Murchison Falls National Park

 Murchison Falls, a national park in Uganda on the Nile.
May 2011

We saw bazillions of DLT's - Deer Like Things {not their official name, but it worked for us}, monkeys, lizards, gorgeous birds of every color and size, elephants, a mamma lion and her cubs, a super poisonous puff adder {a snake that moves like a caterpillar}, hippos, crocodiles, and lots of other creatures.

But my all time favorite is still the giraffe.

We went on a game drive after dinner the first night we were there and it was absolutely perfect weather for it.  A storm way off in one direction was creating a cool breeze and all those moody dark clouds I love with lots of sunshine.  My big brother Ben, nephew Devin and I stood up in our the third row sunroof the full 3 hours we were out exploring so we could enjoy everything in 360.  Ben and I kept saying, "I can't believe we are here right now doing this!"  It was a fun balancing act going over all the ruts and pot holes and we laughed a lot. 
{I love laughing, who doesn't?}

The experience in itself was better than I could have imagined.

Then it got better, if that is at all possible.

Our driver, Eamon, stopped the truck where a bunch of DLT's and other animals were all standing completely still.  A contrast from all the frolicking and racing we were seeing in every direction.  Something in the bushes was making them hold their ground and stay very alert.  An unseen big cat was our guess.

Among all the animals was a herd of giraffes.  We counted at least 20 standing along the ridge.  It isn't typical to see so many together like that.

When we started down the trail again we came around some trees and found ourselves in the middle of even more giraffes.  20 more easy.  Then 20 more!  Then 20 more a little ways after that!!!  Eamon said he'd never seen anything like it in all his years as a guide.

And they were just as curious about us as we were about them.

That experience goes down in my life as book as truly magical.