Awesome African Adventure. Day 7-April 15, 2025

To Kampala

Late pick up this morning. 10am allows some time to phaff with the 900+ photos from yesterday. All safely backed up twice and I’ve tried to select for the blog.

We loaded up bound for Kampala.
Before we had gone far we saw a group of Marabou Storks sunbasking.

Everywhere you look there are point of interest and difference from what we know.

Yesterday I asked Wilson if he could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? His answer was considered- “Somewhere to experience an organised city – New York, Sydney.” After travelling further today I can understand his answer. It certainly feels like disorganised chaos here, but everyone is going about their business with smile.

We saw one man on the main roadway pressure washing the the cement road dividers, a little later two people with bucket and sponge washing the white posts. So much else looks tired and unfinished but the road furniture gets a wash!!!

Down in the swampy mud there were lots of men making bricks, pushing barrows of mud through the mud and piles of bricks dotted around – hard work.
Men and women whipper snipping the roadsides and raking the grass into chaff bags.

We passed by an abattoir which attracted the Storks, close to roadside with up close views. The red sac at back of neck and larger one on front are air sacs. Dorsal and ventral subcutaneous, dilatable air pouches play a part in the social life of the Marabou stork. Inflation of the ventral pouch indicates the dominance of an individual over its neighbours whilst inflation of the dorsal pouch indicates apprehension. Both are inflated simultaneously during courtship. thanks Google!

The taxi vans (mostly Hiace vans are dodging and merging chock a block with people and stuff, boda bodas (motorbike taxis) dodge in and out. Cars merge without warning, two lanes seems to be three, lots of gentle horn tooting we can’t quite figure out. Chaotic but it seems to work.

The smaller streets through suburbs are mostly unmade other than the main roads.

Lots of advertisements for paint companies but many buildings are unpainted or paint has decayed away.

Kampala was busier. The market was madness.

Along with lots of roadside stalls and people selling car to car. Wilson bought a new pair of sunnies in the blink of an eye. Because parking is so difficult they sell along the road for convenience. We saw a range of things for sale – pillows, steering wheel covers, dog collars with chains, passionfruit, wooden bows and arrows, slingshots, shoes, hankies, brooms, sunglasses, bananas to name a few.

They carry so many things on the bodaboda or even push bikes. We saw a windscreen being held onto by the passenger, lengths of pipe, huge bags of stuff and even an office printer.

A loo break and lunch at Karveli – seemed early for lunch but the timing was right for Wilson. By the time lunch arrived ‘pole pole’ it was good timing. Suzie and I wised up and shared a Caesar salad. Servings are generous.

As we left Karveli it started to rain. The city streets became wet with red slushy water. The bodabodas all pulled over onto the footpaths to shelter or under petrol stations roof.

The first intersection had had a person directing traffic but when the rain got heavier he took his flags and headed for shelter. It was gridlock. Wilson changed direction and cut through and across traffic to take a right turn. The traffic is crazy.

We saw the house of Parliament, National Referral Hospital, the city centre, High court and court complex. Wilson had planned a visit to the museum but it was closed for renovations.

Three main religions were accepted by the Kampala King are Catholic, Anglican and Moslem.

We had come to Kampala via the Expressway and home via Entebbe Road. So much to see along the way.

Back to the Hotel Boma. Mary and I had a wander around the gardens, gazebo and ingelnooks.

Some flowers, insects and birds to capture. We even found a bat or maybe flying fox. (Must ask Wilson)
Wilson had advised no cameras for Kampala and be careful with phones. I now completely understand why.

The meals here at Hotel Boma have been great. We ate our teas here and finally wised up enough to have an entree so we had room for dessert on our last night. Must remember a photo of menu on our return to Entebbe.

After meal off to pack up ready for early departure. Also to download photos and charge up tech.
Not sure what exactly awaits us at Bwindi tomorrow will reveal all.