Madi Mission: Mini Safari

On Monday, 18 January, we had the opportunity to visit the game park on the outskirts of Nimule along the shores of the Nile. It was the hottest day in the more than a week we spent there, with temperatures easily over 100°. We were able to visit two segments of the park, both along the river: the area where elephants graze, and a series of three falls or rapids along the river.

We set out from a small port (above and below) where local boats carrying people and products coming from Uganda pull in and dock. One of these boats became our means of transportation. Other boats made from palm tree trunks were also docked there. This area of the Nile is very wide and smooth.

We headed a few kilometers upstream (which for the Nile is south, towards Uganda) and saw a herd of elephants from the shore. We docked a little further down, and then the amazing display of wildlife really began.

We saw a baboon in a tree, impalas and warthogs (which were too low and quick moving in the high grass to capture by photo).

The most impressive sight, however, was the pack of elephants we saw beneath a tree from a distance of about 100 meters.

On the way back downstream (north) we came very close to a large bull elephant grazing right on the river’s edge:

Although we were not able to observe any hippos, our soldier escort pointed out this huge hippo print on the ground.

Once back on land we drove to a spot further north along the river, marked by a series of very rough rapids. It really gave you a sense of the volume, force and strength of this branch of the Nile.

Here Josh and Chris act out an adventure scene on video.

At various points along the river we encountered the almost biblical scene of fishermen either fishing, or caring for their nets.

On the morning of Tuesday, 19 January, the team headed for Loa to conduct the second parish mission at Asumption Church. We'll be out of touch while we're there since there's no electricity, internet connection or cell phone network. I'll try to post some photos and commentary from our experience once I'm back in a place where I have access to the internet. The team leaves for the US from Entebbe (Kampala) airport on Saturday 23 January.

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