Day 9: Kampala, Uganda - Big Brother's African Brother

Digg this page

Save This Page

Stumble It!

Day 9: 6 August 2002 10:00 pm
The group are in disarray due to the news about the gorilla permits.

Last night we were shown a video of white-water rafting down the Nile by an Aussie outfit called Adrift. Grade 5 rapids named the "Bad Place", "Hair of the Dog" and "Kulu Shaker" featured heavily as rafts flipped over in spectacular fashion, causing our group to gasp. They are currently offering a full day's rafting for $65 instead of $95.

The gorilla permit controversy continues. Last night we were told that there had been a major mix up and that the guy that said he had booked the permits in Rwanda had not. So we now have to stay another night in Kampala, while our tour leader and truck operator frantically phone round to get permits. This means that our original itinerary has been shot to pieces, but I never expected to keep to it. Tom and I have decided that if the group cannot get enough permits and we lose out in a ballot, then we will leave the group for a week or two and head independently to Bwindi. For us and most people on the trip, the gorilla trek is the main highlight and the reason we came in the first place. I am now praying with the 'happy clappers' that we can get permits.

At 10:30 am, our tour leader confirmed that they had finally booked permits for August 7, 14 and 16, but three people had to travel by local transport today to do the gorilla trek tomorrow. The tour leader took $250 from each of us to buy the permits, and was heard in a very loud voice, that the money had been transferred, so that any locals overhearing would not phone ahead to ambush the taxi.

Pascal, Heinz and Tara volunteered as they were all on the three week trip. Our tour leader would accompany them while our driver would take use to Jinja tomorrow, and we would meet up with them at Lake Bunyonyi in four days time.

We decided to take a ride into Kampala so that we could visit the internet cafe again, but we never made it as we were told to be back at the truck after only an hour. We ended up on truck security duty for over two hours as no one turned up. To say that we were a little pissed off was an understatement. I guess it was penance for locking the safe key inside the strong box this morning. We did manage to visit a couple of pharmacies, but no one wanted to diagnose my rash.

I keep thinking about those independent travellers we met yesterday and wonder why we just didn't bite the bullet and try and do this on our own. We have given up trying to conform with the group and we are going to do our own thing from now on. We had a chat with Martine, who said she finds the group travel rather taxing and wouldn't be surprised if splits from the group, as she is sensing tension already. So, we have not given into peer pressure tonight and are avoiding the bad taste party.

Now that our tour leader has left, I can see the group tasks descending into chaos, along with the rest of the trip. Only time will tell.

Positives: I'm in Africa fulfilling a dream and now have a gorilla permit.

Negatives: We've given up conforming to the group and don't care anymore.

Questions?
If you want more information about this area you can email the author or check out our Africa Insiders page.

Digg this page

Save This Page

Stumble It!