Wednesday, August 5 Part 1

We woke up at 6am this morning to get packed up and ready to eat by 6:30. We had yet another morning of disgusting porridge (I usually take one bit then remember I dislike it and discard it). Well when we were all sitting around eating porridge half asleep rumors started going around camp that our truck would not turn on. Quickly the rumors turned out to be true and we all started to fear that our day doing a Nature Walk in Kibale Forest may have to be canceled. Luckily, by some miracle the truck started to work so we all jumped on and made our way to the entrance of Kibale National Park (we are camping on the outskirts of it now). When we arrived we were split up into groups of five and given a guide to take us into the forest.

Eileen, Jess, Sophia, Chirsty, and I were a group and since we were all females we figured we should have one of the few female guide employed by Ugandan Wildlife Association (UWA). Her name was Harriett and she had been working as a guide for 10 years. She was very proud of her job and very proud that she was one of the view woman that were able to be guides (here it is seen as only a mans job).
We headed out towards the forest and we ran into or heard/saw branches swaying black & white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys and baboons (all before we were deep into it). When we cut into the forest from the road we used a trail created by forest elephants. We passed their dung but didn’t run into them directly (the guide made sure of that as they can be extremely dangerous and aggressive). As were walking I was in the back of the line when I saw two huge African Snails I called for everyone come back and see them. I think we got some great shots of the two of the snails. We also saw chimpanzee feces (!) which was great but sadly no actual chimpanzees. Oh but when we were sitting around eating porridge this morning we heard them calling in the forest!!!! It was so cool, we were all sitting there then all of sudden these loud calls and at first you think oh someone is working on one of their chimp videos on the laptop but then we all realized no one had their laptop out yet. It made me very happy!!! Anyways, back to the hike. Harriett stopped and showed us a lot of different types of trees and plants and told us what medicinal purpose they hold (mainly were sexual aids…I’m starting to think Harriett might have been a bit kinky). Right before the end of the 2-3 hour trek we saw L’Houest Monkeys!!! She says they are very rare to see on the nature walk so that was exciting. They were a bit far away so with my zooms I couldn’t get too good of a shot of them but I think if I get in with photoshop and zoom in more they might be decent.

After the hike we went into a couple different craft shops they have there and I bought a few things for myself (I’ve been good I haven’t bought anything until today, mainly b/c I didn’t want to carry it around Uganda with me). I bought a wood carved gorilla and baby plus a wood carved chimpanzee and baby. Oh I also bought an egg made out of clay and then the world map is engraved on it, it’s cooler then I described I promise.

Anyways, there was a hope that while we were there the guides would hear of a chimp trek cancelation so some of us could go on it, but unfortunately that did not happen. We still have some days coming up so FINGERS CROSSED.
We are back at camp now working away but Lucy and I have nothing to do because we can’t put any of our completed work on the web until the leaders read over it and approve it and they are in a meeting, so Lucy and I are just playing on the web while we wait.

Jess and I went and picked up our keys to the tree house and the tree house is all prepared for us so I might go down there soon to check it out in the daytime for a bit. Gemma and Katie are staying with us tonight so it should be a lot of fun and be nice to sleep on a mattress. I think some of the other volunteers are jealous that we are doing it but we are paying extra and we planned it ourselves. I’m sure we will be having a lot of visitors to check the place out so it should be fun. I promise to take lots of pictures of it all!!!

I was feeling quite homesick yesterday afternoon but I am feeling better today. I think I was getting tired of being stuck working in one place for the last few days. It was nice to get out of the camping area this morning and get into the real forest and see some wild primates!