This is the blog for Rhona and Bobby Hogg's VSO experience in Uganda. In August 2008 we applied to do VSO and, following an assessment day in London last October, we were accepted as volunteers . Because of the strong Scottish links, we had set our sights originally on Malawi where we spent a week in June 2008 but joint placements are difficult to find and in February we agreed with VSO to open up the search. At the end of March we were delighted to be offered placements in Kampala, Uganda. We are to work for a HIV and AIDS initiative called Reach Out Mbuya (http://www.reachoutmbuya.org/) where, we hope, Rhona's community nursing experience and Bobby's IT experience will prove useful.

We are due in Kampala on 18th September and have committed to spend a year there. We are very excited about the prospect of living in a very different part of the world and working with Ugandans who, from many reports, are fun to be with. We expect there to be many challenges but our stay in Uganda should be immensely enjoyable.

We are indebted to VSO for giving us this opportunity. Our preparation, including 2 training courses in Birmingham, has been excellent and we are confident about the in-country support that we will get from VSO in Uganda. I understand that it costs VSO around £15,000 to support each volunteer. If you would like to make a donation to support our placements in Uganda please visit the Just Giving site through the link opposite.

Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Into the wilderness

David:


We're back.  And, rather surprisingly, alive. Our safari trip was, for the most part, a fantastic chance to see the wildlife that Uganda has to offer.  We met lions, elephants, lots of buffalo, two menacing pythons, hippos, a crocodile and numerous birds in different shapes and colours.  


We stayed for 3 nights at Katara Lodge - and we would highly recommend this to anyone thinking of heading to Queen Elizabeth Park.  Brilliant views over the savanna with sunsets and gin to match - in fact see the pics below for evidence.  It's well run by Pascal and his well-trained team, and easily worth the bumpy ride down the track to reach the oasis of wonderful service and ambience of calm.  Our fourth night was spent at Ishasha Camp - involving slightly more trepidation (staff have to accompany you back to your tent to fend off hippos and lions) but tasty biscuits.


The highlight was seeing the lions.  Nine of them, including cubs, lazed about with paws in the air all very chilled out, whilst all the wildlife around them kept a very close eye on their movements.  They really are the kings of the jungle.  Our driver Paul shared his enthusiasm for safari animals throughout and his skills allowed us to see so much over our trip.


Our experience of chimpanzee safari was unfortunately rather different.  We were taken down into a rainforested gorge.  Having descended the steep and muddy slope, we were then advised to watch where we put our feet and hands, as poisonous spiders and snakes were around.  There was also the risk of coming across hippos or lions, hence why our guide was carrying a gun to scare them off.  Unsure whether our guide was creating an air of suspense (gee, thanks) or actually giving us a realistic risk assessment, we opted for the optimistic view.  However soon we were faced with a 40 foot traverse commando-style across a log over the fast-flowing (and ?piranha/hippo/snake infested river) - but we required no assertiveness training to refuse.  Had we been confused for a team of SAS soldiers in Uganda for a survival exercise?


As a result of our (very collective) decision not to take such a risk, we had to take another path, which involved ducking and diving under and over fallen trees and through seriously boggy undergrowth.  Fine for Scotland, in fact really quite good fun.  However with the constant reminders of poisonous and dangerous animals, not such a walk in the park.  At one point when clambering over a particularly difficult section, our guide remarked quite seriously "be careful, last time we had an accident, it was a terrible situation".  'Nuff said.  


We still don't really know if there was much of an act going on.  However, given that we were in a proper proper rainforest, it didn't seem too far from the truth.  In the end we saw a baby chimp, not the community of chimps we were expecting to find.  However on getting back into our car, I just felt very lucky to be alive, and appreciated the sun-downers even more that evening.


Since returning home yesterday, we've been taking it easy in the hot and humid weather.  Tomorrow I visit Reach Out - it will be interesting to see what my folks have been up to all this time.  So far I get the impression that it's all been safari tours and sunset drinks, but tomorrow I expect that illusion to be shattered quite dramatically!
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