Report Africa 2009 (6)
22. Bujumbura, HBBA - 07.03.2009 - 880 NM - 6:52
The flight over the Congo from West to the East had been accompanied by heavy thunderstorms. It was a flying fun and a beautiful panorama to dive into the valley and then discovering Tanganyika Lake and the runway.
The entry to Burundi was uncomplicated. Bujumbura itself is an unimportant city, but cleaner as what we met in before.
23. Enteppe-Kampala, HUEN - 08.03.2009 - 308 NM -
Over the Tanganyika Lake we climbed to our necessary altitude to cross the mountains. We enjoyed a hilly landscape with lakes until we reached the Victoria Lake. At the airport they didn´t sell AVGAS to us. Credit Cards were not accepted, cash neither as it was Sunday and the money had to be transferred in advance to a bank account. After numerous telephone calls we should get AVGAS at Kajjansi airfield. The CAA did not apply in time for our military clearance and so we had to wait 4 ¾ hours because the commander was for lunch. We were very furious. Also we had to file 6 flight plans in advance for our tour through Uganda and leave them with the AIS. Time was running as we had to fly to Pakuba where our Safari started which we had already booked in Germany.
24. Kajjansi, HUKJ - 08.03.2009 - 14 NM - 0:07
With delay we left Enteppe to refuel at the close airfield. This went very quickly because the MAF staff was already waiting for us.
25. Pakuba, HUPA - 08.03.2009 - 145 NM - 1:07
The dawn started and again we had to fight with thunderstorms. We flew over the airstrip to check if there are any animals, landed, secured the aircraft, jumped into the Jeep to reach the last ferry over the Nile. During that drive we saw a lot of game and as this was so beautiful we had of course a flat tire. It was deep night when we finally reached the booked lodge.
The next day, actually still tired, we got up at 5.00 a. m. to start our Safari Tour in the Murchinson National Park and a boat ride to the Murchinson Falls. Thanks god, the weather was fine.
26. Kasese, HUKS - 10.03.2009 - 160 NM - 1:15
A short jump over the Lake Albert took us to the next destination and immediately afterwards we started our chimp trekking. For 3 hours we stumbled with 2 rangers through the jungle. We discovered a large chimpanzee family which we could reach very close for observation. The animals were not shy at all.
The next day we drove from Fort Portal to the Queen Elizabeth National Park and it was pouring of rain. In the late morning when the rain decreased we were lucky to see a lion family. In the afternoon we took a boat ride a Lake Edward, a paradise for birds. Overnight we stayed in the Mweya Safari Lodge which offers a beautiful view over the lake.
27. Kisoro, HUKI - 12.03.2009 - 95 NM - 0:41
It is a challenge to land at a runway at 6200 ft surrounded by the Virunga mountains and it is necessary having good weather conditions. And a hassle started again: An immigration officer at the border of Uganda didn´t get tired to tell us hundreds of times the regulations of his country and didn´t let us cross the border to Ruanda. Exactly for this day the permit of our Gorilla-Trekking was waiting for us which had been booked and paid in advance in Germany. The African world is not more understandable. It was impossible to give bribes to this rascal. Even with all the good contacts we had no possibility to pass by at him. So our dream and the highlight of the Africa-journey failed.
Comfort we received from Ape, our Gorilla-Mascot we got from Angela and Nathalie. Ape is the widely travelled Gorilla around the world. He is with us since we are flying our Partenavia.
