The Nile

Last weekend was my last in Khartoum and you can’t leave without having made a trip on the Nile. Or so they say. So on Friday I embarked on a sightseeing boat tour arranged by the UN welfare department. After pizza and drinks(sorry, no booze) were loaded aboard we casted off for a trip which lasted a full 4 hours. IMHO about 3 hours too long. All I can say is the Nile is overrated in this neck of the woods (well more of an urban jungle). Very monotonous and dull surroundings.

(Nile at the Khartoum marina)

On Saturday I relocated to Juba. This fortunately coincided with an afternoon BBQ the Air Ops team had planned on location. Courtesy of the Regional Administrative Officer an Australian chap that goes by the name of Andrew. Now unfortunately the rainy season has begun in the South so the BBQ got rained out. Nevertheless when, the weather cleared later on Andrew dropped us of with his speedboat on a small island in the Nile. The island is inhabited by a family who lives traditional African huts or so called “tukuls” Contrary to the North the Nile here is quite beautiful. The contrast and variety of green colors is absolutely amazing.

(Nile at Juba, foto taken from Mi 8 helicopter)

What else is amazing is how the captains navigate their barges through the river. They have to maneuver these sluggish vessels past rocks and shallows for risk of getting stuck or worse…sink.

(Barge navigating currents and shallows of the Nile)