Safari Time!
While thinking about doing a safari, we decided we wanted to
find one cheap enough that we could get our whole team to agree to come. A
3-day Safari price ranges from about $400 down to the absolute lowest being
$280. After finding a cheap company, Nate arranged for our whole team to go on
the safari this past Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It was with a Ugandan man’s
company who Nate has been teaching business classes to and boy, was it an
adventure or what!
On Thursday morning, they told us to be ready at 6:30 a.m.
What time did they show up? Yep, you guessed it. 9 a.m. So that started us off
a little on edge. I don’t think I will ever be able to get used to “Ugandan
time” It drives me wild! After a really sketchy bus pulling up, we got on to
find little chickens (no cage) under our seats that were accompanying us on our
journey and would be used as our dinner that night and next day. Poor things!
(talking about us. They reeked) Haha. But we drove 8 hours up to Murchison
Falls and as we were driving through Kampala (the capital) we were notified to
plug our noses because there was tear gas in the air from a riot that had just
broken up so that was scary!
The real fun began Thursday night. Upon arriving at
Murchison National Park the ferry to take us to the island broke down so we sat
skipping rocks and looking at this hippos which was neat! Did you know the
hippo was the deadliest animal? I sure didn’t! Don’t worry… nothing happened.
After getting on the island we drove to this African community that were
staying in. We were all scared for our lives! They all looked at us like they
had never seen white people before, and I am pretty sure they hadn’t! When they
showed us our dorm, I would have loved to have a hidden camera in there to
watch us react. Our door didn’t lock, window had broken glass shattered all
over it from someone breaking in, band-aids, diapers and holes all over our
mosquito nets, and a big giant hole in the ceiling where we could hear rats
running all around. We were laughing hysterically/thinking it wasn’t funny at
all. We promised ourselves we would make the most of it and pull an all-nighter
but I was out in a heartbeat and slept like a baby. My poor kids… they are
going to sneak out every night and I am just going to be OBLIVIOUS. I can sleep
thorough literally ANYTHING.
Friday morning we woke up before sunset and the safari was
unreal! I saw giraffes right by our window, elephants, buffalo, antelopes,
warthogs, so many species of brids and…..
A LION!!!! It is very rare to see a lion but I spotted it and screamed
and our guide freaked out but we could only see it for a second because it
limped off into the woods. I think it was injured. But it was so neat to see
one! I was singing Hakuna Matata and Circle of Life all day long and felt like
I was in the straight up Lion King. Lion King is the first movie I want to
watch when I get home. This Earth is so unbelievable. I am a nature lover don’t
make fun haha. The island the animals were on was one of the prettiest places I
have been. It was truly breathtaking! After the safari, we went on a 3-hour
boat cruise up to Murchison Falls which was breathtaking as well!
Friday night we stayed at a place not nearly as sketchy as
the night before. We stayed in these neat African huts that had no electricity
but were something so ideal of what one would stay in while traveling to
Africa. We also got to see some cultural dancing, which ended up being so much
fun!! During the last dance we were all allowed to stand up and dance with them
that turned into a massive community dance party.
I am loving my time here in Africa and can’t believe my
journey ends in under a week! I have a great, busy week up ahead so stay tuned
for some stories. I am co-directing a huge health outreach this Wednesday in a village,
which is a huge privilege, and I am excited I am the one heading it! LOVE AND
MISS YOU ALL!
