Back in Kampala, Jinja rafting and Kenya again

After Kabale we headed towards a bush-site (more like someone's back garden) where we were going to spend the night in.  Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it, during the drive it absolutely hammered down and we ended up back in the Red Chilli Hideaway in Kampala very late at night.  I think this was fortunate as hot showers and toilets far out-weigh bush camping experiences after months of cold water showers and weeks of camping.  My bed.... :-(

So a late night and again an early start to make our way to Jinja and apparently the 'Adventure capital of Africa!'.  I wouldn't necessarily say that but you could do grade 5 white water rafting and kayaking.  Our campsite had a good bar and unfortunately loads of ants by the tents, which seemed to congregate in Tom and Sarah's.  They ended up sleeping in the truck.

Most of the group went white water rafting the following morning.  Bec, Ellena, Tom and I decided to chill out and stay in camp.  I wasn't feeling too good and a shame as I have enjoyed white water rafting in the past and it would have been good to do it on the White Nile.

Most of us had handed in bags of dirty clothes for washing thinking they would all be dry by the end of the day.  Well nice thought but we didn't take into account the torrential downpour and hail storm that occurred around 12:30.  While most were off rafting, the few of us back at camp had no chance to get all the washing off the lines and just sat in the bar, a bit chilly; laughing that again we'd have damp smelly clothes.  All of a sudden Tom woke up, saw the monsoon and shouted, 'our tent's open!' and pegged it to the field.  Driver Steve was already out cleaning the truck and saw Tom sprinting to his tent.  About 10 mins later Tom returned completely sodden, the tent was flooded, his sleeping bag soaked through, but at least the ants were drowning, saying 'Sarah's going to kill me, I may as well have a few drinks and get pissed before she gets back'.

It seems very funny now and at the time it was for the rest of us but poor Tom was a little worried as he had had two tasks to do that day: Sort the tent out and wash the clothes - tent flooded like a mini swimming pool and washed clothes still soaking wet.  Great.

Sarah was a little annoyed to say the least when she returned.  However, Tom had upgraded to a tented room with beds to try and limit the amount of crap he was going to get from her.  It worked to a certain degree but not totally as most of their clothes were hanging up completely soaked.

There were quite a few foreigners at the camp.  All doing some sort of rafting or kayaking.  The usual adventure seekers :-).

The following day a few of us popped into Jinja town.  I had lunch at Indulge and took full advantage of their free wifi.  In the evening we were booked on a boat (or more appropriately termed 'booze') cruise up the Nile to Lake Victoria.  I have wanted to see Lake Victoria and the source of the Nile for years so it was great to have the opportunity to do so.  Unfortunately many of the others were not so interested in where we were but what drinks there were and how many could they 'get down' in the hour and a half we were on the boat.  To be fair to them though, it was an all inclusive trip so what do you expect?

It started off relatively civilised but as soon as we were heading back to shore it quickly turned into some sort of drunken teenage outing as if they were away from their parents for the first time and making the most of it.  Don't get me wrong, I've had many a drunken nights and probably annoyed many people at the time, but they were generally in towns/cities in the UK or Europe and not by the source of the White Nile and Lake Victoria.

It got worse...the journey back to camp on the bus was hell.  The few of us who had not drunk their own body weight in gin or rum were slightly annoyed and embarrassed.  Extremely loud drunken singing whilst driving through local villages made me cringe.  Absolutely no respect for the locals, many of whom can hardly feed their families let alone waste money on copious amounts of alcohol.  If I could have got off the bus and found my own way back to camp I would have.  How old do I seem? lol.

That evening the bar showed the video of the rafters for that day and for some the drinking began...Ian I would say was probably the drunkest person there.  Dancing to start, then on the tables, then doing a dancing circuit type thing around all the tables in the bar and on the veranda out the back, closely followed by slightly less drunk Tom and Phil.  It was very funny until it was discovered that Ian had a big gapping gash on his left shin with blood pouring out.  Ouch!  The wound is healing well so no cause for concern.

After Jinja we headed across the border back into Kenya staying firstly at Nairobian Campsite where I upgraded to an ensuite room (I needed some comfort) then onto Lake Naivasha for two nights.  Carnelly's campsite was good, hot showers, toilets and a decent bar.  However ants got the better of us and not wanting to spend the night in infested tents a few of us choose to kip in the truck.  Not all that comfy but better than being bitten half to death.  We have enough bites from mozzies and the like without extra ones from ants.

Whilst at Lake Naivasha we visited Elsamere for afternoon tea and a short video on the life of Joy Adamson.  It was a lovely quiet place and the cakes were lush. lol.  A few of us felt a bit sick after eating far too many of them.

Relieved at leaving the ant infested campsite we have made our way back to Nairobi and Karen Camp.  Again a few of us have upgraded to dorms as we couldn't be arsed to pitch our tents.

We visited the Giraffe Sanctuary yesterday and had a few laughs feeding them.  Some were brave enough to let them feed from their mouths but I didn't fancy having a sticky slobbering giraffe tongue licking my face even if the saliva has antiseptic qualities.

A lazy day for me today.  Internet, a bit of reading and maybe a nap for an hour or so.
Apart from the ants and mozzies, insect life seems to be keeping away from us thankfully.  There were a load of caterpillars at Lake Naivasha that freaked some people out and one not so little bugger bit me!  What's all that about?

Until the next time

Sam xxx