We were very sad to leave our tented camp. I was starting to get very attached. The plan was to travel to Murchison Falls but as it’s a long journey, due to the variable standard of Uganda’s roads we decided to explore en route.
First stop was Kibale forest, known for chimps, a wide range of monkeys and very entertaining troops of baboons who hang out on the road side. Everyone was keen to pass a biscuit out of the window, I had to be “very stern” and insist that this was neither a responsible or safe course of action (in my very best safety officer voice reserved just for these occasions. ) This is because unlike the teenagers I have been to a safari park where monkeys have removed a significant number of parts from my car and baboons are much stronger than your average monkey. Turns out they are just as quick too, as one suddenly appeared on our car bonnet. I laughed my socks off as the girls alternated between squeals of terror and laughter.
We arrived at the Kibale Forest Camp just outside Bigodi. Lovely spot with cosy tents, monkeys playing in the trees and any number of birds. The manager was very chatty and we had a really interesting discussion about Uganda’s politics and what the future might hold after Museveni. He recommended a local guide to take us on a forest walk and as he was so nice we went with it. BIG MISTAKE. Elephas appeared shortly after, he was without a doubt pleasant and keen to share everything about the forest with us but he was a bit lacking in emaothy with his guests! He asked us what we were interested in, we said primates and he preceded to give us minute detail on every single forest plant and its medicinal properties. He wasn’t entirely convincing as he reeled off a list of miracle cures for everything from baldness to impotence through to acne. He also seemed to enjoy telling us as many interesting facts about monkeys sexual habits as he could muster. We had been on the walk for at least 35 mins before we had really walked anywhere. Luckily Cara had one of her fainting episodes and I walked her back to camp with one more faint and lots of sitting down. We had quite a pleasant afternoon watching monkeys, river birds and reading.
Geoff and Drew soldiered on with the rest of the tour, the funniest part was that when they came back, Elephas trapped me and Cara in our seats and attempted to run through the entire tour. We were saved when he was called away by some fellow guides. We made a speedy escape and headed into town but as Geoff was changing his boots behind the car he snuck up and asked for a lift to town. As he began his educational program again I employed a change of tactic and whilst trying to ignore the silent giggles around me I kept up a constant stream of questions until we dropped him off. If there’s anything you want to know about forest plants or monkeys testicles I’m your woman!!
Quick beer in a local bar, back to camp for dinner and an early night.
This is a family that has been Elephas’d:-
Pirate Travels 