| ABOUT THIS TRAVEL Uganda- Rwanda
18 days, june- july 2005
UGANDA INTRO
Kind of travel: alone
in a wholly independent travel
When: 24th june-
12th july 2005
How I moved: autobus,
minibus (matatu), moped (boda- boda) and hitch hiking
Where I slept: cheap
guesthouse, dormitory and rented tent
What I liked: the
safety of the country, the friendship of the people, lake Bunyonyi, the fresh weather and
travelling around on the mopeds (boda- boda).
What I disliked: being
referred as white man (mzungu), being packed like hell in the minibus (matatu), waiting at
the bus station and the breakdowns in the middle of nowhere.
How much daily: Uganda is
not a cheap country! For eating, accomodation, pubblic means of transport 30$/day
for a low budget travel + visa fees (30$ for every entry) + park fees (from 35$) + extras
(for instance: rafting (95$))
Freezing or baking?: very nice weather: hot (not too much), but dry. In the
south (lake Bunyonyi) can be even chilly (12-20 C), bring a good sweter!
Dangers: despite being a big city, even Kampala is safe. No
dodgeys and people weren't pushy. I didn't even have health problem, but protect yourself
against mosquitos and watch out bathing on the lakes (risk of Bilharzia). The last but not
the least, keep the distance from the Congolese border!!
What you do need: if
travelling by pubblic means of transport a lot of patience and don't forget a good flash
lamp!!
THE TRAVEL IN UGANDA
I flew to Entebbe, a small nice town on the bank of
lake Victoria that is a good welcome for those arriving in Uganda. It was midnight, hence
I slept in a simple but convenient guest house very near the airport (Farba hotel, 9$).
The following day by my first lift of boda boda, (on the back of a moped) and of matatu
(crowded minibus) I reached Kampala. Hanging around here I spent one day and the next
morning I was sitting on a comfortable private bus heading to Kigali. It took 9 hours
(10$, breakdown included) and it has been an easy travel despite the long distance.
[In Rwanda]
From Butare (in Rwanda) I reached the wonderful lake Bunyonyi in
Uganda, where I rented a tent with the mattress (5$) and stayed for two days in a camping
on the lake bank. My days here have been the best of the whole travel: here I met a
Slovenian volunteer (Brigita) who took me to the local school where she was working for
the last six months. This school is supported by Miha, a Slovenian guy who found out that
lake Bunyonyi is his place and moved definitely here. Drop by their site: www.edirisa.org and have a look to the great job
they're doing there!
After few days I set off again to the Queen Elisabeth National Park:
thank to www.absoluteafrica.com had a lift
from the lake to Kabale, then it took the whole day by bus, matatu, bus again, on foot,
and finally private car to Mweya village. Here I found a cheap accommodation but I quickly
realised it's not a good place to be without your own vehicle. I had the typical launch
trip visiting the hippos and the elephant but then I was just looking forward to be again
on the road. I had to beg a little bit some Germans for a lift from Mweya through the park
till the main road where I hitch hiked till Kasese. The funny thing is that during the
lift they diverted to chase the lions hence I even had my unplanned safari for free!! From
Kasese I did by matatu just half way to Fort Portal then because of a breakdown they
dropped me off on the road. By miracle after a while a bus passed by and let me to the
town.
My money were running out so the day after I was in Kampala (6h,
10$) to withdraw some cash by the only one working visa ATM in Uganda. At end of the
travel I spent two days at Bujagali falls (Speke campsite 5$) where I rafted (95$ full
day) and it turned out really cool even if easily harmful.
IMPRESSIONS ABOUT UGANDA
I didn't expect the travel in Uganda (the central and southern part) to be
so easy. It's quite plenty of means of transports: for the long connection there're big
and comfortable buses, then matatu (minibus) everywhere for the medium- short distances,
while by boda- boda (moped) you can avoid to walk even 100m!
You can find cheap accommodations almost everywhere, where water and
electricity are not such so unreliable as in Rwanda. Being an english speaking country
helps a lot, but the fact that the people are more used to the whites made my staying more
relaxed than in Rwanda. Locals are not pushy to sell you their services and I didn't
experience particular attempts of cheating. Unlike in the neighbouring country
overcharging is not common, and it's not necessary to bargain like hell everywhere, anyway
being still far from fixed prices.
Besides there are some tourist spots like the lake Bunyonyi (very
nice place) or Bujagali falls where it has been a pleasure to meet some foreigners and
exchange some travel experiences. Kampala is for sure not the nicest town I've ever been,
but to be a big town in Africa, it's not that bad, and above all it's safe. Besides here
you can find the only one VISA ATM in Uganda and Rwanda!!!! In the south the weather is
quite fresh (lake Bunyonyi even chilly) while eastwards is hotter, but still very
bearable.
As for Rwanda, Uganda is not a cheap destination (cheaper than
Rwanda), especially for the park fees (50$), the rafting (95$) and everywhere you need to
rent a private vehicle (like in Queen Elisabeth National Park).
One thing you've really to keep in mind: you are in Africa, you need
to have patience; things will work out, but they need their time, in particular dealing
with the public means of transport.
The last but not the least, you will need a steel ass to travel by
matatu painlessly.
Alby
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