I am one to jump on an 8-hour journey bus to Kabale on a random Friday afternoon and definitely one to eat a crayfish pizza simply because the waiter insisted it is the resort’s “special”.
A lot (not good) had happened through the week and running away from my unpleasant situations has many a time proved to be a good quick fix. I found solace in Kabale over the weekend!
The night bus drive through the wooded Savanna of Mburo under the brightest of moonlights rejuvenated my spirit so much I didn’t snooze the entire 8 hours of the journey.
Chant mantras for abundance, love and good health I did under the full moon. I am not overly spiritual but I believe in stuff like the calming effect of a sunset, the blessings of a full moon and ultimately, the compelling force of mantras to make things happen.
The silent man seated next to me must have imagined I was unhinged as I smiled at the big bright moon that seemed to channel good energy my way. Little intimate moments like these, I adore.
Midnight Moon Bathing on Kabale’s Deserted Streets
After some good kilometers of winding roads that glistened under the moonlight, we reached Kabale town at about 11:49pm, having set off from Kampala at 2:30pm.
After checking in at the Little Ritz accommodation section, I thought it best to head on over to the bar and drink with strangers. It was a Friday after all.
TuskerLite is always a good chill cascading down my throat to the muchomo-stuffed stomach – always a good combination. Standing at the patio, I noticed the moon was exactly overhead so chanting my mantras again, I thought, would fetch me even better luck.
“The streets are deserted, the drunkards are unbothered, I might as well take a walk,” the thought reverberated in my head.
I made a subtle, impulsive decision, rushed down the stairs, quickly peeking at the couple making out in the foyer.
A cover of Shania Twain’s “Forever and For Always” was on replay, occasionally interrupted by the low battery beep from my air pods.
The night was beautiful, the breeze was quintessentially Kabale’s and for a good while, I forgot why I had even made the decision to leave the city. Standing by the pavement, face up to the sky littered with silver lined clouds, I smirked, gulping the last bits of my beer.
And it felt like freedom, maybe a promise of a new day or even a comforting cushion.
Resort hopping in Bunyonyi
The sight of the beautiful Lake Bunyonyi never ceases to enthrall me.
After getting a tour guide/driver for the day and heavy breakfast to drown out the lingering hangover from the previous night, it was time to hit the bumpy road to Bunyonyi.
Nothing ushers you to Arcadia Lodge like the cool breeze sweeping in from the Lake at the base of the hill. A few stair cases and voila, a sight to behold. Arcadia has the best view of Lake Bunyonyi thanks to it location on the hill towering the lake.
Adventure calls for more than just sitting in the car and getting somewhere. After an hour at Arcadia, I hiked downhill to the landing site, ditching my guide for a few so I can enjoy a good nature walk.
A boat operator name Brian welcomed me to the site with the cost of the boat rides on the lake and whatever else he though would catch my attention.
“The weather is great today, we can do a tour of the islands and camp at Kyahugye (also referred to as the animal island). We can go wherever you wish,” Brian said.
Before I declined his offer, (because I have done the tour of the Islands before and it wasn’t on this trip’s agenda), my guide chipped in, notifying the businessman that we were proceeding to another resort.
We briefly checked out Crater Bay cottages (which is budget friendly for travelers), and our next destination was Bunyonyi Safaris Resort right at the shore of the Lake.
Sun was hot so we had the day’s second round of beer and relaxed by the pool.
Barely controlling the urge to order for a Pink Pussy cocktail that the waiter said would do me good, I turned the page to the lunch menu, then quickly to the pizza section.
A Disastrous Crayfish Pizza
“I have never eaten crayfish, is it good?” I asked the waiter whose apron hang loosely from the midsection. His brown eyes shone as a beam struck across his face.
“The crayfish pizza is actually tasty. You should try it. I swear it is good,” he had me sold.
Turning to my guide, he seconded the order and off the waiter flew to get it made.
Not that I expected something crayfish looking but I could swear everything looked more buttery (or should I say cheesy) than fishy. I grabbed a hot slice of the pizza, sniffed it (for whatever reason) and dug my teeth into it.
It tasted foreign, to be honest and I didn’t know if I liked it or hated it. But I kept going, exploring the various tinges to it. Two more slices later, I thought to myself, “this is something you eat simply for the sake of adventure and not throwing away Shs 40,000 but really my taste buds aren’t that happy.”
2 hours later, having returned to my room, I was riding in pain, with a bloated stomach and unrelenting nausea. I have what you would call a strong stomach so this situation caught me off-guard.
Anyways, a clinic visit and a puking session later, sanity was restored in my then visibly empty tummy and you can blame it on adventure.
Also Read: Waves, Sunsets & Twilights: Finding Solace in Kalangala
A Good Season to Visit
After a much-needed bowl of boiled chicken soup, I retired to my bed at about 11 pm and the next day, just like the previous one, dawned with a bright sunrise, promising great weather ahead.
The last time I was Kabale was in February and it was as cold as everyone says it is. It rained often, the sun came out at 4pm and dusk fell earlier that usual, I lived in heavy jackets and a bed that wouldn’t warm up enough for a good night’s sleep.
But here I was, exploring the streets of Kabale in a light cotton sweatshirt, jumping on Boda bodas at 11pm and taking drunken showers at 2am. It is June – hot, sunny with cool dry winds.
I had a great stay in Kabale, made a friend and jumped on a Getway bus back to my world but with a better outlook on things.
Touristy things to do in Kabale
Depending on the intended length of stay, tourists visiting Kabale can choose from a range of activities such as bird watching, canoeing, sunset boat cruises, nature walks, ziplining from one island to another, island hopping, animal tracking on Kyahugye Island, swimming, community engagements among others.
