Sunday I went on safari and had a great time. Jeff’s sister in law and her friend were in the country visiting and they invited me to join them on a day trip to Akagera National Park which is located on the east side of Rwanda and borders Tanzania. The trip to the park gave me my first look at the countryside and it is incredibly green and lush with vegetation. There are small towns every so often and in between the towns are small farms which literally continue right up to the boundaries of the national park. There doesn’t seem to be a bit of land that is not used for some purpose.
From what I understand Rwanda is not known for its parks and wildlife, but I, none the less, enjoyed myself. We outfitted the Land Cruiser with a bench seat on top of the roof rack and from the moment we entered the park to the time we left I road up top. What a great way to safari…it was so much fun up there. I think being able to drive a Land Cruiser on safari might be reason enough to be in Africa…those trucks are so cool.
The wildlife wasn’t abundant, but there was enough to keep us happy. We saw some big mammals such as Zebra, Giraffe, Water Buffalo, and Hippo. There were huge troops of Baboons roaming the savanna and they looked like they were up to no good. I’m glad they didn’t seem too interested in us because those guys could cause some damage. We also saw Vervet Monkeys which are pretty cute compared to the baboon. Warthogs are fun to see…as soon as they spot us they put their skinny little tales straight up in the air and run the opposite way. And of course there were an abundance of Impala and other Antelope. Even though I was in the lookout position up top the entire day, I was the first to spot only one creature the whole time…and it was a Dung Beatle…actually two of them. They had found something of interest and had made it into a ball and were rolling it along the side of the road. The animals in their natural environment are so much more spectacular than in any zoo, and I really enjoyed the undisturbed savanna that rolled from one hill to the next…it was wonderful to be out there. Of course I took a lot of pictures, but my camera just isn’t good enough to capture the animals from a distance so I’ve included some landscape shots. Anyway I had a great time and am looking forward to the bigger game parks in Uganda.
I’m heading into town tomorrow to buy my bus ticket north to Kampala, the capital of Uganda. I’ll be leaving here on Sunday. I’m also going to buy a ticket for a local bus taxi that will take me to a small town called Kibuye which is located on Lake Kivu on the west side of Rwanda. I plan to leave on Friday and stay one night at a hotel out there. I’ll return on Saturday afternoon. The area is supposed to be very beautiful and peaceful and I hear the lake is good for a swim. I’ll probably do a bit of reading too.
This trip to Kibuye will kind of usher in the next phase of my trip where I will pretty much be on my own for the rest of my stay in Africa. Jeff and Jody have been such wonderful hosts and I have had more fun spending time with them and working along side them then I imagined I would. It will be sad to part ways but I’m too excited to get into Uganda to remain here.
From what I understand Rwanda is not known for its parks and wildlife, but I, none the less, enjoyed myself. We outfitted the Land Cruiser with a bench seat on top of the roof rack and from the moment we entered the park to the time we left I road up top. What a great way to safari…it was so much fun up there. I think being able to drive a Land Cruiser on safari might be reason enough to be in Africa…those trucks are so cool.
The wildlife wasn’t abundant, but there was enough to keep us happy. We saw some big mammals such as Zebra, Giraffe, Water Buffalo, and Hippo. There were huge troops of Baboons roaming the savanna and they looked like they were up to no good. I’m glad they didn’t seem too interested in us because those guys could cause some damage. We also saw Vervet Monkeys which are pretty cute compared to the baboon. Warthogs are fun to see…as soon as they spot us they put their skinny little tales straight up in the air and run the opposite way. And of course there were an abundance of Impala and other Antelope. Even though I was in the lookout position up top the entire day, I was the first to spot only one creature the whole time…and it was a Dung Beatle…actually two of them. They had found something of interest and had made it into a ball and were rolling it along the side of the road. The animals in their natural environment are so much more spectacular than in any zoo, and I really enjoyed the undisturbed savanna that rolled from one hill to the next…it was wonderful to be out there. Of course I took a lot of pictures, but my camera just isn’t good enough to capture the animals from a distance so I’ve included some landscape shots. Anyway I had a great time and am looking forward to the bigger game parks in Uganda.
I’m heading into town tomorrow to buy my bus ticket north to Kampala, the capital of Uganda. I’ll be leaving here on Sunday. I’m also going to buy a ticket for a local bus taxi that will take me to a small town called Kibuye which is located on Lake Kivu on the west side of Rwanda. I plan to leave on Friday and stay one night at a hotel out there. I’ll return on Saturday afternoon. The area is supposed to be very beautiful and peaceful and I hear the lake is good for a swim. I’ll probably do a bit of reading too.
This trip to Kibuye will kind of usher in the next phase of my trip where I will pretty much be on my own for the rest of my stay in Africa. Jeff and Jody have been such wonderful hosts and I have had more fun spending time with them and working along side them then I imagined I would. It will be sad to part ways but I’m too excited to get into Uganda to remain here.
on top of the Land Cruiser in the park
rolling savanna
country side speeding by
me, Freddy, and Benjamin
local lunch...so good
3 comments:
what interesting looking food! sounds like you are having an unbelievable time... I am just now reading all your blogs and they are all fantastic! you are quite the writer. I admire your adventure. I'll try to remember to read your stuff more often... it's easy to get wrapped up in America Life. you know how it is...
Is that you sitting on the Land Cruiser with two ladies? Maybe you should invite them to spend a couple weeks in Uganda with you....no girl in her right might could resist!!
Phil, where is the mustache? Are you preparing for it? I just did a clean shave today, and am going to begin working up to it beginning in May. Don't let us down. Sport the Maystache! Matt has already ordered us each an official Maystache T-shirt.
Keep rocking.
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