Scotland - Edinburgh Castle
Foto: A chimpanzee at the sanctuary. (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Uganda - In about three quarters of an hour, we cover the 23 kilometers to the island. On the jetty, Philip, one of the park rangers, is already waiting. In the modest visitor center, he tells us about the origins of the reserve and its inhabitants. He also explains that the chimpanzees are still wild animals and remain unpredictable. A large, electrically secured fence separates the chimpanzees from the visitor area. At feeding time, we walk to the observation point. Immediately, the chimpanzees come running and calling loudly. Tourists at the viewpoint mean they’ll be fed soon. Each chimp finds a spot; the dominant ones are clearly at the front. They look at us, and we look at them. I find it striking how different the animals look. There’s an old gray chimpanzee, young chimps, some with light faces, and others very dark. The youngest ones play together, doing somersaults. The older ones mostly watch where the food is. One dominant chimp gets impatient and throws a stone toward ranger Philip. Missed! Luckily, the caretakers are already approaching with the food. Each chimp quickly gathers the thrown fruit and tries to collect as large a stash as possible. They protect their little hoards from potential thieves. Some even raise their claws, signaling: "Hand over that mango!" When the food is gone, the chimps retreat into the bushes to eat their stash. Back at the visitor center, we see several birds and a large iguana. When it sees us, it quickly dives into the lake.
Murchison Falls National Park
Uganda - Anthony assures us with a big smile that the boat is hippo-proof as we approach the first hippos on the opposite bank of the river. Hippos rest in the water during the day and graze on land at night. One hippo is standing on land. Anthony tells us that ...
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Uganda - We go to the Safari Lodge. This super-luxury lodge lies in the park along the Kazinga Channel. We have lunch here. For an additional fee, we can use the swimming pool. From the terrace and the pool, I have a view of the Kazinga Channel. On the opposite ...
Sipi Falls
Uganda - The weather is beautiful, with clear visibility. A good breakfast is ready—a solid base for today’s hike along the waterfalls. Two guides accompany us: Moses and Tonio. We walk over the mountainsides in two groups: a faster group and a slower group. ...