The Rock Rabbit and the Landy

It had been known to us that our Uncle Gerrit was going to travel in a very similar manner to how we are: Rough, in a roof tent and preferably remote.

However, he only left 3 months after we did, so you can imagine how surprised we were to learn from our family that while we were camped in Kampala, he was only 90km away in Jinja. We phoned each other and immediately began making plans to meet later that week.

Sitting together in Kampala a few days later, we started discussing our onward travel plans and very quickly recognised that they were very similar. We all planned on heading first towards Murchison Falls National Park and then on to the very remote South Sudanese border and the Kidepo National Park.

The decision to travel together didn’t take us long to make. About as long as it takes to have a few sips of whiskey…

Now all we wanted to do was escape civilisation and get going to our first bush destination: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

After having enjoyed our first stay so much, there was no way we were going to bypass it with Gerrit. We wanted to show him this wonderful place with its invaluable rhino project and the stunning variety of bird life. We also planned on spending time with Angie, who is in charge of the rhino program and Johann, her husband and owner of the Amuka Safari Lodge on site.

We had also told Gerrit that we knew where to find the Shoebill, and him being an avid birder and an excellent bird photographer, we made plans to go and find them again.

So, leaving camp in the early morning we again headed for the swamp, but this time the task was more grueling. Without a guide or gumboots we set off and after having unsuccessfully scoured the places where we found the Shoebills on our previous visit, we were becoming worried that we wouldn’t find them at all. Luckily the swamp provided a beautiful variety of birds to distract us, including two pairs of dancing Crowned Cranes. It was at this point, about an hour into the swamp and while photographing the cranes, that Chris spotted the Shoebill. It was still many hundred meters away, but after a lengthy wade we got close enough to photograph it. We couldn’t believe our luck: another Shoebill! And a first for Gerrit!

After returning back to camp with an impressive bird count, we relaxed at the pool, then had a delicious evening meal with Angie, Johan and their two sons, Nico and Duan. Our common South African heritage provided plenty of exciting discussion and wild (but true 🙂 ) stories.

Angie introduced us to the details of the Rhino Fund Uganda and all the amazing work being done there, while Johann ensured that we knew all the best roads, routes, places and people for both the Murchison and Kidepo areas.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and the Amuka Safari Lodge are magnificent, set in the beautifully serene bushveld, with every person extremely friendly and helpful.

info@amukalodgeuganda.com

www.rhinofunduganda.org