I know some people don’t believe I spent 59 days in the house during lockdown
Many people were worried about me more than I was because they know I literally live on the road.
How I managed, I had a lot to read plus I took on some online courses.
Although the Lockdown took longer than I had anticipated, I knew it’d pass and I’d be out on the road happy and live again.
I set out to go to my three favorite districts in Uganda. But not working for 3 months had hit my account balance badly it left me with holes. Broke and struggling but I had to go somewhere to keep sane, I needed the treat.
I’d talk about budget travel but it’s a long topic, one day I’ll tell you about how I draw my budgets. I’m the queen of low budget travel and I mastered how to squeeze my pockets and come out with coins to kuzunga. It’s a priority so I make it happen.
I didn’t have a budget, you can’t have a budget if you have no money but you can draw one on the day of Travel according to what is available. To me Travel is therapy and after more than 3 months in the house and having very few people to confide in without judgement, I usually hit the road to forget and rejuvenate. On the road, far away from the usual, surrounded by nature is where my healing is.
The Three favorite districts, some have now become cities; Jinja, Kabarole and Kabale.
Jinja is where I started on 26th July, this plan was kinda random. I saw a poster that there was transport to Samuka Island by the Chebei guys and I had to pay only 35,000ugx, talked to a few friends and they bought the idea although some didn’t show up. I was good, I had the best people on board.
Boat ride to Samuka Island.
Usually I fail to get people to travel with because people’s schedules don’t collide with mine and I stopped waiting for people to adjust, so I’m okay with traveling alone. I’m happy I found friends who said yes to the Jinja trip. Bakshi and Kenny I really appreciate you guys. My first trip with the two was to Kisumu and I had the best time with them. Never looked back, I always and will travel more and more with them because I’ve felt comfortable around them and they’re what I call good vibes. I hate group getaways because I’m not the person who easily gets along with people, I’m a generally shy person and not very patient with lots of things people do.(Working on my tolerance). I only get along with people from a distance, let me say online 🙈
Jinja we camped as Nile Park, it’s 25,000 UGX/night if you have your own tent. I have tents, Incase you’re looking to hire let me be your plug.
If you’ve been to Jinja, I’m sure you’ve seen Bannz Cafe and Grill around Namagunga. I highly recommend you stop by this place for a good meal.
My original first plan was to first escape to Kabale(Hawk’s Lodge Bunyonyi) but transport was a challenge. I wasn’t ready to get on a bus in this Covid19 and somehow the gods made it happen. For a about a month, I had tried to find my way to Kabale. One Monday morning I called one of my bosses and he told me he’d be traveling to Kabale over the weekend. 10th July was a Friday and it was a good day to be out of the busy Capital.
Had plans to go with friends but it was abrupt nevertheless I was happy to go alone. It’d been more than a year since I was last at Hawk’s Eye Lodge. So many new developments, the log house that I didn’t leave there looks so beautiful and I was privileged to be one of the first guests to use the newly opened rooms.
More two swimming pools making them three at the facility, you can spend all day sipping on your favorite drink in the pool alone. 
The views from the rooms are to die for. I had missed Lake Bunyonyi sounds, the soothing melodies from the birds, the serenity. You know Hawk’s Eye lodge is overlooking the Lake Bunyonyi so you can’t miss the beautiful sunsets. How I love watching the sun set over a Lake. The gods of Bunyonyi show off much. This is like home for me, I had missed the place. I spent a 7 days here, I needed it, I wanted to be alone.
The hike to the Blacksmiths, was great. The first time I tried it, I got back on a boda. Having grown up on flat land, I’m not into long hikes and Kabale hills aren’t easy but I’m getting there. This time I did all 16 kilometers, I deserve a medal please 😂
I also liked the new chef, he makes delicious mouth watering pizza.
Truthfully if I had travelled with people, my stay would have been shorter. Though it was cut short when I lost a brother, I have to travel from Kabale to Jinja within less than 12 hours to make it for burial. I managed to pay my last respects.
Mahoma falls. My second time here
24th July we hit the road for Kabarole with Kenny and Bakshi. It was Kenny’s first time yet he’s the driver but we made it time after setting off very late. Please don’t just visit Fort Portal town, Tour Kabarole. Been there many times but I can’t get enough of the magnificent views, the Crater lakes, the landscapes 😍
Been to about 30 of Kabarole’s crater lakes yet there’s more than 50 crater lakes and 15 rivers. I’ll keep going back until I see all the 50 lakes. Over the weekend, we visited 12 of them; Lake Nyinambuga this is the Lake on the 20k UG note, Nyamirima, Nyinabulitwa, Nyabikere, Kifuruka and Nyinambuga are twin lakes and Rukwanzi and Mwamba not far from Mahoma falls. Kifuruka, Katanda, Nyimirima and Nkuruba where we camped for 2 nights. 
I randomly found this place on the internet, no one recommended it. This is how I usually find places to go to.
The services were not the best because apparently they’re not used to having Ugandan guests. At the facility there was a group of white people who were given more attention than us. Thankfully we connected with a Tour guide who also acts as a night watchman called Robert. He was very helpful that after we complained about service, he negotiated discounts for us. Note that I called these guys during lockdown and booked, I kept calling them to remind them about my reservation.
To be continued…
Enjoy the photos;
Sunsets at Hawk’s Eye Lodge
Wine at the Campfire.
Enturire on the House, Hammock chill at Hawk’s Eye Lodge
Happy Soul
On the Hike
The New Log House rooms
Watching sunsets at Lake Bunyonyi 
- For more photos; check my Instagram @Hirolla256
Kenny the Proline guy, that’s me in the Vipers jersey. 
Penelope, Telma and Angela. It was a cold Thursday morning full of good vibes. 
Birthday vibes. 
Ready for Zip-lining. 
The program. 
For you travelers who want to charge your phones, they have sockets in all corners of the restaurant.
Hirolla256 