About

Postcards form a Backpacker

In 2005 an Englishman by the name of Mark Inns followed in the footsteps of explorers of old and embarked on an adventure that would see him circumnavigate the globe through the wilds of Africa round to the Rio Carnival in South America. Read about his adventures in the online diary and discover some of the journeys highlights.

Day 6

Pride of Africa

Posted in Africa, Uganda, Jinja

I’m updating you from Jinja in Uganda. Three days ago I met the other people on my tour who are mostly from New Zealand and Australia. I am one of three Brits on the overland trip. We started from the hotel in Nairobi and headed for the Rift Valley and Lake Nakuru in Kenya. Lake Nakuru is packed with thousands of pink flamingos and other game including Buffalo, Rhino, Baboons, Hyenas to name but a few. The first night was spent camping in the park where we found animals walking through the camp during the night. The next day we drove the the highest point in the park, starting at 5am to see the sunrise and having breakfast with an amazing view over the park by 9am. The rest of our time has been spent travelling, driving through Kenya to the Ugandan border today. On the border are hundreds of trucks all waiting to clear customs including trucks full of UN vehicles. It took about an hour to cross the boarder then we headed for Kamparla, did some shopping then on to Jinja where I am now and have just finished my dinner of spaghetti bolognaise and chocolate bananas for desert. Tomorrow is the third early start and another 12 hours driving through Uganda heading towards the Congo where in the next few day I will be going on a Gorilla trek.

I am having a great time and have plenty to do, everyone on the truck is great and the places we have stayed and seen have been amazing. Well I’m off to grab another ‘Nile Special’ larger from the bar.

Comments

It all sounds absolutely fantastic! Maybe you can get a few tips about next year's travels from the Auzzies and Kiwis. Enjoy the "Nile Specials".

— Linda on Wednesday October 12, 2005

Hi Mark – Pleased to hear that you arrived okay and you are enjoying life in Africa – Geoff says if you come across any large black cooking pots over an open fire when you are in the Congo – JUST KEEP MOVING – FAST. Samantha is in Cape Town this week and then on to Mauritaus next week, as for the rest of us we are plodding along in the same old way. Take care, Love Sally & Geoff

— Sally Stretton on Saturday October 15, 2005

Jambo

Gorilla Trek

Destination

Related Guide Books

Uganda Country Profile

  • Population: 32.3 million
  • Capital: Kampala
  • Area: 241,038 sq km
  • Official language: English
  • Currency: Ugandan Shillings

The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures. These differences prevented the establishment of a working political community after independence was achieved in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi Amin (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton Obote (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. The rule of Yoweri Museveni since 1986 has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.