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Uganda - South Africa
  • Chris Connors
January 2023

Uganda - South Africa

A 17-day adventure by Chris Read more
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  • Trip start
    January 5, 2023
  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Just like that and I'm off again........

    January 6, 2023 in South Africa

    After an 11 hour flight to take Lindani home back to South Africa it was strange to say good bye although I will be seeing him in a weeks time when I fly him and Nkosie back to Durban. So it is a stop over for me in Johannesburg before traveling to Uganda. I have transferred through Johannesburg many times on my trips with volunteers but never sopped of there. Well only once when I was traveling back from a trip and I collapsed before the plane was airborne and I was disembarked and taken to a hospital only to find out I was dehydrated. British Airways popped us on the next flight the following day.Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Johannesburg

    January 7, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    I'm not one to sit around so it was an amazing day out spent with TK and Nkosie who had meet me the day before traveling from Mbazwana his home town to Johannesburg on a local taxi (amazed he got there really) the tour guide from Johannesburg. Taking us first to Nelson Mandela's house and Desmond Tutu's house in Soweto. They both lived on the same straight and the only two people to live on the same street and hold the Noble Peace prize.
    The history of Soweto was so humbling and actual stand in Nelson Mandela's home where he lived is so hard to describe. One of those moments when you get a shiver down your back.
    The it was on to the area where a young boy Hector Peterson was gunned down in the apart eight times. Demonstrating for the right to not have to speak Afrikaans has a first language in 1976. I was would have been 7 at the time. To think children were marching peacefully on the other side of the world for their rights and the were shot, makes me wonder if there is anything a young teen in todays world would be that passion about anything. We then took a drive through downtown Johannesburg with strict instruction to put our phones away and we were told that we wouldn't be stopping at any red lights. "So please don't worry." That was the understatement. Nkosie said did I want a black marker pen 🙄😂
    Visiting other countries trying to understand other cultures has to be the beginning of trying to understand the one planet 🌎 we all live on.
    Then to Johannesburg Tambo international airport to fly to Uganda with Nkosie, a really adventure for him only the second time on a plane since our trip to Tanzania
    I will be visiting Uganda over the next week with my CoCos Foundation hat 🧢 on. Where in lockdown we help a group of amazing people from Club House the Socail media app purchase a farm to support 1🌍1 street children.    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Enrebbe Airport Uganda

    January 8, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Boy that was a long flight after travelling from the UK to SA then on to Uganda 4hrs on a little plane. ✈️ Reminded me of the good old days when you thought you were going to run out of runway before you got airborne. Before we get on the ground crew insist we must wear a mask 😷 Covid regulations are still strong on Uganda flights. Mask what Mask..? No one told us we needed one. 🙄 Insteps a mum with 3 children all boys that have been running up and down the walk ways driving everyone made with their energy. There Mum had spare marks in her handbag and came to our rescue. "A nice shade of pink" but ha who's complaining if it means we get on the flight...lol
    We land in Uganda at 2:30am
    visa check ✔️
    passport ✔️
    yellow fever certificate ❎
    flip were is it..?
    After much hunting around I found it. Boy I hate that feeling. 😩 immigration check ✔️
    We are in.!
    We told under no circumstances that we should leave the airport before our guide arrives at 6am🙄.
    So time to sort out the usual stuff money exchange and the all important SIM cards for the phone. We buy a couple of bottles of water and take the opportunity to grab a Power Nap before a 9hr drive to the west of Uganda. 6am arrives and we meet our guide for the next 3 days William stands there with a sign to identify us. Lol......we are the only ones come out of the airport. 😂

    UGANDA
    We leave the airport in the dark William says that it will get little around 7:30am has we drive around the suburbs of Kampala with the sun raising you can start to feel and see the country coming alive with activity. We drive through the local roads with a 9hr drive ahead of us and already you can see the difference of Uganda to South Africa. The people here move with a purpose everyone seems to be heading somewhere doing something. Maureen my freind in the UK from Uganda said we had to have a driver when we were here. I full understand why. It is hectic the main mode of transport is the boarder-boarder (motorbikes) they have been brought in from India, young or old male or female everyone is driving them darting around with often the whole family onboard going to church or carrying their produce to the market to sell. But what ever they are doing for the car driver it is hectic. (thanks for the tip Maureen)    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Bwindi Forest National Park

    January 8, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Along our way we stop off for breakfast with an extra treat at * town. We are now on the line of the equator. In the middle of all the shake houses and businesses the Equator restaurant has popped up run by a local man who saw an opportunity and has made a thriving business from the tourist.
    *picks a flower from his little garden and takes us to a bowl. With a well rehearsed demonstration he fills the first bowl up with water and then waits till it settles and then pulls the plug. We are standing in the southern hemisphere and has we watch the the water drains away clockwise has he drops his petal in you can see it clearly going clock wise. Nkosie looks decisively unimpressed. We then step over a white line in the ground and *announces we are now in the Northern hemisphere. He once again fills the bowl up and the. Let's the water out this time it goes anti-clockwise. Nkosie Jaw hits the floor. "How come.?"
    *moves to the middle of the white line and announces that we are now standing in the centre of the equator. Once again the bowl is filled up and the what is released the petal is through in and boom....
    it's sucked straight down the plug hole. Nkosie says is it black magic.
    It's a first for me to be on the equator line.
    It's only 7:30am and it feels like we have been awake forever. Time for breakfast Williams says. Popping over to a little souvenir shop which also doubles up has a restaurant they make us very welcome and Nkosie orders Burger and chips, William Rice, cooked Banana and Irish potato. "I thought this was breakfast....lol
    A cheese omelette for me, with avocado and tomatoes. Then after a long chat about the local religion (mainly Catholic's) we are back on the road.
    Uganda is full of hills the land is rich and fertile and everywhere you look there is something growing.
    Coffee ☕️, Bananas 🍌, Beans 🫘, Potatoes 🥔, Peanuts 🥜, Mangoes 🥭 and with all that growing of food everyone where ever where is growing it, transporting it and selling it. The bananas taste like bananas I have never tasted before, they pack a punch.
    Why are the Ugandas so proactive.?
    Why are they so self sufficient.?
    Has we chat to William slow we manage to join the dots up and get answers.
    1. Their government does not look after them. You have a baby you don't get paid out for that baby it's your responsibility. Unlike in South Africa where you get paid every month for child support.
    2. In fairness the Ugandas land is so rich and fertile everyone is grown something but they can. In South Africa this is not the case in the area that the CoCos Foundation works it is mainly sand.
    Has we drive up into the mountains with it raining hard the water running down the banana leafs this day Is one experience not to be forgotten. Fortunately Nkosie is sitting on the cliff side......lol. As we speed along a narrow single dirt track the 4x4 I think William thinks he is a formula one driver...😂 not for the faint hearted.
    1hr later we arrive at our camp where we are staying the nigh. It is basic but has everything we need a bed a shower. Dinner is served at 7:30pm what amazes me is here we are in the jungle and jet the service and the food is amazing. When I asked Lindani what's the thing he misses the most about africa he always said the sun and the service. I get it buddy.!

    After dinner we sit around the camp firer always the best thing about been here. An old boy place a tune on a local harp and we reminisce about the day and Williams driving..lol
    We retire to our tent ⛺️ for the night and the boys have prepare our beds with a hot water bottle and mosquito nets. Has I close my eyes I hear the sounds of the jungle and the Gorillas 🦍 in the distance.    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Bwindi Forest National Park

    January 9, 2023 in Uganda

    The alarm goes off at 6 am. It's the start of the new day it's pitch black outside and a little bit cold. I get out of my warm bed and then jumping to the cold shower with some reluctance. As I pull back the tent door, the Sun is just coming up and the mist is hovering over the valley of the jungle.
    We go up the stone path for breakfast, the two boys greet us and they have cooked poached egg on toast.
    They season food so well here.!

    We leave the Bwindi camp and travel to an out post where we are going to start our days trakking to the Gorillas 🦍. William drops us of at the out post where we are met with two mean carrying AK47 machine guns. (for our protection I might add)
    We meet the local ladies who preformed a travel well and good luck dance that we see the gorillas.

    We move off in the 4 by 4's, then park on the roadside. Maureen appears from no where a tiny lady she is going to be our guide for the day. She gives us the instructions.
    We have to wear masks.
    We must stay together.
    We mustn't let the gorillas dead in the eye if they come to waters.
    And she has some sticks for us to help to balances on the way down.
    We start to descend down the mountainside, but before we do, we catch a beautiful view of where the farmland ends and where the voice starts. There are 351 square kilometres of Bwindi forest with 459 Gorillas 🦍 50 families
    22 are habituation. The government has ordered that no more land should be cleared for farmland in order to try and protect the gorillas.
    It's to the same the world over for wildlife. There are too many human beings on our planet, squeezing the wildlife out, but what do you do? Humans have got to eat..! In the Uganda
    The people worked incredibly hard to maintain a living out of the land..
    we descend down the mountainside. God, it's steep…!
    For 30 minutes we descending trying not to grab the trees with spikes on and the nettles, then suddenly a little our ranger Maureen put her hand up, which means we have to stop. Silence comes over us all and then there's a huge crack on the branches above us in a tree. We all look up there in front of us is a mother gorilla with her little baby.
    There are times when in the presents of Wild life that you can only be in oar. We hear a loud grunt behind us and has we turn there he is the make silver back. If you thought the mother was big then you now understood that you were in the presents of a beast that at an moment could choose to end your days......
    Maureen have the sign not to move....lol has if anyone was going to go. We all knelt down taking a submissive position. The Silver back also sat down and with one gentle motion took the branch of a tree and stripped it from the leafs and then started to much on them. Maureen gave the sign that we could all get a little close. So very slowly we all edge forward on our bums. He looked up grunted and we all froze, that was far enough.
    We spent the next hour observing this family of 7 them foraging arguing over mushrooms 🍄 they had found and swing up In the trees above us.
    Maureen then said we had 5 mins to go. Truly I could of stayed there all day.
    What you then remember is the steep climb that you have to take to get back to the road. 1hr of almost a vertical climb. Flip I'm unfit..!
    We eventually pop out on to the road there stood little Maureen not a bead of sweet on her and breathing normally. There I was breathing like a stream train and sweating like a pig.
    The guy next to me was polish and he was in a right state. He asked me how old o was. 53 I said your fit...lol
    How old are you I said 33. I didn't feel that bad.
    Maureen gave us our certificates and we posed for photos.    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Lake Bunyonyi

    January 9, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    William then arrived with our trusted 4 by 4 and we were off. Our next stop and place to stay for the night was about 3hrs drive south to Lake Bunyonyi which means Small bird. We started to climb up a mountain winding our way to the top. Once there we went along the ridge and then it hit us.......

    Lake Bunyonyi the deepest lake in Africa 900 meters. Peppered with little islands 29 of them, William announced we would be staying on one of them for the night. Nkosie face was a picture. How we going to get there he said. By boat, was the answer. I'm not to sure it he looked happy nervous or just scared. We drove down the opposite mountain side and the appeared next to a little motorised boat. In we all popped luggage and all and then off we went. Nkosie nervous so changed to now if happiness.
    The little canoe cut though the water like butter. We arrive on the island to be met by a young man with a warm flannel on a wooden tray.
    We were then loaded on a gold buggy and off we went to the top of the island. Arriving there we were take trough to a veranda which over looked the other island. It was soooo beautiful.
    After settling in William asks us if we would like to hirer a canoe 🛶 and canoe around the island. With that decision made William jumps into the rear of the canoe I jump in the middle and then Nkosie jumps in the front. But with in seconds he jumps out and says no no no..!
    It's not safe. Me and William took it out to show Nkosie all was good. We then returned and a very reluctant Nkosie got back in at the front, then then real fun started. To many chiefs and not enough Indians sprang to mind. With William trying to instruct Nkosie and Nkosie stuggerling to understand we spent about 20mins going around in circles.
    They finally sorted it and we slowly but surly made away around the beautiful island of jahukwe.
    The lake was so calm the perfect way to end a day.    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Jinja Uganda

    January 10, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ 🌩️ 24 °C

    It's time to travel again..!
    Today we are making the long journey back to Kampala and then on to Jinja. 9hrs to Kampala and the 3hrs to Jinja.
    Driving often gives you time to think and reflect. The last couple of days have been truly amazing and I have manage to tick off some from my bucket list.
    Nkosie and I are so inspired by the Ugandans.
    Their passion to be self sufficient.
    After a long drive we arrive at Kampala ready to meet out new driver and the lady that has assisted us to purchase the farm here in Uganda Paula.
    We pull into a shell garage and then from no where Paula arrives with her big smile and crazy hair. To be honest it was her hair I noticed first.
    The driver arrives and hour later and we say our good-byes to William.
    We pile into our now posh car and off we go we don't go very far when we end up in a traffic jam. Now I know why we have to have a driver. It's chaotic, complete madness the border border motorbikes come back to you from all directions cars do I have where they like it seems to be a complete free for all.

    It gets dark and we are still travelling. Then suddenly there is an almighty bang. Fortunately, our driver hits a police, spike blockade that goes across the road, piercing straight through a front driver-side tire. We limp along until the car comes to a halt. Now what?
    There are no police on site so both and causing me start to do what we have done many times before and change the tire. Driver calls the owner of the company and within minutes he arrives and takes over.

    We are once again up and away travelling to the hotel.
    After travelling for 15 hours, all you want is a bed and a shower, but maybe not in that order. We arrive at the Nile village spa hotel, place that was chosen for us to be able to relax after a hectic day at the children's home. As we walk up to reception, the lovely lady behind reception says how many I help you. I show her the booking confirmation and then she types away on her computer and unfortunately our booking has been cancelled.
    But in a very sweet manner, she says she has a room available for us in her sister hotel across the road. Exhausted I'm not ready to pick a fight. We then pick up all our bags and walk 250 yards down the road with men walking around with machine guns. We finally get to a hotel and get booked in shower and bed. I am exhausted and Mr and Nkosie looks like a walking zombie.    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Bugiri, Uganda

    January 11, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ 🌩️ 26 °C

    We will jump into the back of the car,
    Mandela and Nkosie and myself a bit of a squash.
    Mandela directs us to the home of the children. With a huge wall around it and a massive iron gate.
    The gates started to open and out popped this little faces all smiling. Has the gates opened to reveal the Home of the children, the first thing I saw were all these amazing quote written on chalkboards.
    Nkosie and Paula where then show the rabbits 🐇 that Mandela normally speakers about on club house. They have the rabbits to teach them responsibility. As Nkosie picked his up it started to jump around. Nkosie was so unsure. Mandela asked him to hold them by the ears to calm them. We then went to the main hall where all the children meet. Has I was walking there 3 boys ran up to meet me and dropped to there knees and the held out their hand to be shaken.
    This for me seeing the children drop to their knees just didn't seem right. I asked them to stand up. Mandela said it was a sign of respect.
    So I stand corrected.!

    So many shoes of the front of the hall, so I thought I was best I slipped mine off to. There was a massive cheer has o walked into the hall and there were 5 chairs prepared for us to sit on.
    Mandela calmed the children down who were so exited to see us. When they were all focused he then introduced me formally to the children and then asked them to do the same back.
    Has each child did this I gave them a high five. 20 mins past and we were still doing high fives....lol

    We settled back down again and Paula introduced us and then asked the children if there was anything that the children wanted to share. One you man put his hand up at the back of the room and stood up.
    None of us were prepared for what he was about to say next.
    Sir I won't to thank you for the cows you donated to us they saved my life 🤷‍♂️.
    My mother passed and my father passed and I was on the street begging for little food I could. I was beaten main time at night the street is not a safe place to be. I came across Mandela one day hold out my hands to ask for food. He looked down at me and said "boy where is your family" I told him they had passed and I had none. He put his hand on my head and said "do you anywhere to stay" no "then come.
    At this point I look across at Paula and Nkosie and they both had tears in their eyes.
    He took me in to the children home where I meant my now brothers and sisters. We had some cows arrive he asked me if I could look after them. I used to look after cows with my father. I wanted to take my own life many times but I used to speak to the cows and tell them my troubles. At this point that was me done I had tears rolling down my cheeks and the boy was wiping his away.
    Thank you God thank you Bother Mandela and thank you to the person that gave us the cows you saved my life. They are my friends
    Paula stood up in tears and walked to him trying not to step on any children. When she reached him she gave him a hug and he just melted into her.

    The young man asked us if we would like to go out to meet his cows. He explains later that one of the females out of the three had a calf. Now he know for sure to are pregnant and I believe the third one is again. The smile on his face says it all.
    We often can give a gift and we truly do not understand the impact that it will make. (Thanks Damion)

    We leave at 3pm to make away back to the original hotel to try and check in after the challenge of the night before when they had cancelled our rooms. It was my intent that they should pay the difference between the hotel they placed us in and the price of the one we were going to stay in for the next 5 days. Cut a long story short I decided to stay in the much more basic but friendlier hotel that we stayed in the night before.
    (First world problems)    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Visiting the farm

    January 12, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ 🌩️ 26 °C

    6:30am the alarm goes of and it's time to move again. Today Mandela is going to take us to the farm we purchased on behalf of the donors of the 24hr event that Pete Cohen put on in Club house and raised £10,000 for. Has a charity we were asked to be ca custodial of the money and it soon became obvious that there needed to be a lot of due diligence.
    After many hours and a lot of help from friends that I know used to live in Uganda we had helped Mandela and the charity God InAction was formed.
    Here we are today making the hour journey from the children's home to the Farm. We all piled into the 4by4 again the three of us in the back Mandela, Nkosie and myself then Paula and our trusted driver Hamash

    1hr later after driving through some beautiful countryside we arrive at the farm. Has we step out the car some local people came around to chat to Mandela, but I think mainly to look a me. What is very obvious is that I am have been the only white person around for the last few days. The children pull on the hair on my arms....lol

    With the sun shinning it's time to do a little filmimg and take loads of photos for back home for everyone that supported Mandela to reach his vision. Mandela voice is so quite I realised I had left my mic in the car. I asked one of the lads if they would mind getting it for me. He sprints of like an Olympic run and returns with my while back pack.
    The land is very rich and fertile. It have mango and Jack fruit trees in it which will be great in the future to be able to have fruit for the children.

    Mandela is very keen to walk me to the far end of the boundary. The whole farm has been fence in which various people donated for. We start to walk slow back and Mandela says rain is coming. With one could in the sky I hardly think so...lol
    With an enormous clap of thunder and a flash of lightning from no where the heavens opened literally from the one cloud. Really..!
    Everyone started running back to the car. I quickly grabbed my back pack and then took my coat out. Thank yo the Olympic runner.
    The two I felt sorry for were the two that came on a motorbike boarder-boarder they got soaked.

    The rich red road turned into a running river. Our beautiful white car ended up a rich red..lol. We left the rain cloud behind us.
    We made our way back to the home for the children's. Which was bathing in in beautifully sun light.
    Mandala said we can take the children to the playing fields to play football. We had brought some balls that morning.
    With great excitement the children lead the way to the playing fields. Once there they split into two teams and Nkosie who is used to playing back home was one team captain.
    1hr later Nkosie could be found under the tree 🌳 with his shirt of gasping for air, the children had run him racked.
    With all the children tired after another great day it was time to go back to the hotel . But before we went we were asked if we wanted some fresh pineapple 🍍 when you visit a country one thing I always do is try the fruit of the country it taste so much nicer then the UK.    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Bugiri, Uganda

    January 13, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ 🌩️ 27 °C

    To day we are up earlier as we decided to get the children loads of Maths books and pencils plus pens. Paula our guide knows the area really well and is determined to get the best price on the stationary. In half an hour she must visit 10 shops and negotiates everyone down and some until she is happy. We finally fill the 4by4 up with all the stationary and then make the journey to the home of the children.
    As we arrive there are so many faces peering around the gate all wait for us. Mandela says they had e been asking constantly when are ye coming. The older boys with some instruction lift all the stationary to the office and place it down gentle.
    We take our usual sits in the main room with so many hopeful faces looking up at us.
    Mandala lest the children know that they are now ready for school with all the stationary. The children clap this rhythm shouting thank you very much. Eish.......it is so load.
    A selected few are asked what the difference the stationary will make.
    One little girl stands up and says thank you sir it will now be possible for me to learn how to write my name on paper.
    (The smallest of things could make a. difference to a child's life.
    After a few more share we are going to revisit the farm again has today is meant to be a clear one.
    We make the hours drive again and arrive at the farm.
    The soil is so red here which normally means it is rich in iron.
    Mandela takes us to the furthest boundary where we didn't quite get to the other day because of the rain.
    Mandela shared his vision with me how he wishes on the next planting of the peanuts 🥜 he wishes to cover the whole 5 acres but this time get a return of £7,000 at the market. Last time only half the acres were planted and they receive £3,000 from the sell of them. We were so grateful for the seeds in the first place to be able to plant the peanuts.
    Thank you to #DebbieDigby and #passion4hair and the #Feathersgroup for donation £1,000 a year ago. We took the decision back then to purchase the seedlings thus giving the £1,000 longevity.
    From that harvest we then manage to save 6 sacks off seeds ready to plant this year. So every year Debbie you are making it possible for food to be purchased and school uniforms to be brought and tools for the farm.
    We continue our walk to the left of the farm and there are some huge bolder coming out from the ground. Mandela climbs up on one along with Nkosie and Paula. Here Chris is where I wish to teach the children about farming. They can all sit on this rocks and I can be down there Chris it would be like an amphitheater.
    Plus when we have visitors they can all leave their message on the rocks for the children.
    Mandela always has the children as the priority the first thought in his head.
    We sat one of the rocks talk about where he would like the home for the children to be exactly. Paula came up with the idea that maybe we should build cluster homes. A complete home for 6 children and a house mum in it. A kitchen, a living area and bathroom. Each house would have 6 children of their own age and a house mother. There would be 10 houses in total supporting 61 children.
    A dream becomes a vision    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Chill Day, i think...!

    January 14, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ 🌩️ 27 °C

    Time is passing so quickly. It seems when you arrive the first few days are slow and the it goes so fast the last few.
    Today we have nothing planned only that the children have a wish to dance and sing for us. We left the children making traditional costumes yesterday with banana trees.
    Today as we enter the children's home some of them have their outfits on.
    The children have prepared seats for us and as we take our seats the music starts. They are going to perform 7 traditional dances from all of the regions in the area.
    The next 3 hours yes I did say 3 hours went so quickly as we watched these amazing children perform their hearts out to us. We were also asked to get involved. My worst nightmare..!
    But when I'm Rome. When is Muma Debs when you need her.!

    There were to young boys that were incredibly doing their belly dancing and they were give the task to teach a 50 year European man to dance. With me all ready to put my best foot forward I wriggled my hips like I have never wriggled them before and the joy and laughter that came from the children in the most part and the Uganda team was beautiful to listen to so I wriggled them some more.
    After a wonderful but exhausting 3hrs. Mandela suggested we go out on to the plan-field to play football with the new balls we had brought. The kids kept shout my name and soon it became obvious that they wanted me to play. Really..!
    Nkosie was the captain of one team and I the other. Now at this point I would just like to point out that Nkosie is 20 years my junior and incredible fit. So anyone that was going to be on my team certainly were going to have a disadvantage.
    Teams picked and we were straight into it. I was please that my team wasn't playing in skins and it was Nkosie and his side that had to take of their shirts and not me....lol
    The game ended at 3 -3 all I can say is thank you to the young men on my side for putting in a 110%.
    When I came of Paula hand arrived back from getting us some water. She said, "you make a good ref".
    Really..! 🙄

    We were now making our way back to the home of the children when one of Mandela's friend turn up on a board-board motorbike. Mandela stood chatting to him and then he asked us if we would like a go. Now at 53 I know it's hard to believe but I have never been on a motorbike and it is on my bucket list.
    Maybe not quite sandwiched between the driver and Nkosie but he really wanted to go one two.
    With me secured in the middle we were taken of around the plan field with the children screaming.
    I arrived safely back. Please no won tell my Mum I didn't wear a crash helmet.
    With the day closing to an end we left the home of these beautiful children with huge smiles on our faces and theirs.
    We arrived back at the hotel where we were staying and and took our showers and then went down to the restaurant. The hotel team were all waiting patiently to hear how our day went and what we got up to. We place our orders and awaited for our food to arrive. Nkosie had ordered a stir fry Chinese style fish. It arrive and his eyes were a picture. There lay in front of him this huge whole fish with vegetables on it.
    There is something to be said about not having anything planned in a day and just let it take you where ever it chooses.    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Last day........

    January 15, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ 🌩️ 27 °C

    Been a Sunday we felt we deserved a little lay in. So we got up an hour later and asked if our driver could meet us at 9am.
    We had decided last night that we would visit Jinija to buy some hola-hoops for the children to play with. We told Paula and she made it her mission to find them. Whilst on the search we found a pack of bubble blowers so we brought them all up.
    5 more shops later and we found the Hola-hoops. With everything packed into the car we traveled to Bugiri which was a little quicker than before because it is a Sunday.

    We arrived at the children's home and this time park our side. The children all came around the car and started peering into the boot. Great cheers and shout came has they spotted the bubbles and the Hola-hoops. They carried them to the main hall and then asked if we would could move our chairs to be out side because the children wanted to dance for us again.
    Part of visiting God In Action was to see if the children were safe and secure. You can tell just feel how happy they are, particularly when they are dancing.
    Mandela suggested that we go on to the playing area again with the bubbles and the Hola-hoops for the children to play.
    Whilst they were all playing Mandela and 2 other started to play volleyball not something I have played since my school days.
    With the sun burning my skin it was time to go back to the home of the children.
    We then were then treated to the kids giving us a fair well dance and Nkosie treated them to a Zulu dance.
    Once all the dancing and celebration finished Mandela's father and mother turned up. In what I thought was respectfully I went up to he's father and dropped to my knees to shake his hand as the children had done to me. The soon pulled me to my feet and no no your are our guests. Manadela mother was beautiful. You could see where he got his looks from and that huge smile. With all their children around them
    It was time to take a few photos to capture the moment. They are Alson so proud of Mandela and what he has achieved. It was one huge happy family.
    Mandela and his brother presented us all with T-shirt's and also one for Pete and Hannah from Club House in the UK.
    We made our way to the car where our driver was once again waiting for us. We were surrounded by the children and the team. As we stepped into the car the emotion started to hit. I always find it strange often when you travel we are all nervous but people are so kind around the world 🌍 always wanting to help and show the best of their culture and country to you. You quickly become friends and then the parting is always a challenge. But I always say to be people you have to go home to come back......

    Through out this whole trip we have had our trusted driver beside us and Paula our guide which seems like of an insult really to call her a guide. She is a female version of Nkosie who has guided, supported, laughed and cried with us, who has now become a great friend.
    Never afraid to speak her mind always fights for the underdog and has the children at the heart of everything she does.
    On the drive home she said we could of came to Uganda without seeing the source of the Nile and she had planned a little boat trip that evening up the Nile to the source.
    Reflecting is not something I do I tend to look forward all the time but has we made our way up the Nile with the sun going down, Uganda has been kind to us and as a Charity that supports children that can not be heard it is our time to allow them to shout very loudly.    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    In a movie

    January 16, 2023 in Uganda ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Today is the day we travel home. Well back to South Africa to pick Lindani (you all remember him) up from Johannesburg tomorrow morning and then fly to Durban to drop him home home to the village of Mduku.
    Our driver is with us bright and early and we then have a 4hr drive to Entebbe airport and all the fun of the yellow fever certificates and covid certificates.
    We chat with Paula along the way about how much fun we truly have had and reminisce laughing most the time.
    We arrive at the airport and of load our bags say goodbye to our driver and Paula takes us into the airport (she does want to leave us really) all hugs and kisses we say bye and take ourself through security and the boarder force then just wait for the flight to be called. Nkosie says he a little hungry so I make my way to the only place selling food and look at what is on offer. Chicken pie or vegetable roll. Am I that mean I would get two vegetable rolls. Been a veggie it is tempting. But as a Zulu man if meat 🥩 was on offer he would kill me...lol
    Chicken pie it is for him.
    The flight is finally called and we board the plan. Finally checks and we are off.
    Goodbye Uganda it's been a blast.

    Now have you ever thought that you have been in a movie in your life...?
    This one's called Sully (atom Hanks) look it up. Great movie to watch but not star in.
    BANG BANG..!
    Now I'm a seasoned traveler but for may people traveling from Uganda it's there first time on a plane. I'm not sure at this point what was loaded the birds passing through the engine or the lady behind me screaming "we are going to die, we are going to die..!
    Which then alerts the rest of the plan that we just might.
    A quick bank to our lift and we are now headed back to Entebbe airport where we started. Things can not be that bad has we don't quite go back has we have to spend the next hour flying around burning of fuel.
    We eventually land and are all disembarked safely and then we have to start the whole process again.
    Now you always get the one that thinks his world has ended and he normally travels first glass telling everyone he has another flight to catch to Durban and only had left himself 1hr transfer time. 🙄 He then marches off to THE LOUNGE to top up on more Champaign. The when we are called he pushes his way to the front in front of all the Mums with children.
    What I don't get is the num-nut doesn't seem to realise that the front of the plane doesn't leave without the back of the plan.....lol

    We eventually land in Johannesburg at 11pm and thankfully the hotel mini bus arrived to take straight to the hotel. A quick check in shower and plop straight into bed. Shattered...!    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Meeting Lindani again

    January 17, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    4am and the alam goes of normally I'm someone who wakes up before the alarm but not today. Next flight is to Durban 6am and then the long drive up to Sodwana bay. 4hrs if everything goes well.
    We have to miss breakfast because it to early so I grab a chicken pie for Nkosie at the airport wait for Lindani to arrive with all his bags 👍🏼.
    With the careful planning we managed to get Lindani bags down to three 23kg after he spent 6 month in the UK.
    This means Nkosie will take one I'll have one and Lindani will take one on the last leg to Durban from Johannesburg. We board the plan and we are all sitting away from each other. My little head hits the cushion and that's me gone for the whole flight. I wake up thinking we are just taking of and said to the guy next to me "at last we are off" no mate he replies we have landed....lol    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Durban airport

    January 17, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    We meet the team we book our cars with and load the cars up and of we set to drop of Lindani and then to the Lodge. But before that I need to pick up and air fryer from Ballito. As we travel along the N2 I glance over my should only to see Lindani catching flies and Nkosie next to me doing the same. This will be a long trip up with everyone asleep.
    We evenly reach Lindani home and I thought for some reason everyone would be there to meet him but there wasn't. We unloaded his bags and gave each other a hug and said I'll see you soon. He was going to spend a couple of days at home with his family and then pop up and visit me at the lodge.
    The final hour is always a long drive. I dropped of Nkosie back to his family in the dark and all the children came running out. I'm not sure if it was to see him or me...😂
    I final get to my African lodge. And you know that feeling when you going to shut your eyes and you know in seconds your be asleep.    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Sodwana Bay Foundation Lodge

    January 18, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ 🌬 29 °C

    Little Foundation is a beautiful traditional Roundval house which I call my African home.
    Waking up there hearing the sea 🌊 in the distance and the birds in the trees is a sound I always look forward to coming to South Africa.
    To day is going to be a beautiful busy one.
    We have all the houses that we are going to be building in 2023 as a charity to visit and check that the families are happy with them been completed. The first stop though is the house that donated by Moon Hall school in Dorking. I take a little video to be able to show the children of Moon Hall. The little girl that lives there is so happy and keeps looking at me. I'm sure she wonders, who is this strange man. We are so proud to be carrying out the work for many schools and community groups.
    Then the rest of the day is spent visiting all the families that we will be building houses for this year 2023. 8 of them.....
    For many reason this is such a hard day as we do not have enough money to build them all. But Witt a lot of networking and public speaking upon my return we hope to be able to raise the funds.    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Hluhluwe.to Ubombo

    January 19, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Today we make a 2hr visit to Ubombo where this our journey started.
    We are here to check out the latest house that has been built by our builders for a you young lady called Bongiwe and her two children..
    we first meet Muma Spongila a lady that is so full of life and enthusiasm for everything she does. Seeing Siya with us she breaks down and cries whilst giving him a huge hug 🤗 After all the hallo's it is time to make away down to where the house has been built. I can not believe the trek we have to make. And to think the builders had to move 900 bricks down here.......
    After taking the videos for the donors of the house we then make away to is it a young lad that we new as a child called Thabiso.
    Thabiso lives so far away in the back of beyond that I only really visit him when I go to SA by myself. We take the dust road and eventually get to his house where we meet his GoGo and we sit and chat with her. Zulu people always love to chat and there is always a story and today was going to be know different.
    Thabiso has completed his matric but the subjects that he had chosen were not going to get him where he needed to be to get a job. So we need to help him make a plan. The only person I knew that could help was Dorothy the principal of Christop Meyer. So we all pile into the car and of we go back to Mselani but via Jozini to buy Thabiso some clothes.
    Arriving at The Christoph Meyer always brings a joy to my heart Dorothy is one of the most amazing teachers I know, not to only looking after her students academic qualifications but also their pastoral care. After a couple of hours with her he is all set with plan for the next three yes.
    Now time to find a donor......
    We return back to Little Foundation Lodge ready to get changed and and then to go out for a chilled meal.
    Love ❤️ those days when you have worked hard and then you just sit down at the end of the day with your mates "chat & chill"    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Hluehluwe

    January 20, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    It's the last day in Africa before I have to make. The long journey home.
    Sometimes you have to keep a promise and today is one of those days. "The Beach" I promised to Lindani that I would have a beach day. But first in the morning I have to complete a few things .The look on his face doesn't look that happy.......lol
    We drop Thabiso of at the bus stop do he can make his way home with a plan for the future.
    Then it's time to sort out all the clothes for the children from our Gift4Christmas campaign. Each year at the CoCos Foundation through amazing donations from donors. We make our way to Mduku in the southern area where we work and to Mdinwa school. The child in this area have so many challenges and because of this we nearly always visit this school for the Clothes4Clothes donations.
    We meet Musa our south area coordinator at the school and he has arranged for 11 children to be taken by mini bus to the local shops. For some of them it is their first visit and the first time they have traveled in a mini bus.
    We arrive at the shops and they look a little nervous. But take control whilst Lindani announces that he is going to his favourite Barbers for a hair cut. (Well his favourite barbers in South Africa) Nkosie meets Abraham the now friend that owns the shop where we buy all the uniforms from and they all start the process of sorting out the children's school uniform. For Lindani this is a first. The opportunity to be able to see all his hard work back in the UK collecting the clothes and sorting them and then seeing them been eBay. The result of all that is eleven little smiley face.........
    The second promise was to take Lindani's mum out for a meal at the Fig Tree. So back to Hluehluwe we go and I get a great opportunity to check in with Lindani's mum to see she is happy about the plans for his future. I see where he get his big smile from and happy attitude. She one of those ladies that is beautifully from the inside out and the outside in.
    The beach, there never seems enough time to go there. It's one of the best in the world yet when I'm in Sodwana bay there is always so much to do.
    But with Lindani drag me down there at the end of the day before I fly back to the UK 🇬🇧 I am so grateful.
    Nkosie looks after our stuff whilst we dive into the sea 🌊    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    Durban Airport

    January 21, 2023 in South Africa ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Time to go home......
    It's time to go, this was always going to be a hard one.!
    Lindani been in the UK 🇬🇧 with me for six months and when you have someone in your space for that length of time you can not but get used to having them around. It was always my plan to make it easier for him. So taking him home always meant that I would live him and he wouldn't have to leave me. The 4hr drive back to the Airport was a quite for me but time to think and do what I do best. start the planning for his return to start his new job.
    Arriving at Durban airport it's a visit not Mug & Bean for brunch, then to catch my flight Johannesburg.    Read more

  • Chris ConnorsUganda - South AfricaTraveler

    London Heathrow Airport

    January 22, 2023 in England ⋅ ☁️ 2 °C

    Boom...and the plan lands.
    It's always a bitter sweet arriving home. There is no where like the UK 🇬🇧 but it's always so bloody cold when you get back.
    Landing at Heathrow my trusted friend "Sharon" is there waiting for me. I love airports I love seeing families reunited, grandchildren running up to their grandparents so excited. Sharon gives me a big hug 🤗 and then we find her car which is always a little challenging.......😂
    It's so dark and cold 🥶 but it's home.    Read more

    Trip end
    January 21, 2023
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