After three days at the Backpackers in Kampala, I decided to change things up a bit and head to the Red Chili on the other side of the city. The best decision I had made in days. Backpackers is a dump compared to Red Chili and man was it infested with mosquitoes. During the few days I was sleeping there I got more bites than my whole trip combined so far. Anyway, as soon as I arrived at the Chili I booked a white water rafting trip on the Nile with a company called Adrift. They picked me up the following morning at 8 and we drove east for about an hour to the source of the Nile near Jinja town. We spend some time learning basic safety then went at it for the entire day. We ended up hitting 10 major rapids including three or four class 5 rapids! It was an incredible trip and I am so happy I did it. A photographer on a river kayak accompanied us and took a bunch of high quality digital pictures that I now have on disc. I cant post any here…but I’ll definitely show them off when I get home.
I had such a good time with the group I was with that we decided to stay the night at the Adrift camp instead of returning to Kampala and do the 44 meter bungee jump in the morning! I know its not the highest bungee out there, but it was so sweet. I was the first of three to go and elected to ‘dip’ in the Nile below. That means the jump master adjusted the cord to allow me to dip in the water up to my waist at the bottom of the drop. What a rush…it was one of the most fun things I have ever done. I would totally do it again but I would like to do a longer drop! One of the girls was nice enough to shoot some video on my camera while she watched so I have the whole thing on video.
I’m back in Kampala now and just booked a 3 day safari to Murchison Falls starting Monday. I’ve pretty much given up finding another volunteer opportunity at this point. I just didn’t plan that portion of my trip well enough. Truth is I didn’t really plan anything at all! But I’m having a good time none the less. Right now my plan for the remainder of my trip looks a little something like this: Murchison Falls National Park, Queen E National Park, Return to Kigali Rwanda for a day or two, head to Tanzania and hit up the Serengeti safaris.
I had such a good time with the group I was with that we decided to stay the night at the Adrift camp instead of returning to Kampala and do the 44 meter bungee jump in the morning! I know its not the highest bungee out there, but it was so sweet. I was the first of three to go and elected to ‘dip’ in the Nile below. That means the jump master adjusted the cord to allow me to dip in the water up to my waist at the bottom of the drop. What a rush…it was one of the most fun things I have ever done. I would totally do it again but I would like to do a longer drop! One of the girls was nice enough to shoot some video on my camera while she watched so I have the whole thing on video.
I’m back in Kampala now and just booked a 3 day safari to Murchison Falls starting Monday. I’ve pretty much given up finding another volunteer opportunity at this point. I just didn’t plan that portion of my trip well enough. Truth is I didn’t really plan anything at all! But I’m having a good time none the less. Right now my plan for the remainder of my trip looks a little something like this: Murchison Falls National Park, Queen E National Park, Return to Kigali Rwanda for a day or two, head to Tanzania and hit up the Serengeti safaris.
dorm at the Red Chili
Nile just below the source
orange fanta at lake kivu
couple of boys with logs on their heads
5 comments:
Phil,
Wow, sounds like an amazing couple of days. I'm looking forward to seeing that bungee jump on video. Did you scream like a little girl on the way down? I looks like you have some fun stuff planned...enjoy your time and relax a bit....and keep writing...its fun to read about your adventures....
Matt
Gulp! Glad you are having such a great time Philip. Can't say I wish I was there, however.
Mom
Hey! That rafting trip sounds AMAZING! It's great getting to read about your adventure....
Meagan
Sounds so fun! Love the blog!
Hey bud,
So sweet! Sounds like I got suckered...stayed at the backpackers the whole time i was there!
That rifting kicks tail. I loved that-one of my most thrilling memories of Africa.
Look for the market in Jinja. There's some great stuff to eat and buy. Also--pickup on some cheap Vanilla Beans. They're so good--but unreal cheap back there.
Have a great time--waiting for your next post.
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