Here are a few more photos from our time in Honey Bear Camp. They include the salt and fresh water lakes in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. We were required to take a guard with us. You can see the steep drop off called Baboon Rock.
The elevation of Apoka Camp was 3800 feet, and the temperature was quite comfortable. At 4pm we went for a game drive in a Toyota Land Cruiser. The roads were very bumpy and dusty, but the landscape was outstanding. Wide open savannah interspersed with low shrubs and woodland, and hills in the misty background. Intermittently we saw many water buffalo, wart hogs and water buck. In fewer numbers we saw Jackson’s hartebeest, white-eared kob, Burchell’s zebra, several baboons, a crested crane (see photo below) and one eland. We identified a few birds, especially the pretty Rose ring Parakeet. We also had a sundowner.
Back at camp, we had dinner on the veranda overlooking a water hole. A few waterbucks and hartebeest were still sipping. Sitting with us were Jonathan, Emily and a couple who had just arrived in camp. It was a pleasant evening that ended when Mark and I excused ourselves to go to bed. It felt great to slip between the sheets.
January 20, 2024
Up and out by 6am. We took a different road each drive. This time there was more trees and less open space. Our focus was on birds, and we saw many. I was able to identify: White browed coucal, Tawny Eagle, Sooty Chat, Northern Puffback, Martial eagle, Abyssinian Hornbill, and a pair of Secretary Birds. We also saw a Patas Monkey (See photo above). We must have seen more animals and birds, but I did not get them logged.
Back as camp, we had a light salad for lunch and took the afternoon to finish and publish a post, and swim in the rock pool. The water was delightful—not too cold or warm. Our bungalow is the farthest out. It was quite comfy. We also spent some time scratching the resident wart hog, Bob.
At 4pm we were back in the land cruiser hunting for predators, which we did not find. We did identify more birds, especially the Black Shouldered kite, the very colorful Abyssinian Roller (see photo below), a Yellow-Billed Kite and a Bateleur (see photo below). We were pleased to see several Rothchild giraffe along with a few elephants. On the crest of a hill, we stopped for sundowners. Jonathan and Emily outdid themselves making Mint Julips and Mojitos, which we thoroughly enjoyed. I don’t remember the drive back to camp, after the sundowners. Hmmm.
The staff served us a tasty salad and ravioli dinner beside the pool. Jonathan and Emily joined us. The four of us had a lot of fun and good laughs. I was so grateful for Emily’s help in getting my post published. I worry about future posts due to wi-fi and WordPress difficulties. Anyway, I will try to get one more post off before we leave Apoka for the Congo.
January 21, 2024
Another early start produced few animals but lots of beautiful scenery with mountains in the distance. After the coffee break, we began to see lots of animals, especially water buffalo and wart hogs in their hundreds, elephants in the dozens and giraffe in the teens. The terrain had turned to wetland, that was in the process of drying up. Many varieties of animals were in the area. At one point we encountered 2 large bull elephants, one of them in musth, that followed us and made our driver depart in a hurry.
January 22, 2024
Today Jonathan, Mark and I depart for the Congo. We are both excited and a little nervous. I think we may not have Wi-Fi or internet, so we do not expect to be able to blog while there. We may not have internet in Ethiopia either, so please do not wonder why there have been no posts. I will still be writing and taking photos, so there will be posts eventually. Meanwhile, thank you for your good thoughts and prayers.
Julia
Adventures with Julia 