After two days and nights at the Simba Safari Camp, Bram and Tim have now arrived in Bwindi, at the foot of the mountains, where you can find the Ugandan gorillas. Their stay at the Simba Camp was awesome and so full of impressions. The boat safari upon arrival was fantastic - so many animals and such a breathtaking view, completely untouched... Uganda has not been open very long for tourism, so the land is really unspoiled and so rich of wildlife!! (Except for their fellow austrian climbers, they haven't seen a single white man.) Approaching the animals from the water was amazing, you can get really close since you're safe as long as you saty away from the sand banks. Hippos, crocodiles, birds, simply just beautiful and in enormous numbers. On their way back in the boat they were hit by a huge rain storm, pretty impressive to experience on an african lake. They watched the thunderstorm sweep over the savanne from their lodge, a very special moment.
After a very good night of sleep, they left early the next morning for a lion safari. Unfortunately not so lucky... no lions along the trail and too dangerous to go off the trail. They had to do with the spectacular scenery of thousands of antilopes and gazelles. Amazing. A little relaxing saladlunch and cold beer - off to next adventure. Chimpanzee tracking! A cool female park ranger picked them up with her automatic rifle (I guess standard procedure in the parks..) and jeep. She kept on driving and Bram and Tim started to wonder if that was it? - No, no, she said.. -You have to be patient, it's not what you think!
Finally, the landscaped completely changed and they were standing right in front of a huge gorge, a crater created millions of years ago, probably due to an earthquake. Descending on foot into the gorge, you enter deep tropical forest, chimpanzee country! And mosquito country. No matter what you sprayed, they kept coming... so they got fairly eaten! I hope no malaria. On their way down the gorge, a first surprise right on their path... a green mamba!!! Jesus.. they are seriously dangerous, I mean deadly serious! Tim got a little shaky there... They made a big detour, and continued down to the bottom. Not a single chimpanzee in sight. The park ranger suggested they'd go to the river, where she says the chimpanzees come to drink. Tim's up front on the path, turns a corner and... oops! A big chimpanzee male is sitting right in front of him, on the path. Heartbeat.. bom - bom - bom .... - Just stand still, the ranger told them, he'll do nothing. The chimpanzee was holding an old leaf in his hand, and was on his way to the river for a drink, when he probably heard Bram and Tim approaching. As they were waiting, the chimpanzee finally stood up and passed them going towards the water. They decided to follow.
At the water the chimpanzee sat down for his little drink, and Bram and Tim were standing reasonable close watching. So cool. They're big those guys!!! Then the chimp was done drinking and turned around to go back, realizing that Bram and Tim were sort of blocking his passage. The chimpanzee slowly came up right in front of then, I mean 30 cm... and literally brushed pass Bram and continued into the jungle. Tim was all bubbly laughing inside, cause Bram was frozen scared by this VERY close encounter... Some chimpanzee tracking, huh! The chimp must have been laughing even harder ;)))
Coming back to the hotel, Bram needed a shower and an underwear change (might have something to do with the chimpanzee??) and started looking for a pair in his rugsack, when a huge toad jumped out on him!!! Scared the shit out of him. hahahahaha. Better than a green mamba, I suppose... One thing's for sure - that rugsack is not being unpacked inside coming home....
Yesterday a long journey, actually only 140 kilometers, but going through the park off road - it took them 9 hrs. I bet their butts hurt... On the way, Bram asked the guys to stop, since he saw these huge red ants, that he wanted to take a closer look at. Tim and Bram left the jeep when next surprise turns up in front of them - an elephant! Wow.... they were so fast back in the jeep and off !! Crazy, but so exciting!!! They arrived last night at the lodge, which is nicely set in the rain forest, an amazing landscape surrounding them. Cold beer and dinner and an early night. This morning they left early for their first day of gorilla tracking. Can't wait to get more news! Hang in there. Stay tuned. Lot's of love from me and my very special reporter Brigitte...
An update of the last two very very exciting days... will follow tomorrow morning! 
