My first safari experience

Since Murchison Falls National Park is one of Uganda's prime nature destinations we headed up there last weekend. Due to a bit delayed start on Friday afternoon we reached the park too late for our original camping plan. As a good alternative we set up our tent at a backpackers campground, nearby showers and beer supply (pic1).

In Ugandan national parks visitors must pay fees at several points: park entrance, guiding, ferry, camping... Loosing any of your precious recipes may result in trouble later on, unless you possess good explaining skills.

On Saturday morning we woke up before sunrise to catch a wildlife drive. With the help of a ranger-guide our driver took us around Buligi area, where most of the game lives. We were lucky to spot antelopes (pic2), giraffes (pic3), elephants, buffaloes (pic4) and lions (pic5). It felt a lot more special to see those exotic animals in their natural environment rather than in a zoo. To be honest, though, I prefer seeing nature by moving on my own means rather than sitting in a vehicle.

At lunch time we checked into a hotel-style lodge on the bank of Nile river, where we had some time to relax before an afternoon waterfall cruise. First the boat took us to view hippos (pic6), elephants (pic7), birds and crocodiles and then it dropped us off at the bottom of a walking trail. It was a short but sweaty hike up to the source of Murchison and Uhuru Falls (pic8). Being the world's most powerful waterfalls, they were impressive to see up close. Back at the hotel we started the evening with cocktails in a swim-up bar, followed by an atmospheric dinner at an outdoor terrace.

On Sunday we slept in until it was necessary to catch breakfast, our third and last all-inclusive meal. Good buffets always make you over eat; on the first round you try everything and on the second round you top up on your favorites. Before driving home we enjoyed swimming at the otherwise empty pool (pic9).