24 hour safari...

After ward rounds yesterday morning, after lunch [matoke (cooked green bananas), dodo (spinach) and G-nut sauce (purple sauce from non-roasted peanuts)] we "escaped" for a 24 hour break leaving about 3.30pm.  We hired a hospital vehicle and headed off, no maps available and, although Kisiizi is now on Google Earth [see link] it has hardly any detail on the map for this region.  So we relied on a mix of a prayer on departure and our Rukiga asking local people from time to time to check we were on the right way "omuhanda gwa Ishasha - ahamaisho?" etc.  We always produce a lot of incredulity and smiles when we speak Rukiga!  And of course, all along the route the children yell out "Abazungu!!!" [Europeans] and get very excited to have spotted these rare specimens...

Some sections of the road initially quite muddy and slippery but then improved.  Over hills to Kihihi and then about 5.30pm we were on the last section to the southern part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park at Ishasha which is right up against the Congo border. Saw a troop of monkeys in a tree, then Uganda kob and topi [varieties of antelope].  We purchased our tickets at the park entrance and had about an hour driving on the local tracks, seeing buffalo and a mix of birds including crested cranes and eagles all with the backdrop of the Rwenzori mountains behind.
On the way out of the park we caught sight of a group of elephants and managed to drive quite close to them - majestic creatures.

As there were no huts available for hire at the park, we went back about 20 min to a hotel for the night and then got up fairly promptly and headed back to the park at about 7.20am.  We were rewarded by a lot of special sightings - a hyena, which we have never seen before, walked across the road in front of us!  Bigger than we realised.
Then in the park itself we saw another hyena with a kill, possibly left over from lions.  The hyena was alone apart from some vultures.  Quite a rare sighting.
Then almost straight away 3 elephants enjoying stripping leaves off a tree that they had pushed over.  [see photos]

We then went on to the Ranger office and got a guide who proved excellent.  We drove down to the river and saw hippos, baboons and some rare birds [black bee eaters if anyone is interested] on the other bank in Congo.
Later we searched for the famous tree-climbing lions, visiting the big old fig trees but to no avail initially.  However, after a while, there they were!  Two fast asleep in a tree, clearly tired after a night of hunting, and looking content and well fed, so a real treat.

So we were greatly blessed to see so many lovely animals, in a location with very few tourists.  We have been to the park in the past and not seen the lions.  [I like the story from years ago of the missionaries who went there and failed to find any lions and just had a picnic and came home.  A few weeks later when they had their photos developed {pre-digital era!} there were lions in the tree behind them!]


A safe journey home and now a cup of tea and catching up with messages etc. Ruth and Beth are nursing aching index fingers from pressing their camera buttons so many times in 24 hours!
It has been a wonderful break which we were ready for.

Again thanks to those of you who have been in touch.  Much appreciated.

Ian and Hanna