Our trip to Northern Uganda with our daughter Megan

Yes, I know it seems that all we do are game drives and party.  That seems to be a lot of what we have done over the holidays, but that is about to end.  Our daughter Megan flew in on January 1, 2014 to help us bring in the New Year.  What a delight it has been to have her with us.  We have tried to do some work while she is here but we have spent a lot of time showing her Uganda.  We spent the first few days showing her Kampala and the market shops.  She is having some cool items made at a local carver which will be incredible.  Sunday, we left church after Sacrament Meeting and traveled 5 hours to Chobe Game Reserve in Northern Uganda.  Sorry folks, the roads were so bad we decided that trip is out for future guests.  A 4 hour trip took almost 7 due to the road conditions.(unbelievable).  Anyway, Chobe was very nice, and we saw some great animals:



 

We were greeted by this Vervet monkey as we drove into the park.  Susan seemed to have hawkeyes on this trip.  She also saw the first elephants of the trip.

Chobe Lodge is right on the Nile and we arrived just as the sun was going down which made for some great photos.  Notice the sun setting pink shaded water these hippos are enjoying.  

Another Hippo

No Hippos here but a beautiful Sunset

More sunset

The beauty of the Nile

Chobe Lodge is a 5 star hotel and offers great food as well as scenery.

Monday morning we met up with the Senior Couple that serve near Chobe.  Elder Brooks Moore and several missionaries lead us to a herd of about 15 of giraffes.

 

"Mom, wait up."  This little one was running to catch up with the herd.

A lonely Kob

This giraffe is playing hide and seek.  He did not think we would notice him next to the tree if he stood still.

"Mary, get over here or those "white" people will take you."

(This is Ray's narrative you are experiencing along with the photos)

"Cousin" baboon just taking in the scenery   

These boys were not too friendly

This lizard kept us entertained while we had  lunch

The elephants made a surprise visit also during lunch.  We made a mad dash down to the river in a golf cart to get a picture for these 4 bull elephants cooling off in the Nile.

 

It was a hot day and they played in the water for a while, then retreated back into the bush.

After our lunch at Chobe we took another hour ride north to Gulu, Uganda, where Elder and Sister Moore are the MLS Couple.  (Gulu is just 3 hours south of the South Sudan border).  We helped install a "tippy-tap" (or a washing stand near the latrines) so the people using the latrine can wash their hands with soap and water.  Let will paint a picture...these people do not use toilet paper, only their hands. Until now they didn't worry about it.

We went to the Lacor Hospital to visit the patients and take them some bananas.

This is the first sign we encountered.  Needless to say, we didn't touch anybody or anything.

This policeman was run down while doing traffic duty and lost both legs.

This little girl fell into the cooking fire and was being treated for third degree burns.

This sweet girl was in the cancer ward.  While they are in the hospital, their families camp out in the hospital courtyard to feed them and help take care of them.

This is the local high school, out for summer vacation.  Notice the desk.  Yup, that is what they use everyday...dirt floors, no windows or electricity.  Ugandan's learn by rote memory.  Usually there are many more desks and benches in the classrooms...but most had been removed and were all stacked in an another classroom.

This is the outside of the high school.