"We call them losers" (posting from the road)

"We call them losers". That was the reply from the guide to my observation regarding the lone cape buffalo that I saw grazing on the side of the Kazinga channel. Maybe it was the few beers I had already consumed, maybe it was the heat...but I found this statement to be hysterical. I was laughing so hard, tears were rolling down my face. I am not sure if he thought I was confused or just crazy but he went on to explain that a 'loser' is what you are called when no one likes you or wants you to be a part of their group. Seriously who did this guy think he was talking to??? Like I don't know what a loser is. Jeez. I think explaining it to me just made it that much more entertaining and every time our boat sailed by a solo buffalo, the guide, with a completely flat affect would just point and say "Loser" - I would then giggle.

Today we passed the equator en route to Queen Elizabeth National Park on the far western side of Uganda just a mere 15 miles from the Congo. From what I have read this was once a magnificent park that her majesty frequented, hence the name. Sadly during the war torn 1980's, National Parks became of little concern to the government and the poachers pounced decimating the animal numbers. Wildlife in the area is slowly making a comeback, and from what I saw today a pretty good one.

Leila and I decided to upgrade at this stop and we left our little dome tent behind for a luxurious safari tent with 2 queen beds, private en suite (with flush toilet - a HUGE luxury) and a little porch with fantastic chairs overlooking Lake Edward. The cost - $50, less than I paid at the last Motel 6 I stayed at. We spent the late afternoon on the aforementioned boat cruising down the channel that joins Lake Edward and Lake George.

I really did not realize how well nature got along. Frequently in the herds of buffalo there would be a few hippos with a Nile crocodile sunning himself just on the banks a few feet away. Birds seem to be comfortable resting on the back of any mammal that will stand still. Just when it couldn't get better, the grand daddy of them all, the African Elephant would lumber over and grab a quick drink from the channel.

Despite my initial child-like enthusiasm for the water hogs (read: jumping up and down screaming "HIPPO, HIPPO" at the first sighting) and my sheer awe at the size of the pachyderms, I would have to my favorite today were the Cape buffalo. Just the lone ones, the "Losers" - deep down...my kindred spirits.