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Eight weeks in Africa Bernice Wright on a holiday that made a difference
This was my second time in Uganda and what an experience! I went over with family in April for two weeks, and then I stayed on for six weeks more after they left. The purpose of me staying out for two months was for me to help where possible in Sunrise International - the hotel that Bamps (what I call my grandad Colin Bond) has built in order to help support other projects like an orphanage and a maternity hospital in western Uganda.
A brill pic of elephants!
The hotel is set upon a hill in the town of Fort Portal with views extending all the way to the stunning Ruwenzori Mountains, not forgetting King Oyo's palace on the next hill across town. The staff of the hotel are extremely welcoming and made me feel right at home! You are welcomed by a glass of fresh passion fruit juice (it's the most delicious juice you will taste!) and then shown to your room which has a glass wall so that you can see the fantastic views and a huge balcony so that you can relax in the days sunshine. But be warned, when it rains, it's like no rain you've seen before! It's fantastic!
View from Sunrise balcony
You are able to go on trips including the Queen Elizabeth Game Park, the Amabeera waterfall, visit the Pigmy tribe in the mountains, the beautiful crater lakes, the little villages situated in the tea and banana plantations, the African shopping village in Kampala, the area is just full of things to do that are both amazing and beautiful to see.
Amazing sunset
Funky fruit & veg stall
The thing is that the hotel has made a huge difference in the town not just to the landscape but the people in the town all know about Sunrise Apartments and the things that PaPa, as they call him, does in Fort Portal and neighbouring districts and villages. One of these projects that I went to see was a maternity hospital in a village called Kahangi. It was still being built while I was there but in August (after I left) it was officially opened. Having a place like that in a village where mothers die in childbirth because of lack of care is a real bonus!
Maternity hospital in Kahangi
Over all it is a stunningly beautiful place that has been scorched by famine and corruption. It has huge potential and you just need to see pictures to fall in love with the place and the people, the cultures are extremely interesting and sometimes quite hard to get your head around! I hope this will tempt you to come and enjoy the pleasures of this amazing place and visit the Sunrise International Apartments! Take a look at sunrisesafaris.co.uk to see for yourself. (And to see a bit more about Kahangi maternity hospital and other projects, click here.)
