Uganda – Mount Elgon – Wagagai Peak - April 2004

In April 2004, 11 intrepid explorers, nicknamed “Moonies” (for their desire to walk the mountains of the moon), ignored the news of violence in northern Uganda, and departed on a magical journey...  

Having “stumbled upon” them training for the hike in the Drakensberg earlier in December 2003, and unaware of any danger in Africa, I decided to join the 11 Moonies which were all members of ESSA (Exploration Society of South Africa).

The trip to Mt Elgon was not uneventful. Stephen’s luggage never made it to Entebbe airport That same evening, I stopped eating fish after a Tilapia with real eyes was  brought to me and, to everyone’s dismay, I refused to eat it.  My idea of fish was always that you buy it prepacked - coated in a nice batter and stuck it in the oven).

After two days of hiking, it was finally time to get up at what others might call an ungodly hour and head for Wagagai summit.  After the necessary pictures were taken, we headed back to Mude camp for breakfast.  I was feeling energized, so when Jackson’s peak was mentioned, I was able to convince one of the guides to take me there whilst the rest hiked back to camp for breakfast.

That evening, after some more trekking, Chris Muritti, our Kenyan Guide entertained us with some African rhythms played on Tony’s guitar.

The next morning after a fast trek down the mountain, "chapattis" at Rosie’s and a taxi ride back to Kampala, it was time for a well deserved bath!  We washed our clothing and started to prepare for the trip to the Mountains of the Moon.

Mount Elgon