Lion Encounter

In exchange for young Ugandans witnessing my first cow-milking, I observed many first experiences for Ugandans this weekend. We took the trip I had envisioned in countless dreams as a kid. And if I was anticipating this moment, I can only imagine how an Acholi must have felt, finally seeing giraffes, elephants and lions for the first time, in her own backyard. At Uganda’s National Park, 15 Ugandan children, all of whom have been horrifically affected by this war, were given the opportunity to see the timeless fixures of their Land, that existed well before misery and tragedy had consumed it. It was incredible to witness. Two of the girls from Invisible Children received a grant to teach a photography course to Sponsored Students from our Program.
Their final project allowed these students a trip to take photos in Merchison Falls National Park. Only 3 hours from Gulu, none of these children (some of whom had been abducted child soldiers) had even seen the Nile river. Imagine their delight, fascination and total fear of getting onto a ferry for the first time in their life, and cruising down the Nile River, seeing hippos, crocodiles and water buffalo. For once, we were all in the same boat, and could relate on the most human level- in total fascination of God’s wonders, in this awe-inspiring situation. I felt so privileged to be a witness to this sociological study.
Twice during the two-day safari, I thought the kids were going to die. Once when we spotted a lion only 40 meters from the van. All of a sudden, the door of the van, in which the majority of the kids were, swings open. Six of the kids run out of the van and start climbing up the side, to stand on the top of the roof. Others stand in the open door to get a better view, while the rest of the kids hang out of the open windows, including the driver, (who had been hired on the condition that he knew this National Park like the back of his hand, only to find out he had never been there before and didn’t even know how to use the 4 wheel drive)- all itching to get a glimpse of this animal. The Ugandan Tour Guide, runs over with gun in hand, screaming at the kids, and driver to get back in the van, as he jumps back into his truck. He’s obviously in disbelief from the contrast of this group compared to his last tour, when the German Tourists barely peeked their head out of their sealed LandCruiser. Quite an experience. The other time it happened, the kids were standing, again on the top of the van, when an elephant began charging towards the van, its trunk trumpeting in anger. I thought they were doomed, but luckily, the elephant subsided, and the van continued on its way. An amazing weekend. Since Sunday, everytime I close my eyes I see this cluster of giraffes, like pencils standing in disarray.