After more than a year of planning, I soon head for Uganda (and Tanzania) to cross a "biggie" off my bucket list: gorilla trekking through the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Inspired by Dian Fossey's Gorillas in the Mist and being a huge lover of animals, I decided to sign up for a private safari with a small number of friends--a very small number. Quality over quantity--as long as I can afford it!
In less than a month, I'll be winging my way to Entebbe-- a major town (so says Wikipedia--only 80,000+ people, but I guess that qualifies in Uganda) on a peninsula of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake. The President of Uganda resides there, even though Kampala, the capital, is some 23 miles to the northeast. The Entebbe airport was the scene of one of the most daring counter-terrorism operations in history when soldiers from an elite unit of the Israeli army freed over 100 hostages following an Air France hijacking by a group of Palestinian and German militia in 1976. I'd just as soon skip that experience!
Wikipedia says many tourist attractions will compete for my attention. Among the most promising are the National Botanical Garden (located a short distance from our hotel), the Uganda Virus Research Institute (which began as a research center for Yellow Fever and has done work on the West Nile virus, HIV, and the Ebola virus), and the Uganda Wildlife Education Center--which is also the national zoo.
My second main objective, The Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, allows me the opportunity to stay at an eco-friendly 4 tent camp where I will take a baby chimp on a forest walk. This expensive experience has come with MULTIPLE visits to a travel clinic for a long list of injections (to protect the chimps or me?) and the signing of a comprehensive release that says if the chimp hurts or kills me, no one but myself is to blame. Am I crazy or what? This place is supported by the Jane Goodall Institute, the Born Free Foundation and several other reputable organizations, so what can possibly go wrong? Well, wait for the next installment to find out. This is our very first adventure once we arrive!
In less than a month, I'll be winging my way to Entebbe-- a major town (so says Wikipedia--only 80,000+ people, but I guess that qualifies in Uganda) on a peninsula of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake. The President of Uganda resides there, even though Kampala, the capital, is some 23 miles to the northeast. The Entebbe airport was the scene of one of the most daring counter-terrorism operations in history when soldiers from an elite unit of the Israeli army freed over 100 hostages following an Air France hijacking by a group of Palestinian and German militia in 1976. I'd just as soon skip that experience!
Wikipedia says many tourist attractions will compete for my attention. Among the most promising are the National Botanical Garden (located a short distance from our hotel), the Uganda Virus Research Institute (which began as a research center for Yellow Fever and has done work on the West Nile virus, HIV, and the Ebola virus), and the Uganda Wildlife Education Center--which is also the national zoo.
My second main objective, The Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, allows me the opportunity to stay at an eco-friendly 4 tent camp where I will take a baby chimp on a forest walk. This expensive experience has come with MULTIPLE visits to a travel clinic for a long list of injections (to protect the chimps or me?) and the signing of a comprehensive release that says if the chimp hurts or kills me, no one but myself is to blame. Am I crazy or what? This place is supported by the Jane Goodall Institute, the Born Free Foundation and several other reputable organizations, so what can possibly go wrong? Well, wait for the next installment to find out. This is our very first adventure once we arrive!
I'm so excited for you. Especially since now I know what an adventure is really like!!! Thanks to you!!! I will be following your blog!!! Just promice to be safe...there are peoplle who love u very much here!
ReplyDeleteKelly