29th January - Ishasha

Blank Headed Gonolek

We didn’t have to leave until 8.30am so enjoyed the lie in and were ready to leave promptly for a change.  We’d only gone a kilometre when the card shuddered and came to a halt as Shindishi couldn’t find a gear - yep, the gear box had a major problem.  So, we were picked up by a car from the lodge and taken back there along with our packed lunches.  We took the opportunity to catch up on emails, review photos and take more bird photos as the birds are so tame and prolific around the lodge.

White-browed Robin-Chat

Finally, another car arrived at about 3pm and we set off for the 100km drive south to Ishasha, the southern part of Queen Elizabeth NP.  The road was okay most of the way but we had to close all windows whenever a huge lorry passed us as the dust clouds were horrendous.  The lorries were coming from DR Congo and were apparently loaded with jeans and material and went back with cosmetics.

Weaver Birds

The scenery changed from the huge Euphorbia forests to thick jungle full of primates (allegedly!) and then open savanna towards the end. We saw quite a few huge Hammerkop nests on route.  Shindishi told us that the nets are made from up to 200 different types of material, and the birds like to line the inside with human clothes, so will nick them when they are drying outside which can lead to disputes between families accusing each other of theft.  The nest is built with 2 levels inside with the eggs and young on the lower level to protect them from scavenging birds who will enter the nest on the top level.  Because of their tendency to pinch clothes, hammerkops are often not welcome close to humans.  Shindishi told us that if you want to get rid of them, you place a flower from the flame tree on top of the nest. The poor hammerkops think the nest is on fire and will keep flying backwards and forwards to the local stream collecting water to douse the flame until they die from exhaustion.

Ruppel's long tailed starling

To approach the camp, we drove along the top of an escarpment with fantastic views over the savanna and forest below us.  Quite close to the camp we had a good sighting of a yellow breasted longclaw, which we’d last seen in Kenya but didn’t get good photos back then.

The camp is by some military barracks which we’ve seen a lot as we’re so close to the DR of Congo border.

The camp is a tented one, but it’s so luxurious that you forget it’s a tent.  We have a huge bathroom with a bucket shower for hot water but cold water on tap permanently.  We have charging sockets in the tent plus internet!  We overlook the river and are surrounded by mature acacia trees.  It’s just perfect.

Yellow Breasted Long Claw

Shindishi had to drive back the 100km we’d just come after he’d dropped us off to see what was happening with his vehicle.  He had to return the borrowed vehicle which was scheduled to go elsewhere tomorrow and will hopefully drive down here again tomorrow morning to pick us up in the newly repaired vehicle.

Although we missed the afternoon game drive to see the famous tree climbing lions, apparently, no-one saw them as they’re not in the area at the moment.