SAFARI! Oh, we were so excited to get started on our trip early Wednesday morning, up to Murchison Falls National Park for a two-day safari. 
The trip was LONG (about 6 hours), but traveling relatively good roads, emphasis on “relatively”–as compared to some we had been on! The paved roads ended at Masindi and we had about 100 km left to travel on bone-jarring, potholded, narrow dirt roads. The tour company was “The Pearl of Africa” and the driver of the van I was on was named “Cheezito”. He was a good driver and a great tour guide, with a funny sense of humor. In the picture on the right, I’m pointing out where we were, as we were standing on the bank of the Nile River.
So, we arrived at the “Red Chile Rest Camp”, where we would spend the next two nights, checked in, then took off on a ferry across the Nile River for our first glimpse at the wildlife on safari. The ferry, which held up to 8 vehicles, plus passengers, took about 10 minutes to cross the river. There were hippos and elephants in the water and on the banks as we crossed and that whetted our excitement for what we were about to experience.
Just a word about the ferry — everytime we went back and forth, it was FULL. Once we saw HUGE truck, overloaded with rice or some such commodity, but then there were people hanging on all over it, and sitting on top. I mean, men, women, children and even babies! I could never have imagined scenes like that! And then, the ferrys always had guards, soldiers with rifles and automatic weapons. A good thing, I guess, but a little disconcerting for me, anyway.
On the safari drive, we saw TONS of hartebeasts, cob, oribe and other antelope-type animals, lots of giraffe, warthogs, water buffalo, a mongoose, hippos, elephants and more. It was funny, in a way, when we first started we would get so excited, “LOOK! Giraffe!” and take lots of pictures; then by the end, it would be, “Oh, another giraffe.” But it really was surreal, and we kept punching each other and saying incredulously, “Hey, we are in Africa, on safari!”
Back at the Red Chili Rest Camp, we had a nice dinner and then trundled off to our assigned beds, in tents or bungalows. I didn’t sleep too well, because it was so hot and unfamiliar sounds (from the hippos and warthogs roaming around the camp, not to mention snakes, spiders, bugs, beetles and mosquitos!) plus I really needed to go to the bathhouse during the night but didn’t want to wake Melanie up — and I didn’t dare go by myself! All electricity shut off at midnight and it was pitch dark. I laid there until I was nearly in tears, then woke Melanie up and she was so sweet, she just said, “OK, let’s go!” After that, we did get at least a little sleep before it was time to get going on our second trip across the Nile.
I’ll just sum up the whole safari adventure with my TOP 3 stories — 
#1 was when the baboon jumped in the van trying to get at a piece of pineapple Joel was holding! What a riot! Joel thought it was after his camera, so he squealed a high-pitched squeal and slid back down in the van to get away from it. Our driver hit the gas, and the baboon jumped out. The vanload of Aussies behind us thought he had fainted, and they had such a laugh. Imagine the broadest Australian accent you can and hear them say, “You should have seen your FAACES!” 
Favorite story # 2 was the lion and lioness on the hunt. It is not so common a thing to witness, since lions are not really plentiful in this park, and they move and feed mostly at night. It was exciting to watch the lioness stalk and kill an oribe (a small antelope), then carry it back for the lion to have his breakfast first, and then she ate. They totally ignored the vans, though I’m sure they were aware of our presence, and put on an amazing “show”. The lion had been injured in a poacher’s snare, but was healing. Cheezito said it’s ear had been tagged, so the vets in the game park were looking after it.
Story #3 happened later that afternoon when we floated down the Nile on a tour boat and got within 10 yards of a crocodile kill. 
It was just like being on the Discovery channel! There were about 8 or 9 HUGE crocs (8-10 feet long!) devouring what had been a baby hippo. They would latch on and then roll, churning the water into froth. No swimming in the Nile! (I did pee-pee in the Nile, though : ) but I’ll not go into detail there.) 
Oh, so many more stories, but space and time preclude my telling them. It will have to suffice to say it was an amazing experience I wish everyone could have at least once in their life, just to see how great, how vast, how awesome our Creator God is. I humbly bow at His feet in worship and awe. The incredible variety of animals, birds, plants, the sheer power of Murchison Falls, raw nature in all it’s intricasies and beauty — it all gives testimony to our Almighty, Most Holy God.
One more night at the Red Chili Rest Camp, then we had a very good breakfast and headed back to Kampala. It was a LONG, hard ride, with the first couple of hours of misery on the dusty red clay roads before we hit pavement at Masindi. We stopped at a restaurant for lunch and nearly 3 hours later, got back on the road. (No such thing as “fast food” there!) Josh ordered fish and chips and got a little more than he bargained for! (Not really, he knew it would come head and eyeballs and all.)
To end up the safari post, here are a few random pics:
