Home » Uganda » Overlanding across Afica in our Land Rover Defender: Uganda

20th november - 8th december

Overlanding across Afica in our Land Rover Defender: Uganda

Andy Lees
2006-05-14 18:47:09

Displayed times (last time: )

i thought it was a hippo in the river, but a second growl sent me running back too.

it took a while for us to emerge again. coming from a country like england it's easy to dismiss noises in the bush, but our close encounter with the lions in the masai mara reminded us that in africa things are different; there really is danger lurking in the trees. there wasn't sufficient firewood nearby. so, feeling a little foolish, but at the same time wary, i ventured back along the path to where we'd seen some wood earlier.

rounding a large bush i was confronted with three tusky elepants. their presence was more overbearing than from the window of a land rover. i immediately retreated to where the undergrowth obscured them from view. not wanting to have to venture out for firewood again, i urgently wrenched a large log from where it lay entangled in the bush and retreated hastily as the elephants rounded the corner.

maramagambo forest, qenp - 6th december

the night was uneventful with no unexpected visitors. de-camping early we searched one more time for the elusive lions but to no avail. today we were heading to a lesser visited part of the park where we hoped to see the tree lions. it was a slow drive on a pot-holed dirt track, and after an hour we slowed down to pass a truck that had overturned, a common sight in africa. here we were approached by two policemen who asked where we were going. this is a regular question, most often asked frustratingly when travelling on a road that only goes to or from one place. we were advised that the bridge had come down and there was no way through, 'did no one tell you?', well who was there to tell us. surely a notice at the turn-off would have been more appropriate - the bridge had been down for three days and not three hours. so we had to turn back disappointed. instead we made for maramagambo forest where we found another luxury lodge and settled in for ...