Uganda | Drone footage of our scooter safari in Murchison Falls

The day before we didn't have enough time to make a really good scooter safari, so today we leave early. Chris finally takes to the skies with his drone in Murchison Falls National Park to film wildlife. We were able to photograph the herds of elephants and buffaloes beautifully. Watch the video!

I also film Chris when he comes riding on his scooter (he didn't know that a buffalo was crossing the road right behind him. (Large) game traffic always has right of way. Especially when it concerns a whole herd of elephants that are about ten meters away. suddenly thinks you have to cross the dirt road from the forest…

A trip for your bucket list

Tour Uganda | Discover the pearl of Africa

Uganda has stolen our hearts more than once and as far as we are concerned it is a travel destination that belongs on the bucket list of every world traveler. Find out why Uganda is called the pearl of Africa.

A trip through Uganda will be one you will never forget. Spot the tree-climbing lions, meet thousands of elephants, come face to face with Mountain Gorillas in the jungle and get to know the beautiful culture.

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Lots of wildlife along the 'highway'

How beautiful can a National Park to be? Although it feels a bit strange, we are very pleased that the Chinese are halfway through the construction of an asphalt road through Murchison Falls NP. We see swaying palm trees and a lot of game along the 'highway'.

Blubber and Buffalo

Oh well, and a bit of mud on the dirt road that is only 10 km long. It also has its charm. The many buffaloes lazing along the road in mud baths don't really know what to do with us, two crazy people on scooters. I know from previous trips that they hear us rather than see. So they always come a little closer. To convince themselves with their bad eyes that what they have heard poses no danger. Keep calm and wait at a distance is the credo. The buffalo (almost) always goes elsewhere at a small trot.

Well and when I film Chris as he drives from the plain over a hill towards me, he doesn't notice that a buffalo is crossing the road behind his back…

Two idiots on scooters

It is clear that our presence does not go unnoticed by other safari goers. Imagine it yourself. You had to pay a considerable amount to go on a jeep safari in a wildlife park. Getting out of that jeep is forbidden. To then see that two 'crazy guys' just drive around on scooters and stop and get off their scooter while the lions, elephants and buffaloes are all around us… We get enough strange looks (and comments) from the safari vehicles.

Drone images Murchison Falls

Meanwhile Chris is having fun with his drone. Incidentally, the use of drones is 'in principle' prohibited in Uganda, just like in Kenya. Unless you go through all kinds of lengthy administrative procedures and put down the necessary knots, of course. It feels like a new cash cow to collect money from tourists, just like paying an extra $150 during a safari to drive straight through the landscape (off the trails) to the lions…

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We didn't do this hassle of paperwork (because it takes months…). We did, however, bribe the guards at the entrance of the park with a few lollipops as usual. It's that easy here. However, we have to pay close attention to whether another person in office does not happen to drive up who can be difficult (and wants to see money).

Of course we also take the animals into account. Chris's drone is equipped with special 'silent propellers' so you hardly hear the drone. The wild animals often hardly notice that something is flying around. He also uses the zoom function and of course we keep a sufficient distance from the animals.

We are lucky anyway that there are hardly any other safari tourists. This is how Covid-19 has turned out to be good for something.

giraffes

The giraffes are a story in themselves. On the one hand they are very curious and first look at you in surprise for a while. After that they also hobble at a gallant trot elsewhere. They also find the drone interesting. When Chris circles around the giraffes, they keep a close eye on the drone, while the drone remains about 100 meters away from them. She doesn't miss anything!

Herds of Elephants

Elephants are also plentiful. 'Pole, pole,' is the advice for us when elephants cross the road again on our scooters. Pole Pole means to stay calm. Keep your distance and always adhere to the rule: all animals have priority.

When they have calmly crossed the road, Chris launches his drone again. The elephants definitely notice the drone, but don't seem to care. They happily graze on and some time later we get the whole family beautifully aligned in one photo. Wow!

We can't believe our luck. What a wonderful scooter safari! In a few hours we have been able to admire herds of elephants, dozens of gallant giraffes and thousands of buffalo on our scooters. And that in a unique landscape with swaying palm trees and sometimes bright green grass. Quite a difference from the often barren and yellowish savannas in many other national parks Africa.

Arrival in Pakwach

Then the scooter safari for today is over. We have completed the 10 km of dirt road and drive the next 10 km on a perfect asphalt road. Brand new. A few Chinese stand by the side of the road giving directions to Ugandan road workers. There are even warning signs in Chinese that point to a Speed ​​Bump (unfortunately I can't read what it says in Chinese). Because if something suddenly pops up everywhere and nowhere on a Ugandan (just like in Tanzania and Kenya), it's those damn thresholds. There are huge thresholds even on barely passable dirt roads.

We leave the park and drive on the bridge over the Nile and arrive in pakwach. Pakwach is a town with about 30.000 inhabitants and is not too far from the border with Congo. We have to go through a roadblock first. Here Ugandan soldiers check all (freight) traffic to and from Congo.

A large number of itinerant traders are also active at this location. Armed with souvenirs (especially wood carvings), dried fish and soft drinks. They storm any vehicle that comes to a stop. As usual, we are also buried under the sellers.

I looked up a new local hotel via the internet. There we take up residence in a beautiful rondavel. Then we explore Pakwach and while I'm busy supplying half the town with lollipops, Chris decides to show off his soccer skills with some local kids.

Then we are all set again. For a moment, an innocent photo of Chris (whom I had already warned that you should absolutely not photograph (strategic) bridges, military objects and the like in Uganda), seems to cause problems. Before he knew it, the soldier is already there. Chris has to delete the photo of the bridge over the Nile from his phone and then we can continue after a small admonition.

Delay on the way to the Paraa Safari Lodge

After a few hours on safari, it's time for a bite to eat. We drive along the new bridge towards the exclusive Para Safari Lodge. As we drive onto the dirt track, I see an adult elephant emerge from the bushes. I warn Chris who drives behind me. Elephants have priority at all times (turn on the sound, then you can hear how we react).

Then we realize that our scooters have very little fuel left. Although the fuel consumption of these scooters is 1 liter per 30 to 40 km, barely three liters fit in the tank. We have driven quite a few kilometers in the park unnoticed and we are now finding out. Fortunately, the Para Safari Lodge a tiny Shell Station. 'You have to pay first at the hotel reception. And hurry because we close at half past five.'

Well, then it's time to enjoy yourself in the beautiful restaurant of the only five-star Lodge of Murchison Falls NP: the unsurpassed Para Safari Lodge. We have a delicious meal and enjoy an ice-cold Nile (Uganda's national beer).

Chris turns on his whatsapp video and treats his wife, who is sitting cold in the Netherlands, to a fantastic preview. Including a couple of hippos that are rolling around a little further down the Nile.

Whether his wife really realizes how crazy or genius our scooter adventure is… She will land in Uganda in two weeks to take Chris on a tour of southern and western Uganda. I think she actually wants to jump right on the plane to come to the unsurpassed Pearl of Africa!

The beers have tasted good and it is time to drive back to Pakwach. Along the way we encounter a lot of big game, including elephants. It's just starting to get normal, there's something to see everywhere here.

What a great day this has been. It tastes like much more and there will be. In part 5 we first make a last scooter safari in Murchison Falls NP and I have something to do with my scooter again. Then we drive to Gulu where Chris works remote for a day Wereldreizigers.nl and I take a look at the market.

Until the next part, see you ever from Uganda.

A trip for your bucket list

Tour Uganda | Discover the pearl of Africa

Uganda has stolen our hearts more than once and as far as we are concerned it is a travel destination that belongs on the bucket list of every world traveler. Find out why Uganda is called the pearl of Africa.

A trip through Uganda will be one you will never forget. Spot the tree-climbing lions, meet thousands of elephants, come face to face with Mountain Gorillas in the jungle and get to know the beautiful culture.

View individual trips View group trips

By using our affiliate links you support us at no extra cost. Thank you!