Miami on the Nile

Sunday morning started with an English breakfast on a picaresque terrace overlooking the river. Our next stop was the pool, for sun, sleep and stories of Wall Street tycoons (somehow, Barbarians at the Gate seemed fitting reading for the weekend. Good book). The hotel itself could have been anywhere, with its palm trees, swim up bar, and the red terraced village across the river. It was still pretty empty, as the tourist season was just kicking off, and a bit pricey, but a little luxury after the rafting was welcome. The hotel was also notable as the scene of my second official trip bug bite – an ant decided to munch on me while I lazed about.

On our way back to Kampala and the airport, we stopped in the town of Jinja proper, where the Sunday market was in full swing. The scene was vaguely familiar – local villagers selling their produce and other foodstuffs. Substitute tomatoes and potatoes for passion fruit and banana and it could have been market day in Brittany or Tuscany (minus the local touch of the flip flops made from recycled tires).

The Ugandan countryside on our drive back was beautiful, and relatively well-developed. Farms, churches, schools, mosques, and lots of little general stores in huts lined the side of the road. Everything was green, with bushes and trees dotted between red flowers. The reason for this became evident, as the skies opened up a few times during the drive, delaying us repeatedly (and soaking the sleeves of those sitting by the window). Despite the rainy season’s last gasp, we made our flight and were back in Nairobi by dinnertime…which quickly became bedtime for the tired crew of team Guinea Fowl.

NB: For readers who may remember Visagate 2009, I am happy to report that not only are Visas available at Jomo Kenyatta Airport, but a Single Entry Kenyan Visa remains valid if you go to Tanzania or Uganda and then return. This happy discovery saved us all a week’s worth of lunch.