T. I. A.

We just returned from a safari at Murchison Falls National Park.  It is about five hours north west of us here in Uganda.  On our way into the park we stopped at a Rhino preserve.  We walked in with a ranger and saw several of them sleeping under the trees he said they were, “digesting the ton of grass they ate all night long.”

We stayed on the south side of the Nile at a place called Red Chilli Camp.  It was very basic with tents and “bandas” — round stone huts with a straw roof — very quaint.  We were warned of the hippo that comes through the camp at night.  “Just go around him and don’t get in front of him,” they told us at the camp.  M-m-m-m.

The first day of the safari, we left quite early in the morning and took the ferry across the Nile into the game preserve.  Arriving at the ranger station, the armed ranger got into our safari vehicle and the first thing he said to us was, “T.I.A.” — This Is Africa!  We soon found out what he meant.

The top of the vehicle came up so we could stand up and get a bird’s eye view.  This is where I spent most of the next three hours.  The ranger said that the entire park is the size of Rwanda — some 3,840 square kilometers.  

I was blown away at how the animals were wild, yes, but they were not afraid of us as we drove into their space.  I’ll let Steve tell you about all of the animals we saw and the adventures we had over the next two days.  First on land, then in a boat on the Nile.  My favorite was the giraffes.  There were hundreds of them in all sizes — we saw them grazing, gracefully walking and running over the savannah, and in the last of our safari we saw them sitting so straight and tall in the heat of the afternoon resting.  I felt so honored to have seen so many of natures wild animals up so close on their territory — absolutely high wild and free!

Part of our calling to be here (we discovered) is to assist our hosts in a small way as they bring closure to three years of profound and sacrificial service.  We find we can give perspective and reflection — they see so much more to be done as we see and reflect how much they have done.  In their last weeks here, people ask for more and more.  We offered to host them for a four day getaway to Murchison Falls National Park — a chance to catch their breaths before their final week here in Mityana.  It has been amazing for all of us!

(This is taken from my journal as we were there.)  

We are not in Kansas any more Toto!  On our way into the park we maybe saw 600 baboons.  It is awe inspiring to see a part of creation away from our normal home life and its expectations.  We are far from home!

Last night as I sat in the dark outside the banda hut we are staying in, I heard a sound.  My flashlight revealed two large warthogs grazing about 10 feet away.  Again counting.  In the presence of awe my mind tries to quantify. 
When our family took a trip to western  U.S. my son George was the family stat man -- "23 buffalo, 12 big horns."  I now understand his attempt to express majesty with numbers.

Today I saw more wildlife than I ever have!  Each sighting was thrilling — male elephants pushing each other head-to-head to see who could push the other back, graceful giraffes, too many to list.

Ugandan kob are beautiful with such perfectly curved horns and graceful leaps — we saw more than a thousand in all, but now I am quantifying again.  Countless hippos and one tiny malachite king fisher.

We ended our sightseeing with seeing Murchison Falls from the boat and taking a hike up to the top of it.  We were told it is the most powerful waterfall in the world.  The mighty and wide Nile forced through a six meter crevice.  Power!

Then sings my soul, O Lord my God to Thee — How great Thou art!

Other wildlife — antelope, the tiny oribi, Jacksons hart beest, water buck, many wort hogs, hornbills.  We stopped and the ranger opened a termite nest (it looks like a huge pile of mud) and talked about how tasty they are.  I ate some.  

Then, on the Nile — crocodiles — the largest about 15 - 18 feet.   And, many hippos close to the shore soaking in the cool water.  Also,  ruby throated bee eaters by their nests carved in the mud cliffs.

Most of the time I felt stunned, unable to absorb it all.   Chuck used the word “reverential.”  It fits.

We are still absorbing the entire experience now that we are back home in Mityana.  We just couldn’t wait to share it all with you.

Much Love,

Elizabeth & Steve