Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Safari Saved!

Thanks to Donna's relentless efforts, we have managed to save our safari. YAY Donna! We have changed locations though and are now heading to Murchison Falls instead of Queen Elizabeth Park. We will be staying two nights at the Paraa Lodge. Here's some more info about the park. Thanks Donna for all your hard work!

Murchison Falls National Park

At 3840 sq km, The Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda's largest protected area. The Murchison Falls National Park is cut in half by the mighty River Nile as it squeezes itself through a seven-metre gap in a cleft of rock, creating an explosion of white water.

These are the spectacular Murchison Falls, 'discovered' by Sir Stanley Baker in 1864. It's the most powerful natural flow of water anywhere on earth and the rock actually shakes from the force of the water. You may catch a glimpse of a Nile perch being spat from the river. These huge fish weigh up to 100 kg and are strong enough to withstand the pressure.

A boat safari down the river offers superb game viewing, with plenty of hippo and some of Africa's largest crocodiles, thanks to the menu of big fish. It’s also one of the few places in the world to spot the rare shoebill stork. You don’t need to be a bird watcher to get excited at seeing one; the metre high birds are without doubt the most extraordinary of East African birds. Solitary and silent, these monstrous birds have huge beaks capable of crushing small crocodiles.