Containerized
Adventurer
Not really a full-blown trip report, so posting here. Mostly a road update.
Thought I'd post a "what I did this weekend" update... we took an alternative route from the quite good Arua-Pakwach road, instead going south at an earlier point (near the Kamdini turn-off) and going all the way West to the Albertine Nile (where the Albert Nile separates Congo from Uganda). This was a mix of light overlanding on the Uganda side of the river, fishing on the Nile, and some game spotting on the way back. We saw two lions on this trip, which always adds something special to a weekend drive.
This road, which cuts through Murchison Falls National Park, is very good. It would be difficult (and probably require lockers) during the wet season, but was passable in 2WD for the most part (4WD was needed in parts, but low range was never needed) with a 2WD vehicle during the dry season. The Hilux in our group drove through the whole thing with no issues, but I used my rear locker on the approach to the Paraa crossing. 4WD was helpful throughout, though we saw at least one RWD vehicle (Datsun pickup) that made it all the way to the river. The SWB 70, as usual, handled the terrain admirably (though its fuel consumption with the 3.0TD was a bit worse than expected).
The road appears to have been graded by heavy machinery since the last rainy season, and the bridge north of Paraa has been improved (it was covered in debris last time we were there). We did not cross the river this time (Nile ferry), so I cannot speak to any improvements or problems south of the Red Chili area, though local reports from colleagues seem to indicate decreasing road quality throughout that section.
Overall, I would say leaving the tarmac near Murchison continues to be one of the best areas to experience light African overlanding in Uganda, and that the Uganda-Congo border region continues to be an underutilized area of natural wonder, in part due to media hype exaggerating the level of violence and danger in northeastern Congo generally, and in the trans-Nile region in particular.
Some photos from the weekend...
Thought I'd post a "what I did this weekend" update... we took an alternative route from the quite good Arua-Pakwach road, instead going south at an earlier point (near the Kamdini turn-off) and going all the way West to the Albertine Nile (where the Albert Nile separates Congo from Uganda). This was a mix of light overlanding on the Uganda side of the river, fishing on the Nile, and some game spotting on the way back. We saw two lions on this trip, which always adds something special to a weekend drive.
This road, which cuts through Murchison Falls National Park, is very good. It would be difficult (and probably require lockers) during the wet season, but was passable in 2WD for the most part (4WD was needed in parts, but low range was never needed) with a 2WD vehicle during the dry season. The Hilux in our group drove through the whole thing with no issues, but I used my rear locker on the approach to the Paraa crossing. 4WD was helpful throughout, though we saw at least one RWD vehicle (Datsun pickup) that made it all the way to the river. The SWB 70, as usual, handled the terrain admirably (though its fuel consumption with the 3.0TD was a bit worse than expected).
The road appears to have been graded by heavy machinery since the last rainy season, and the bridge north of Paraa has been improved (it was covered in debris last time we were there). We did not cross the river this time (Nile ferry), so I cannot speak to any improvements or problems south of the Red Chili area, though local reports from colleagues seem to indicate decreasing road quality throughout that section.
Overall, I would say leaving the tarmac near Murchison continues to be one of the best areas to experience light African overlanding in Uganda, and that the Uganda-Congo border region continues to be an underutilized area of natural wonder, in part due to media hype exaggerating the level of violence and danger in northeastern Congo generally, and in the trans-Nile region in particular.
Some photos from the weekend...
curious what ya fish for with that fly ?