Alien acacia trees silhouetted against the horizon in Nairobi National Reserve as we land at dawn in Kenyatta International.
The announcement said Gate 5 for the connecting flight to Entebbe. Enter the terminal - a concrete horseshoe. 1960s architecture. Claustaphobic, low-ceilinged like a ferry with duty free outlets selling tat, souvenirs in wood, leather and metal.
Gate 5 and back out into the cool African morning. Short flight northwest back over the equator.
Entebbe - half military airfield. RAF Hercules on next stand but one. Walk into the terminal and join the queue for passort control while the alsation sniffer dog enthusiastically searches bodies and bags - handler in tow.
Our bags appear on the carousel. Reief they've connected from Kenyatta. Out into the melee of meeters and greeters. EXPLORE! sign and Mateo introduces himself. The party assembles: Jenny and me; Vicki - 50s from London, divorced; Dave - scouse wit and a damaged ar from a motorcycle accident; Andrea - commercial conveyancing solicitor; Nicolette - far hair, burns in the sun; Nadia - doctor from Cheltenham; Amanda - sex offender rehabilitator, "they should be strung up, they all re-offend"; Janet - from Lancashire with camera equipment. Not that we say a lot at this stage. That comes later.
Cursory introductions then back into the terminal, after loading bags onto the minibus, to change money. hand over US$720 to Mateo for gorilla permits etc.
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