Uganda/Rwanda

Rwanda's famrming made amazing patterns in the landscape.
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We hit the border for Kenya which was surprisingly fast. Uganda was very similar to Kenya the people are all friendly, maybe a little less than Kenyans maybe the floods have dampened their mood understandably and there is quite alot of weath in some parts.

Arrived at Red Chilli campsite dried our tents out.We lost 3 of the group as they weren't doing Gorillas so they went to SESE islands.

The next day we left KAmpala headed for the Rwanda border stopping off at the equator where we had a demonstration of the water draining in two different directions on either side of the equator. On the equator did not turn either anti or clockwise. so it is true that the toilet water drains differently in the northern/southern hemeshpere!

One of the 5 volcanoes on our way to see the Gorillas
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We crossed the border and arrived at Ruhengeri camp surrounded by the 5 volcanoes where the gorillas lived!

We set of at 6am in landies to see the gorillas all very excited. Headed to the base camp Parc NAtional de Volcanoes. It was chilly and misty hence the "gorrillas in the mist"!!! met our group leader and were told about the family of gorrillas we were see. They we 20 strong 10females 9 babies and 1 silver back.

we trekked for about 40mins to where the trackers had located them and then after leaving all our bags we headed into the undergrowth. As we reached there location the guide called to the silverback to warn him we were coming. Dunc was the first to see him as we came to the opening he hit the deck as the silver back headed towards him! we just got the message down the line from Bear (our surrogate mum!)that "he is fuckin massive!" as we got to opening he was just sat there as if he was welcoming us. He really was amasing! then all the rest of the group came out to see us and played, ate and fought with one another right in front of us we were no more than 2 metres away from them. It really cannot be put into words maybe the pictures and video footage will do it some justise. A memory that will surely stay with us all forever!

Me and Al outside the basecamp.
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Our trip to Rwanda was only short but not on the itinery so a pleasant surprise as it is a beautiful country and really clean and the land is very well farmed. We visited the Genicide museum on the way back to the border which was very sobering. It was interesting but extremely destressing to see what this country and the people have been through only just over 15 years ago. It was well worth seeing and trying to understand what the people had had to endure. Even so they were all so welcoming and all had a smile to give to us.

Trekking through the rainforest with our guide and the guards who protect the Gorilla groups.
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BAck into Uganda to Jinga, Bujagali camp site on the bank of the white nile.

This was where we were going to do the white water rafting. We could see some of the rapids from the site which looked quite impressive.

So next day we set off for the ride of our lives!

This has to be the best day of adrenallin filled madness ever. GAry and Dunc got a Zambuka inside them as it was raining hard and a little chilly. The rapids were really rough from 2 up to 6. I was out on the first grade 4 and made my own way downstream to be saved by a safety kyaker. Again this cannot be put into words you'll just have to try it for yourselves!