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Newsletter – July 2009

Published: 20 Jul 2009

Greetings from a very dry Nkuringo!  The days continue to roll into one another with quite a few highlights that we would love to share with you. We keep finding that we are running out of hours in the day as we continually engage in building the sustainability of our community and the people living on this fragile side of the Bwindi Forest. I am pleased to tell you all that Tamara has settled in well to our new home and although her body is adjusting to the 18 hour work days she loves every moment of it. The lodge is doing well. Not as busy as we want it to be but considering the pressures of the global crisis, we are doing better than most, for which we feel blessed.

Doreen has left the Clouds Family to pursue a wonderful opportunity that she has been presented with… to study overseas.  We wish her so much luck and success!

We have a new child!  About 4 weeks ago, Tamara found two little puppies abandoned near Room 3. They were in a terrible state, and unfortunately the one did not make it.  Shenzi however is now incredibly strong and healthy and a wonderful companion to Ringo.  We are completely convinced that all guests enjoy the dogs company more than ours!

Our Gorilla Family

We are very happy to report that our Nkuringo Group is doing well especially with the continued effort that UWA puts towards conservation.  We think that the one female is pregnant so we are all holding thumbs and hoping that we see another newborn baby again soon. We will keep you posted. Kisoro (silver back number 2) has moved away from the group and moved past the lodge. We sent a team of HUGO members out to try and chase him back to the forest but he was not interested. As for Kisoro we think he has found raiding farms more fun than living in the forest. We are trying to monitor his movements however resources and manpower are limited.

The twins are doing very well. We have not managed to get down there for some time to take pictures but some of our guests have had amazing viewing as they grow in size and confidence. The other day our Head Chef, Michael, managed to get a permit to go trekking for the first time! He came back glowing and loved the experience. It was really rewarding for us to see his appreciation at seeing them for the first time… he said that getting to see the gorillas was a wonderful experience and working on the top of the hill in the middle of nowhere is now worthwhile.

Tamara was also fortunate enough to be able and go and trek the new Nshongi Group that opened for tourism at the beginning of June (it’s a 45 min drive from the lodge). The group is larger than Nkuringo and is doing very well. The trekking is quite tough but very worthwhile.

Our Community

Things are developing in Nkuringo, in spite of tourism being a bit slow – the pressure of the economic situation is not helping. We are however seeing many small changes that really make our work worthwhile. The weavers are making some amazing baskets and we have three different groups (that increase in number daily!) that we are working with and developing. A few days ago we took a group of guests to meet with them and the guests ended up fighting over who bought what basket! It was so fulfilling to see how happy the women were!  One of the biggest struggles we have is to find markets for the baskets, but Virungan Artisans continue to support the weavers here, and we are just so grateful! The baskets are really beautiful and we are very proud to be able to create this small difference with the weavers.  Since we have been working with them, the quality has increased dramatically and the weavers are all beautiful women to work with.

The Ntungamo School Vegetable Project is doing well and it is so pleasing to see the children harvesting some veggies to prepare lunch for the teachers. We have 24 students that have entered a competition to grow a vegetable garden at home. It is fantastic to know that with this small project the diet of 24 families is improving – we are looking forward to this filtering to their neighbours. We have not yet managed to break the ground and start building the teacher’s accommodation but we are hoping to start some time this year. We have managed through the kindness of some guests to clear ground at another two schools to start vegetable gardens which we are very appreciative for.

Other great news is that one of our pigs gave birth around two weeks ago to 10 little piglets. The members of the Pig Project are so happy. We are really pleased that they are now starting to see the rewards for their hard work and dedication. We painted the NCDF office and craft shop to give it a bit of a face lift and now it really catches the visitors’ attention when they are at the UWA office for trekking. We are hoping that this will improve guest interaction at the NCDF shop and get more people interested in getting involved with our projects.

Nkuringo Orphans Group continues to amaze us with their passion and energy, and whether they entertain one guest or ten, their performance never fails to impress. The few sponsored children are doing very well at school. It is watching these children and seeing the slow but meaningful changes that make us realize just how important this lodge is for everyone.

We often wish things could move along faster but appreciate that things take time over here. It is because of our friends that have visited us at the Lodge that we are able to create a difference and for your support we are all eternally grateful.

Upcoming Plans

Well, I kept my promise and the Spa is now officially opened. Lydia has completed her massage training with 8 ladies and we have now recruited 3 ladies to join her team. It is very popular and almost all of the guests enjoy a good massage after a hard gorilla trek. A few guests have been able to see Colobus Monkeys during the massage, which make the experience even more special. It is in the most glorious setting, with views over the Albertine Rift Valley below and is surrounded by forest.

We have not constructed the hot tub as yet but hopefully will be able to do this really soon as I personally can’t think of anything better than sitting enjoying a good bottle wine overlooking the Great Rift Valley after a hard hike!

The lodge is looking great with Tophil and his team putting extra attention into the gardens and our mason reconstructing the walk ways with lava rock. Michael and his staff are doing a fantastic job in the kitchen where his culinary skills are being complemented with our productive veggie garden.

Recipe

We have decided to include a recipe in each of our newsletters, and to make a great impression we will start with the Famous Sticky Chocolate pudding!

(Makes 8 portions)

Ingredients:

Cake

• 200g  butter cut into small blocks
• 200 g dark chocolate roughly chopped
• 4 whole eggs
• 4 egg yolks
• 250mg sugar
• 125mg flour

Sauce

• 125ml milk
• 125ml sugar
• 125ml cocoa powder
• 100g dark chocolate roughly chopped

Method:

Cake

• Preheat the oven to 180*C
• Butter 8 Remikin dishes (small round oven proof dishes)
• Melt together the butter and chocolate in a double boiler
• Whisk together whole eggs, egg yolks and sugar until stiff peaks are formed
• Slowly mix in the chocolate sauce once cooled into the egg mixture
• Stir in the flour
• Pour into Remikins about 2/3 full
• Bake for 15 – 20 minutes – just till crusty but centers are still runny

Sauce

• Bring the milk, sugar & cocoa powder to the boil
• Remove from heat and add chocolate – stir until melted
• Turn out warm puddings onto individual plates and cover with warm chocolate sauce
• Garnish as you like!

We hope you enjoy the dessert and think of us in Nkuringo while you serve it at your dinner parties.

Gorilla Greetings,
Gary, Tamara and the Clouds Family