Page 44 - Jan-March 2024 Edition

EXPLORE - EQUATOR EXPLORE - NATIONAL PARKS

WHERE HEMISPHERES MEET
WHERE HEMISPHERES MEET BWINDI IMPENETRABLE
There are only 13 countries in the world NATIONAL PARK
where you can take a photo of yourself in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in
the southern hemisphere AND in the northern south-western Uganda on the edge of the Rift
hemisphere at the same time. One of these Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed
great photo ops is right here in Uganda--just 70 by one of Uganda’s oldest and most
kilometers (43 miles) from the edge of biologically diverse rainforests, which dates
Kampala--on your way to Lake Mburo and back over 25,000 years and contains almost
Queen Elizabeth national parks, and on your 400 species of plants. More famously, this
way to visit our beloved gorillas, Rwanda, “impenetrable forest” also protects an
Congo, and all-things west. estimated 400 mountain gorillas - roughly half
At the roadside line-marker, you can position of the world’s population, including several
one foot in the south, and the other foot next habituated groups, which can be tracked
to it in the north--and suddenly you’re the ugandawildlife.org
center of the world (or at least you’re standing
on it). ACCOMMODATION: WHERE TO STAY
BUHOMA COMMUNITY REST CAMP
BUHOMA C OMMUNITY REST CAMP
In 2002, AidChild (aidchild.org) received a +256 312 100060 / +256 772 384965
grant from USAID, and brought water and buhomacomunity@gmail.com
electricity to the equator-village while creating buhomacommunityug.com
BWINDI GUEST HOUSE
the first coffee shop and art gallery at the BWINDI GUEST HOUSE
equator-crossing, spawning an arts and crafts Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
destination. More than twenty years later, +256 780 314560 @Bwindi Guest House (f)
AidChild still has a shop here (including one of managerguesthouse2@gmail.com
Uganda’s few galleries of original art, a garden bwindiguesthouse.com
BUHOMA LODGE
cafe’, and a plastics-recycling-collection BUHOMA L ODGE
point), just a few steps north of the line, do- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
nating all its profits to scholarships for students +256 414 321479 / + 256 772 721155
living with HIV. Try a FREE Equator Chocolate exclusivecamps@wildfrontiers-uganda.com
when you buy a cup of coffee or tea at ugandaexclusivecamps.com
AidChild, too. There is also a unique demon- @Buhoma Lodge (f i) @ExclusiveCamps (x)
BWINDI L
stration point where you can see how water BWINDI LODGE
ODGE
swirls and drains differently in each hemisphere Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
(some claim it’s a trick, you decide), making +256 414 346464/5 / +256 312 263823
this a quick-pic-stop, or a fun and educational, +256 772 741720
shopping day-trip from the city. salesug@volcanoessafaris.com
volcanoessafaris.com @VolcanoesSafaris (x)
Where else can you have one foot in winter, @volcanoessafaris (f) @volcanoes.safaris (i)
TION CAMP
A
and another foot in summer? Here in Uganda, CTPH GORILLA CONSERVATION CAMP
V
CTPH GORILLA C
ONSER
several roads cross the equator. Currently, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
markers are on the Kampala-Masaka Road, +256 778 331025/+256 752 330139
the Ibanda-Kamwenge Road, and one soon supporter@ctph.org @GorillaCCamp (x i)
to be reinstalled on the Mbarara-Kasese ctph.org/gorilla-conservation-camp
Road near the main gate of Queen Elizabeth @Conservation Through Public Health (f)
ENGA
National Park. And there’s one more on a tiny ENGAGI LODGE
ODGE
GI L
uninhabited island in Lake Victoria—just south Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
of Entebbe. Kimbla-Mantana, Entebbe +256 414 320152
+256 772 401391 @Kimbla.Mantana (f)
The 12 other equatorial countries are: info@kimbla-mantanauganda.com
Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Sao Tome and engagilodge.com
Principe, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, MAHOGANY SPRINGS LODGE
ODGE
MAHOGANY SPRINGS L
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Somalia, Maldives, Indonesia, and Kiribati. Bookings: Lets Go Travel office, Kampala
+256 414 346667-9 / +256 792 740300/9
To plan your own equator visit on Masaka barrie@mahoganysprings.com
Road, check out aidchild.org/equator, or the mahoganysprings.com
hashtags: #UgandaEquator #EquatorLine. @Mahogany Springs Luxury Resort Bwindi,
Uganda (f)
AIDCHILD EQUATOR SHOP
AIDCHILD EQUA T OR SHOP SANCTUAR Y GORILLA FOREST CAMP
SANCTUARY GORILLA FOREST CAMP
A few steps north of the equator line on Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Masaka Road +256 780 282697 +256 772 753619 /+256 777 912448
info@aidchild.org aidchild.org/equator info@sanctuaryretreats.com
@AidChildEquator (f i) sanctuaryretreats.com
(SEE OUR ADVERT ON PAGE 13) @SanctuaryRetreats (f i)
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