Pakwach

On my way home from Arua, Genevieve and I stopped in the small town of Pakwach. One of Genevieve's coworkers had an Aunt living there who graciously offered to put us up for the night. Turns out her house is right on the Nile River! Truthfully, when I heard the plan, I was a little worried we would end up in one of the thatched roof huts that dominate the area, but we were lucky; the aunt had a brick house. It was terribly hot and humid, and there where lots of mosquitoes, but we were treated well.

The Nile River as it flows by the western border of Murchison Fall National Park. We did not go into the park, but were able to have an evening walk along the road that cuts through.

We saw many elephants as we walked! This guy was just moseying along the main road. For the locals, this is a common sight, but Genevieve and I were thrilled.

Fishing on the Nile. This was taken from a bridge that crossed the river. The guy on the back of the boat was fishing with several lines tied to a central rope, no pole. The kid in the middle of the boat was in charge of scooping out the water when it got too much. Yes, they were leaking and thought nothing of it, just another day for them. And yes, crocodiles and hippos are in the Nile! We didn't see any but we could hear the hippos barking/grunting (whatever hippos do).

The Nile River, as seen from the Aunt's back yard. The local girls fetch water from the river every morning for use in their homes (the thatch huts). Just the night before we sat on the porch and listened to the hippos... this water cannot be clean or safe! But again, just another day for them.