A day of Adventure

The morning started with my first a rat killing attempt... an attempt without success. I beat the cabinet and with a large bamboo stick hoping to send the rat to Sarah’s side where she waited with a golf club. We made a lot of noise and waited expectantly... but no rat. So the little guy is still running around somewhere.

The agenda for the rest of the day was to go to Semliki National Forest and hike the 14 km to the Semliki River, which separates Uganda from Congo. Sarah, Nathan, Joel and I headed down Bundibugyo road (the only road) toward our destination. We winded and bumped through the hills, the Rwenzori Mountian range towering to our right. The road has apparently just been graded and was much better to ride on, Nathan was excited to get the jeep into 4th gear.

When we arrived at the park we were able to secure a guide, only after we stared at each other for a while as he considered whether or not he was willing to get started on the trek so late in the day. After that delay and a stop at the “flash toilet” (supposed to be “flush toilet”) we were off. This is the rainy season so I was thankful for my borrowed rubber boots as we sloshed under eucalyptus, palms, and huge trees with buttress roots. We saw some exotic birds and a monkey or two. We started to get unpleasant whiffs of sulfur then the path opened into a clearing where we were transported back into the land before time. White mists rose from the ground against a back drop of prehistoric looking trees. Green mountains shot up dramatically behind. White clay bubbled and miniature volcanoes spewed into the hot springs. If we had brought eggs we could have hard boiled lunch. I almost expected a brontosaurus to poke through the foliage.

We crossed the marsh via board walk. Over creeks through the woods we trudged. The heat was getting intense, if not for the tree cover it would have been unbearable. We spotted buffalo tracks, tracks of a deer variety, even elephant tracks but unfortunately saw none. We did see some crazy insects: a red spider that had a crab body, bright green inch worms with whiskers, butterflies of many varieties, and we sighted with the vicious impali ants at a range that was too close for comfort. Their pinchers draw blood. I did a shrieking, swatting dash as I realized they were moving up my boots. I am happy to say there was no blood shed.
We did make it to the river, took a few snaps of Congo and scrambled back up the muddy bank. I had no desire to linger as a 7m croc had been spotted in this very river. The way back was tiring and I longed to be sitting in the jeep feeling a breeze hopefully drying my sweat soaked shirt. As we reached the edge of the park our guide took us on a shorter route by road. We passed a truck that had been in an accident just a day or so before. I remember hearing about how several people had recently been killed in an accident. I cringed as we passed a reddish mud puddle where flies swarmed.

Hot springs

The Semliki River

Today was a great day. I was surrounded by amazing beauty and continually put in awe of the Creator. But Africa is full or reminders that we live a world filled with both beauty and pain. God loves extravagantly yet is far from safe... something I have so much to learn about in the days to come.