Crater lakes trip

27.11.08
We set out on the crater lakes walking tour on Sunday. The lakes started at 20 kilometers out of the town. We arrived at a project and were treated to traditional dancing by a troop (The Club) of mixed age children. Their enthusiasm and energy was amazing. It was quite a treat. The next day we were taken to a local market and then to an eco camp site (very basic but very friendly). Our guide Moses was terrific. He explained everything. We were fascinated by the whole thing. The countryside is almost completely full of very small subsistence farms with people everywhere. From the project we were taken to a smart lodge and we had lunch on the veranda over looking a crater lake. It was stunning. Then on another walk to a Mahumba Falls. Whilst sitting for a few minutes to cool on feet in the water, Moses noticed our packs had gone. It seems that someone had reached them with a long stick with a hook end. The packs were only a few feet from us and no-one was around. Apparently they crawled into a hole nearby. Moses was so upset. He rushed around with no success. We walked back to the local huts and the woman elder was indignant and she and about 12 or 15 men went off to try to find the culprits.. After about an hour and a half, with lots of people watching us and trying to talk to us, it was becoming dark and we were getting worried, when they came back with the bags some of the men had found in the forest. The scene when we were closely surrounded by a large group of people whilst we checked to see what was missing was rather scary. Unfortunately Jane's camera, her expensive rain jacket, many of our pills and other thingss were missing. Moses told us they would have seriously injured the culprits if they had caught them. Moses had arranged a lift back to the camp site. Thank goodness. The next day another walk took us to Ruiga Beach, a project by a crater lake. The service was poor but we had a nice evening until Ken developed very severe diarrohea. After a very bad night we taken back early to Fort Portal. An amazing three days.