Nairobi (Kenya) to Jinji (Uganda) – Timton Hotel
Another bus trip today – this time we had booked the Akamba Royal bus for the long trip to Jinja – and very comfy it was too. We’ve been on large buses in Africa that seat 5 per row (very cramped) and 4 per row (not too bad) – this bus had just 3 seats per row. The seats were like armchairs, there was plenty of leg room, and there were even power points – however there was no air conditioning.
It started pouring rain just as we got on the bus to leave – and the rain seemed to follow us all the way to Jinja! We drove through the Kenyan highlands, past huge tea plantations, and then down into the valley where it warmed up considerably and the lack of aircon became a problem. However it was bucketing down as we crossed the border – so we had to walk and stand in the rain on the Kenyan side while our passports were stamped. The Ugandan side was much better though, as they had a decent office to wait in.
Shortly after the lunch stop in Kisumu, we crossed over the equator – so we’re now in the northern hemisphere. There wasn’t much to see really – but the shops on the side of the road gave it away – Equator Bar, Equator Restaurant etc.
We arrived into Jinja around 7:00pm – very late due to a number of problems on the way, including a couple of truck accidents. The bus didn’t go into Jinja proper, but dropped us off at a petrol station on the highway – with not a taxi in sight. There were plenty of motorbikes though, who all wanted to take us and our cases. As we had no other option, our two cases were loaded onto one bike, while we both sat behind the rider on a second bike, and were taken to our hotel.
When we got off the bus it wasn’t raining – but drops started appearing as we rode through town and we made it to the hotel with about 2 minutes to spare!
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