Friday, June 26, 2009
East Africa
We went to 6 countries in East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. Some of the places with magical names that we saw are Ngorongoro Crater, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti, Lake Tanganyika, Olduvai Gorge (the cradle of humankind), Bujumbura (the capital of Burundi).
Naturally, the animals were the highlight of the trip. We went on a 4-day safari in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. I climbed Kilimanjaro on the Marangu route. We went on a wildlife drive in Nairobi national park, Kenya. We went on the Kazinga Channel launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. We went to Parc Nacional des Volcans in Rwanda to see the mountain gorillas and we went to Kibale Forest in Uganda to track the chimpanzees. Both primate experiences were astonishing.
When we were in Gisenyi, Rwanda we walked across the border at Lake Kivu to Goma, DR Congo. Gisenyi is a beautiful resort town on the shore of the lake. It's hard to believe that just across the border (also on the shore of the lake) is a different world. The DRC is currently a very dangerous country, including the possibility that the local armed forces are known to use rape as a weapon of war. The contrast when we crossed the border from Rwanda could not have been more stark. The place is filthy. The people look at each other suspiciously, there is a huge UN presence including an enormous compound with mounted guns in the corner turrets. To make matters worse for the people of Goma, the volcano Nyiragongo erupted in 2002 sending a stream of lava right through the center of the city. The lava covered 40% of the city. Large parts of the center are still lava fields 7 years later. It adds to the desolation of the place.
The most negative experience I had occurred in Kampala, Uganda. This was near the end of our trip. I was robbed by a pickpocket who reached in my purse and stole my small camera with over 1000 pictures from all of the wonderful places I had been. I am devastated to have lost them. How foolish I was to not have it secured when I walked on the streets! I keep thinking of all the "should'ves, could'ves" Second guessing myself about how I could have prevented the theft. I lost all interest in taking pictures after that. I HATE Kampala. It is a HORRIBLE place. I have never felt so negative about a city. I can usually find something redeeming about the places I visit but Kampala will forever be the worst city I have ever visited. Dirty, ugly, dangerous.
I had 2 cameras with me on the trip. The majority of my photos were taken with the stolen camera. I continue to mourn the loss of all those images. I do have a few that I took with my other old camera. I will post some of those pictures in the next couple posts.
There were thousands of wildebeasts (aka gnus) in Ngorongoro Crater.
It's hard to see giraffes just roaming around munching on the treetops without being astounded. This one is in the Serengeti.
We saw this female lion stalking a hartebeast in Nairobi NP.
Following the chimps around for 10 hours was true magic. I had the feeling that I was really in their world.
This elephant was at the water's edge in the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth NP.
Naturally, the animals were the highlight of the trip. We went on a 4-day safari in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. I climbed Kilimanjaro on the Marangu route. We went on a wildlife drive in Nairobi national park, Kenya. We went on the Kazinga Channel launch trip in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. We went to Parc Nacional des Volcans in Rwanda to see the mountain gorillas and we went to Kibale Forest in Uganda to track the chimpanzees. Both primate experiences were astonishing.
When we were in Gisenyi, Rwanda we walked across the border at Lake Kivu to Goma, DR Congo. Gisenyi is a beautiful resort town on the shore of the lake. It's hard to believe that just across the border (also on the shore of the lake) is a different world. The DRC is currently a very dangerous country, including the possibility that the local armed forces are known to use rape as a weapon of war. The contrast when we crossed the border from Rwanda could not have been more stark. The place is filthy. The people look at each other suspiciously, there is a huge UN presence including an enormous compound with mounted guns in the corner turrets. To make matters worse for the people of Goma, the volcano Nyiragongo erupted in 2002 sending a stream of lava right through the center of the city. The lava covered 40% of the city. Large parts of the center are still lava fields 7 years later. It adds to the desolation of the place.
The most negative experience I had occurred in Kampala, Uganda. This was near the end of our trip. I was robbed by a pickpocket who reached in my purse and stole my small camera with over 1000 pictures from all of the wonderful places I had been. I am devastated to have lost them. How foolish I was to not have it secured when I walked on the streets! I keep thinking of all the "should'ves, could'ves" Second guessing myself about how I could have prevented the theft. I lost all interest in taking pictures after that. I HATE Kampala. It is a HORRIBLE place. I have never felt so negative about a city. I can usually find something redeeming about the places I visit but Kampala will forever be the worst city I have ever visited. Dirty, ugly, dangerous.
I had 2 cameras with me on the trip. The majority of my photos were taken with the stolen camera. I continue to mourn the loss of all those images. I do have a few that I took with my other old camera. I will post some of those pictures in the next couple posts.
There were thousands of wildebeasts (aka gnus) in Ngorongoro Crater.
It's hard to see giraffes just roaming around munching on the treetops without being astounded. This one is in the Serengeti.
We saw this female lion stalking a hartebeast in Nairobi NP.
Following the chimps around for 10 hours was true magic. I had the feeling that I was really in their world.
This elephant was at the water's edge in the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth NP.
Labels: Kampala sucks
# posted by blue-foot Sue @ 7:40 PM 
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
