On our way to Queen Elizabeth National Park we stopped in Fort Portal for fuel and to give the cook, Juma, some time to replenish his stocks.  This obviously gave us a chance to visit banks, internet cafes and to try and find a decent cup of coffee.  Apart from satisfying Juma’s needs, an essential part of the stop and one that is always completed with success (he’s been here before and knows what he is looking for) the other needs were met with varying degrees of success.  We have even been served Nescafe in a little bowl which we can put, to our own liking, into the hot water that comes in a jug.  This is in a country where really good coffee is grown!  Where are we?

I spent 500 Ksh (less than a dollar) at an Internet cafe with no success at all.  ‘Service provider not recognised’ was all I got for my effort and shillings.

We crossed the Equator.

The Equator      (P1090443  DY of jtdytravels)

An Internet Cafe and Coffee Shop – but how good?    (P1090442  DY of jtdytravels)

As we entered the Park we saw our first elephants.

Our first elephants     (P1090453  DY of jtdytravels)

After setting up our tents we were ready for our late afternoon two hour cruise on the naturally occurring Kazinga Channel which joins Lake George with Lake Edward.  It was a delightful cruise on which we saw many birds (including dozens of Pied Kingfishers), hippos and other interesting animals and activities.

Pied Kingfishers     (P1090482  DY of jtdytravels)

After dinner it was an adjournment to the bar to again replenish liquid lost during the day.  We had dropped down quite some elevation from our last stop so it had become quite a bit warmer and more humid.  Do I really need an excuse to spend a quiet hour or two in the bar with a good group of travelling companions?

Even a cold shower was very necessary after the day’s hot and humid activities, however this heart stopping event is not good for old men.  Have I mentioned that I’m the token ‘grandfather’ of the group.  I’m the oldest by a couple of years.

A dry thunder storm brewed overhead which provided a lovely display through the open window flaps of my tent when I finally hit the hay.  This turned a bit sour when I had to venture outside in my jocks at around midnight to lower the flaps as the dry thunderstorm turned into a wet one.  This only lasted about 30 minutes but could not be ignored.  However, the pitter-patter of the rain did not keep me awake long.

Also, have I mentioned that some of our group can read books and sleep when we are out on game drives???!!!  Why did they come?  D