My charities & safari expedition to Uganda (picture heavy)
Hello again after what seems like and probably has been a good while!
At last my A levels are over, I've had my final days at my school of the past seven years, and am getting set to move down to London to start training to be a vet as of September. :)
However, in the past few days I returned from the most inspirational and eye-opening trip to Uganda, as part of a small group from our Sixth Form, carrying out charitable work and making time to explore this beautiful 'Pearl of Africa', from it's bustling capital, Kampala, to the vast stretches of Queen Elizabeth National Game Reserve.
It took me a year to save up, arm myself with a hefty list of innoculations and of course get together all the necessary anti-malarials and mosquito repellants and other such potions, but my gawd, was it worth it.
I have never seen a country whose inhabitants generally have so little, and yet are so welcoming and pleasant. Walking down a street, children run to hold your hand with smiles and shouts of 'muzungu!' (white person), and anyone on the street will greet you by asking how you are. It's humbling and wonderful and I think not fully comprehensible until you yourself have experienced it.
Some people may be aware of the recent terrorist bombings in Kampala; yes, I was in the city when they occurred but well out of harm's way. The culprits, according to local reports, were Somalian suicide bombers rebelling against a Ugandan presence in southern Somalia. 74 people were killed as they watched the World Cup finals, more later died of their injuries. It was a chilling reminder of the unrest that is omnipresent throughout Africa, but I strongly discourage anyone believing Uganda to be unsafe. Indeed, I have felt more anxious for my camera's security in parts of Manchester than I did even in the poorest areas of Uganda.
Before I get onto the pics and explain more about what I did out there, I'll finish by willing anyone who gets the opportunity to go to Africa, particularly Uganda, to grasp it with both hands and to immerse themselves in everything this exquisite continent offers. Laugh with the kids, dance with the people, drink as much waragi as you can handle (which generally isn't much... not for lightweights! :D) and take in the beautiful sights and sounds of such a unique place.
I'm going to try my best to get back there in the next few years. In both the national park and farming areas, vets and vet students are becoming increasingly sought after, and some veterinary experience there as part of my university course would be phenomenal. :)
Anyway, I'll stop typing here before I go on and on! Pictures coming next post.
