At the beginning of these school holidays, Andrew booked a few days away for us in western Uganda. I was so busy in the lead up to the school holidays that I didn't take any time to research or look into where we were heading for our mini-holiday.
As the 5 hour drive to Fort Portal unfolded in front of our car windscreen, I was more and more stunned by the beautiful scenery of this part of the country.
We stayed at at guest-farm and booked the "lazy camping" option, where we had two tents already set up for us complete with beds, with all bedding and towels provided. A little easier to organise and pack for than the Girl Guide camps I used to go on!
We had some lovely outings where we discovered refreshing (and icy cold!!) waterfalls...
.... and some very steep hills that a local guide led us up...
The climb to the top was worth it for the views that rewarded us at the summit:
Apparently in this area near to Fort Portal, there are over 50 crater lakes, formed naturally in this volcanic region (happily, the volcanoes which were surrounding us are now dormant!!!). The views around us offered us a vista of lake after lake after lake!
When it was time to descend the slopes, Joel's little legs were rather tired. Fortunately for him, the guide offered to give him a lift through the green paths meandering downwards:
After our walk, we drove along the road leading to the Rwenzori mountains which form a natural border between Uganda and Congo. We stopped en route to snap a picture of the terraces which are dug for farming along the edge of the Great Rift Valley:
Another day, another outing... and we drove to visit a lodge on the edge of this stunning crater lake. The rough dirt road and roaring motorbikes were in stark contrast to the calm beauty of the crater lake and refined sophistication of the lodge where we stopped for a tasty lunch and a swim!
Esther and Ben also took the plunge by swimming in the actual crater lake itself, where the water was reportedly warmer than the swimming pool, but rather scary to jump into initially, as the deep waters of the lake gave it a mysterious air! They were elated once they had experienced the thrill of plunging into this deep, Ugandan crater lake and deserved their delicious lunch of tilapia and chips!
It was a lovely break away from the bustle of Kampala city life and definitely an area worth visiting. We are enjoying discovering this beautiful country of Uganda!
The countryside looks beautiful. Glad you all enjoyed the break. Ruth
ReplyDeleteWow that looks lovely - not our stereotypical image of Africa. I was wondering whether the lakes were safe enough to swim in or whether there were crocodiles etc. Seems they were safe! Or else Esther and Ben are very brave! Love from S,J,D,S,M
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