Maliko Linda Bridget -Aura Hill Primary - Uganda
"This was going to be the first time that I moved out of the small town where I was born and raised until that moment."
Hi my name is Maliko Linda Bridget and this is my story. I was a curious little girl who loved searching for knowledge and travelling but never got the opportunity. So I satisfied my curiosity by reading books which took me to different continents in my imaginary travels. But a lifetime opportunity came when I was ten years old, one of my class teachers informed me that I was to go on a trip with some visitors from Canada. I couldn’t believe it because this was going to be the first time that I moved out of the small town where I was born and raised until that moment. We were going for a five-day trip to Murchison Falls National Game Park. We were a group of five boys and five girls. At the beginning of the trip I was a bit shy because this was a new environment but with time I warmed up to everyone around. In the five days I learnt a lot of things about the flora and fauna of the park. For the first time in my life I was able to look at wild animals like elephants, hippos, giraffes, buffalo, baboons, warthogs and many types of antelopes. We were even able to encounter a lioness! And then we learnt about the history of the park, it is actually named after Murchison Falls, the most powerful waterfall in the world. The Murchison name was given by Sir Samuel Baker, a European explorer who first encountered the falls. But the local name for the falls is PARAA which literally means a place of hippos. The most exciting part of the journey for me will always be visiting the falls both at the foot and top of the falls. The view is spectacular and wow that feeling when you just stand and stare at nature at its best. During that trip I was able to experience a lot of things which we had studied in class especially in social studies and science and this experience has remained with me up to date. I was able to learn the history and first hand information about Canada which came in handy when we were studying about North America in secondary Geography. Through the fun games, spelling competitions and water fights we engaged in we were able to interact with one another, a bond which will last us a lifetime.
The most amazing and wonderful experience will always be getting to meet this wonderful couple CHRISTINA TOTTLE and TODD LAWSON. I was amazed at how you people have devoted your lives to travelling and in these travels you have given young children like me a chance to experience the wonders of their own countries. And also the campaign of the fight against malaria is saving a lot of lives through the information you give and the nets you distribute. I know SEAN LAWSON is looking down and smiling because someone down here is continuing with the work he had begun. May God bless you and give you more chance to inspire more children so they experience the magic of nature.
Aliko Jordan -Aura Hill Primary - Uganda
"Ever since that experience, I have been compelled to travel a lot around the country, I am always looking for an opportunity to go to a new place, meet different people and try out new ways of doing things.""
Hi, my name is Ayiko Jordan and this is my testimonial about my first ever trip to Murchison Falls National Park! The year was 2008, I was in primary five studying at Arua Hill Primary school when my class teacher informed me of an upcoming trip that was intended for the best performers of that term and I happened to be one of them. My reaction to the news was mixed, I was excited about the trip but I was scared at the same time because it was going to be my first ever time to travel beyond the boundaries of my mother district Arua and also due to the fact that we were visiting a game park, a place full of scary animals and creatures such as snakes, lions etc.
Despite my fears as a kid back then, the excitement of seeing new places and being with new people made all of it disappear. The trip turned out to be one of the most exciting moments of my life! We had been taught about wildlife and the various game parks around the country during Social Studies lessons in a classroom environment and the fact that we were going to have a firsthand experience of these things was overwhelming! During our stay at the game park, we learnt a lot about the history of the Murchison Falls National Park and the variety of wildlife at the game park. Some of the things we got to learn that stood out for me were the fact that an elephant has a gestation period of 22 months (almost two years), that’s huge! Another thing also was that hippos eat up to about 35kgs of grass a night, they are most active at night. About the history of the game park, we learnt that it is the largest protected area in Uganda, it covers parts of Gulu district and Masindi district. The game park is locally known as Paraa, the name Murchison Falls was derived from the falls which was named by explorer Sir Samuel Baker, the falls at Paraa is one of the most powerful on the continent.
Generally the experience during the trip was one of the most amazing I have ever experienced, being at the foot and later on at the top of one of the most powerful falls was simply indescribable. Not forgetting the evening roars of the lions, the playful baboons that always came around during meal times was a cute sight and the beautiful sunsets will forever be etched in my memory. My best moment back then was when we sat on top of the vehicle while being driven around the game park, I felt the wind on my face, I felt free, I felt like a flying bird! It was amazing! though when I think of it right now, that may have been a little reckless, but who cares, we enjoyed it anyway! Ever since that experience, I have been compelled to travel a lot around the country, I am always looking for an opportunity to go to a new place, meet different people and try out new ways of doing things. These travels have opened my eyes to the diversity that is all around us in terms of culture, food, ways of dressing and many other things. This has made me appreciate more the significance of acceptance and understanding of each other if we are to achieve great things in life because we need each other to succeed in whatever it is that we are doing. The trip to Murchison Falls in particular also made me realize how our actions as humans can affect that which is around us, especially nature. These effects may be either in a negative way or positive way depending on what kind of activity it is that we indulge in. Some of the negative effects include; extinction of wildlife species, pollution, loss of habitat, global warming. These arise from activities such as encroachment of game parks, industrialization, deforestation, etc. So as humans we have to be responsible and thoughtful in the things we do such that there is a balance otherwise the natural environment around us will be severely affected and it is us who shall have to bear the consequences. In other words, by destroying nature we destroy ourselves.
Travel has also made me see the world from different perspectives. It has helped me understand why some people do things in a certain way. It has helped me appreciate life more and made me open minded concerning the things happening around me. It has sharpened my judgment and decision making in everyday life because my understanding of life has been broadened courtesy of travelling. In conclusion, I want to thank you Todd and Christina as well so very much for granting me an opportunity to make my first trip. That trip to Murchison Falls was like a first step for me as far as travelling is concerned and out of it many travels have been born and many more are yet to be born! From you guys, I learnt that that travel is not only about having fun but can be used as a tool to impact the community. Through your travels you have done a lot of sensitization about malaria across Africa and there is someone out there who is alive today because of you guys! You have inspired me to have fun with purpose. Thank you so much and may God Bless.