Last Sunday marked the end of our time at Ziwa, and we were all pretty upset to leave. Most of us agreed that it was our favorite volunteer opportunity so far. Working with the Rhino Fund was not something that I was super excited about, but I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed my time there. Getting to see the rhinos was cooler than I imagined and having Felix there made or stay an incredibly informative one was well.
More than anything it was the people at the sanctuary that made it so amazing. Hassan, our for the week, did a wonderful job coordinating our schedule and accomodating our requests. Felix was friendly and informative and incredibly patient with all of us and our overload of questions. Even Duan, the foreman on our construction project and manager of Amuka lodge, was very welcoming and generous after he warmed up to us and realized that we weren’t “a half bad bunch of volunteers”. Even if he was too lazy to get up and say good-bye, he did send Felix to tell us that he was sincerely grateful for all the hard work we had put in.
Sadness about leaving the sanctuary was shortlived, however. We all brightened when we reached the Nile River Camp and saw all the amenities it had to offer. After getting settled in the whole group headed down a well hidden path that took us to a rope swing hanging from a tree on the bank of the Nile. For many of us it was our first time on a rope swing, and we could nt have chosen a more perfect spot, or time of day. The setting sun silhouetted us all as we swung off the rocks and splashed into the refreshing water below.
When it got too dark we traipsed back up the steep path and ordered some fresh local chapattis to end the day.
Love,
-Liv