Attack of the Tse-Tses

Today, after a long and fulfilling week in the clinic, we were rewarded with an excursion to Murchinson Falls. The alarm rang at 5:00am and we left the hotel before dawn. We were soon greeted with a beautiful Ugandan sunrise on our way to the National Park, which somewhat distracted us from the very bumpy ride. During the two and a half hour trek, we encountered cows, goats, chickens, and the ever-present tse-tse flies. Oh, what an African surprise! For those not in the know, this lovely creature can carry African sleeping sickness. Don’t be alarmed, because by the end of the day, we were professional fly-swatters. We finally arrived at the boat dock on the Nile River, where we loaded up five boats and traveled to the falls. Along the way, we spotted pods of hippos, known to the locals as water horses. African eagles, elephants, cranes, water bucks, water buffaloes, crocodiles, and warthogs also lined the riverbanks. We arrived at the bottom of the falls to take scenic pictures on a rock near the spot where Hemingway crashed his plane. We made our way back to the dock and hopped on the buses to drive to the top of the falls. As we drove through swarms of tse-tse flies, our van was again invaded. We armed ourselves against the insects with water bottle weapons and girly shrieks. Our initial tactic was to close the windows, turning the van into a sweat-box and frustrating our driver. As if the flies weren’t enough, we then found African roaches crawling on the floor. When we finally spilled out of the van, drenched in sweat and covered in dirt, the spray from the falls was very refreshing. Murchinson Falls, one of the largest in the world, is the narrowest point of the Nile River, measuring just 7 meters across. This bottleneck effect creates a powerful cascade over the rocks. It is a breathtaking view of the Nile and is the perfect spot for taking photos. We traveled home with a new strategy for fighting the relentless flies: windows wide open and hands constantly swatting. Hours later, we arrived, grateful for a lukewarm military shower and a hot meal from the amazing staff at the Masindi Hotel. We truly appreciate this weekend of rest, and we look forward to another week of working with the rehab team in the clinic.

Signed: Addie L., Kristen M., Meghan V., Jill P., Tara W., Monica R., Aly R. (PT students)