takes a fancy to this potion, but is frustrated that preparation can take up to 1/2 hour after orders taken at the swim-up bar.

this baby is still suckling

Saturday night dinner at Para Lodge is served outdoors on the patio, with a troop of local young people entertaining us with music and tribal dancing.  Carly and Scott cannot resist joining the dance, and the performers seem to enjoy their antics.