Wed, Jun 27 - Driving to Buhoma

Our Room at Gorilla Mist

We joined the others at breakfast at 6:45 even though we weren’t going with them on the big trek.  We took our time packing up and met Eriab at 10 AM and set off towards the next Bwindi Park hotel in the village of Buhoma.  We wove down by the edge of the park through emerald green tea plantations and little villages. As it was just the three of us Eriab stopped whenever we wanted to look at birds or photograph the lovely scenery. We stopped in several places as we drove through the “Neck” a natural area that connects two parts of the park.  We saw several birds and struggled to identify them - much easier just to have Paul or Brian ID them but but much better to figure out what species you’re looking at and really learn the bird.

Guereza Colobus Monkey

Vertical Tea Fields

We reached the Silverback Lodge, climbing a very steep and rutted dirt driveway,  came to the reception and were greeted with warm towels and passion fruit juice.  We settled into Room 7 with a king-size bed and a balcony overlooking lush green mountains.  The room even came with a six receptacle power strip - just what a hotel should have these days with digital cameras, computers, and batteries constantly needing charging!

St. Lucia Widow Dragonfly

This hotel is in the center of gorilla tourism and quite a step up from our previous ones.  I took a leisurely hot shower under a rain forest shower head and sat on our porch watching the afternoon thunderstorm develop.  I sat and read a novel until seven when the others arrived having successfully climbed down and up the trail to the Mubwindi Swamp.  They looked tired but glad they had done it - and I was glad I hadn’t!

Our Room at Silverback Lodge

View from Our Proch

My stomach was a  little upset so I just had soup and dessert and skipped the List to go to bed.  Bob returned at 10:30 and said his stomach wasn’t acting well also! I hope it improves for tomorrow and the Gorilla Trek!