Friday, February 17: We Go on Safari!

Our day began with an unfortunate flat tire.

We were very happy to see this sign after many, many hours of driving.

One of our welcoming committee members!

 If you look closely in the shadows you can see the hippos waiting offshore.  Debra, Alison and Erin enjoy the view!

On Friday morning the team set out for Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda for a safari adventure.  Our adventure began sooner than we thought with a flat tire occurring just as we started out journey.  Our driver, James, quickly made the change but then we had to find a shop to do the repair.  This added about two hours to our journey.  Eventually we got on the way and made the long drive north.  We passed many villages on the way and people were out lining the roads selling fruits, vegetables and everything imaginable.  The main roads were good but when we turned off to head into the park area the asphalt changed to dirt.... or should I say dust!  The region has been without rain for several months so all the dirt roads are dusty.  It is a fine reddish brown dust that covers everything and gets on your skin and in your hair.  When I shampoo the rinse comes away looking like a cafe latte.  After a long day of driving we arrived at the park.  On the drive to our hotel we saw many baboons.  They were sitting on the road, probably in an effort to get away from the tse tse flies, of which there were many.  We had to take a ferry to get across the Nile to our hotel and when we got to the landing it was starting to get dark.  The hippos were waiting offshore for us to pass so they could come on land to eat.  Hippos spend their days sleeping in the water and come out at night to graze.  A short ferry ride brought us to the other side and the hotel was just up over the hill.  They were ready for us and we quickly changed, had dinner and went to bed.