16th week in Uganda

1. Back to my first love-I love training teachers but having spent seven years working in museums, it was great to return this week to training tourism site staff. While working in the museum field I always worked in the education department in fact I even got a Masters in Museum Ed, so I have a passion for working with youth in museum settings. Here in Uganda many tourism sites treat school groups as they would any other tourist group. Of course, children are not your average tourist so it was good this week to train two sites on working with school groups. We covered ages and stages of youth development, basics of experiential education, and alignment with the national curriculum!

2. Ants a delicacy- For months, I had refused to try eating ants. I finally gave in this week when thie kids where having them as an afternoon snack. They were umm crunchy but not too bad though I’ll admit, I didn’t go back for seconds.


3. Chopsticks anyone- About four years on a trip out of the country Tinka picked up a set of chopsticks however they had never been used because no one knew how! Like any good American, I know how to use chopsticks! So there I was in a rural African village teaching Deuce (one of Tinka’s sons) how to eat Africa food with chopsticks!

4. Rain, rain go away- While everyone in Bigodi is very thankful to have the rain so they can finish planting their crops, I however wish it could rain with the sun shining so I could still get a little solar power! This week has been challenging to get a charge on the computer as it has been raining a lot.

5. Saying goodbye- I’ll admit it, it was hard to say goodbye to Katatito this week. I had gotten quite attached to the little guy even though he chewed some of my books and clothing. After fostering him for over three weeks and helping him get rid of his fleas, worms and double in weight – it was time to give him to a good Ugandan family before he got too used to being spoiled by a Mzunga!

6. Bronchitis- So one of the challenges of living Uganda for me is dealing with allergies that trigger bronchitis. This week I’ve had my second bout of bronchitis since I’ve been here. It was bad enough that I finally gave in and took the 1 z-pack (antibiotic) that my doctor let me bring with me. I was saving it for when I was really sick and decided this was it, plus I wanted to be able to travel next week with my friend Sharon from the states. It seems to be working very slowly but hopefully I will kick this thing soon.


7. Boxes, boxes- I have been so blessed to get so many packages while I’ve been here- in fact three padded enveloped arrived this week! However, none of the five boxes that people have sent have arrived yet, one was sent over 7 weeks ago L I have been told by my British friend Julia not to give up hope so let’s hope they come soon.

8. Off on safari-I haven’t done much traveling since I’ve been here so I am so excited to travel around the country with my friend Sharon. Here is our itinerary:

Wednesday May 27- Depart Kampala for Murchison FallsIn the morning we leave Kampala on a group tour for the long drive up to North to Murchison Falls National Park.Murchison Falls is a waterfall on the Nile. At the top of Murchison Falls, the Nile forces its way through a seven metre gap in the rocks and tumbles 43 metres down, then flows westward into Lake Albert.Once we arrive at the falls we will go on a guided walk around the cliffs and right up to the edge of the Falls themselves.
http://www.uwa.or.ug/murchison.html

Thursday May 28-Murchison FallsEarly in the morning we will cross the Nile for a 4 hour game drive around the Nile Delta area of the park. This is where the most big game gathers and where there are spectacular views across Lake Albert towards the Blue Mountains of the Congo and northern Uganda. There is a very high chance of seeing lion, buffalo, elephant, giraffe as well as many types of antelope and varied bird life. After lunch we will than depart for a 3 hour afternoon boat launch trip up-stream towards the base of Murchison Falls. Hippos, huge Nile crocodiles, more buffalo, antelope and fantastically varied bird life abound.Friday May 29- Leave Murchison Falls for KampalaWe will leave early to drive to a Rhino sanctuary where we will track Rhinos!
http://www.rhinofund.org/

Saturday May 30- Jinja- White water rafting the NileToday we head about 90 mins east of Kampla to go white water rafter on the Nile. We will spending the night in Jinja.

http://www.raftafrica.com/
http://www.nileporch.com/

Sunday May 31-Leave Jinja for Lake MburoOur driver will pick us up from our hotel in Jinja and will be with us the rest of the trip. On our way out of Jinja we will stop at the source of the Nile. Than we will drive back though Kampala west to Lake Mburo. When we arrive in the afternoon we will do a game drive where we hope to see zebra, impala, buffalo and warthogs.

http://www.uwa.or.ug/mburo.html

Monday June 1- Drive to Queen ElizabethWe pass the equator on our way to Queen and will stop for pictures. When we arrive at Queen Elizabeth National Park, we will do a boat ride on Kazinga Channel. It is about two hours long with elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, and hippos seen on a daily basis. We are going to splurge tonight and stay at the Mweya Safari Lodge. According to my guidebook and everyone I know this is one of the most beautifully situated lodges in Uganda. Some have described it as a Sheraton in the bush. The dinning areas and bar offer a view over the bank of the Kazinga channel.

http://www.uwa.or.ug/queen.html
http://www.mweyalodge.com/html/facilities.html

Tuesday June 2-Queen Elizabeth day 2 and drive to BigodiWe will do a game drive in the morning around the park before we drive to Bigodi. Tonight we will stay in the tree house in Kibale National Park. The tree house is deep in the forest and has a great view of a swamp that is often frequented y elephants.Wednesday June 3- Chimp Trekking and school visitIn the morning we will do a 2-4 hour trek though Kibale National Park to see the famed chimpanzees. In the afternoon we can visit Bigodi primary to hand out books and explore the village. Tonight we will stay at my “home”. We will have lunch and dinner with the family. After dinner we will enjoy traditional story telling and dancing.

www.uwa.or.ug/kibale.html

Thursday June 4-Bigodi Wetland and Fort PortalIn the morning, we will go on a guided walk of the Bigodi wetland. After having our last meal with the Tinka family we will head into Fort Portal. Along the way we can stop at the tea plantation or Crater lakes if we would like. Tonight, we will be staying at my favorite guest house in Fort Portal. It is a very relaxing place, each room has a veranda. Dinners are amazing and I always meet the most amazing people here.16th week in Uganda