Now that is has been a week since my last entry, it is high time I update.
The poll that my brother posted showed that "safari challenges" are what people want to hear about, well I have many stories, but some I can't bear to write on my blog. Those will have to be told in person.
Safari Challenges: Take One
I left with the team Sunday morning right on schedule, which always gives a promising start to the day. After 2 hours of driving, we were welcomed by 200+ speed bumps on the road. This did not help those who were trying to sleep, but who could sleep when the sun was making its breathtaking entrance into our morning.
After an eventful encounter with the man at the entrance of the park, we made it through and were off to catch our ferry to take us across the River Nile. After spending 2 holidays on the Nile, and now being on it again, it still hasn't lost its appeal in my eyes. I would never swim in it, but its beauty, expanse, and history is one for the memory books.
We all cruised through our dinner in order to make it to our boat ride on the Nile. Like the time before, we rushed to wait. But the boat ride was worth the wait. We saw plenty of hippos, wart hogs, crocodiles, monitor lizards, and elephants that were remarkably close to the bank of the river.
That evening was filled with a few hours of relaxation and devotions with the team. I was so thoroughly impressed that a team of high schoolers can be so mature. They were an absolutely wonderful team to work with and host.
Monday morning we embarked on our early morning game drive. This time, I not only saw mounds of dirt but actual, live, identifiable lions. We saw the lioness about 20 feet from our vehicle and a few feet from her sat the big mufasa. The game ranger said that they only see lions 2-3 times a week, so the fact that we were able to see them, and at that distance was incredible.
We finally crossed the Nile for the last time 2 hours behind schedule, which in-turn created a very, very eventful reunion with the man at the park entrance. Let me just say that I left the park feeling much like a feminist. Enough said.
Thankfully we only had one flat tire in Masindi on our way to Entebbe. This pit stop was once again welcomed by all the travelers to stretch legs before making our trip down south.
With our ferry and flat tire delays, this put is very behind schedule for getting close to Kampala before dark. After some deliberation and prayer, we decided to continue on toward Kampala. The roads were relatively good, traffic wise, only to find out later that the reason for the lack of traffic was due to an intense traffic jam on the outskirts of Kampala. So, we sat, and sat, moved 10 feet and sat some more. After nearly 2 hours of waiting and witnessing a fight involving the truck driver 3 cars ahead of our vehicle, we made our way through the ghost town-like streets of Kampala on our way to Entebbe.
The wonderful people at the guesthouse welcomed the weary travelers with open arms. We all ate supper at 12:30 a.m. and then retreated off to our long awaited beds.
Tuesday morning came a bit too early for some, but it came nonetheless. I said good-bye to the the team that I had become very fond of over the past week and made it back to Kasana on Wednesday night.
It definitely feels like a treat to be "home" for now. I have been lost for many days, as many people have told me. After an eventful weekend/week, I am ready for Saturday.
