First few days in Uganda

We arrived!  Thanks for the well wishes on our journey - Donna and I were both able to fly out as scheduled and arrived in Entebbe, Uganda late on Sunday night.  Our shuttle to the Entebbe Flight Motel worked out perfectly, and we settled in there for 2 nights.  Our first impressions (upon arriving at about 10 pm) were of dark (few lights visible), heat, and strong smells (lots of smoke and body odor, mostly our own). 

February 6, 2012
We spent all day Monday getting situated and taking care of a few errands - we exchanged money, acquired a Ugandan cell phone & airtime (already proving to be by far the best $30 spent!), and happened upon the Mary Reparatrix Secondary School in our wanderings.  Mary Reparatrix is where Donna's friend Aggrey used to teach in Entebbe, so we hoped that they might be able to help us find Aggrey's most up to date contact information.  We were in luck!  Deputy Head Teacher Mr. Tom called Aggrey for us on the spot.  Mr. Tom was also kind enough to show us around the school - currently enrolled at about 370 girls - most boarding and a few days students.  We saw their dorms, classrooms, dining room, and play field, and we got to meet a few of the students.  We returned to the Entebbe Flight Motel for a buffet dinner of Ugandan specialities and slept well beneath our mosquito netting.

February 7, 2012
On Tuesday, Donna and I transitioned from the EFM to the Uganda Wildlife Education Center (aka - the Zoo).  The UWEC has a few bandas (tropical style cabins) within the Center.  The UWEC fills an important niche in Uganda - allowing Ugandas an opportunity to see wildlife that they might not typically have a chance to see in the wild.  We saw few people at the zoo that day (learning later that this time of year they get few visitors because most Ugandan families have spent their money on school tuition) but during the busy season (April to October) they can see 8000 people through a day!  Without the crowds, we were able to see a lion, 2 serval cats, hyenas, 2 white rhinos, chimps, monkeys, snakes, buffalo, giraffe, ostriches, and lots of other ungulates.  The resturant sat on the shore of Lake Victoria so we ate a fried feast (fish and chips) overlooking the lake and protecting our food from the hungry and agressive vervet monkeys.  We slept to the cries of monkeys and chimps in the distance.

February 8, 2012
Today, we breakfasted again on the shore of Lake Victoria before  heading on to Kampala by private taxi (thanks to one of Donna's Ugandan expat contacts).  We are stationed at the Red Chilli Hideway for the next 2 nights before we begin our safari on Fri, Feb 10.  Our hopes are to get the school supplies safely on to the schools - 2 bags and the laptop to Aggrey's school in Iganga and 1 bag to a school near Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda (we may take this one with us on safari to bring in person); and to exchange travelers cheques for shillings.  First impressions of Kampala are of dusty, smoky air, but beautiful city situated on 7+ hills. 

Overall, Donna and I are doing really well.  Donna is suffering from a small cold (likely airplan travel induced).  Spirits are high and we are excited to continue to get to know and explore this place. 

Pictures to come soon!