We ventured way up north we had to cross the line,
Lost in the badlands, but the Kidepo valley looked fine.
We traveled for days on the road to nowhere,
Grimy and covered in red dust , but it was worth it I swear.
For Kidepo is wild, it is rugged and raw,
There's just savanna and mountains stretching wide and far.
We moved into our new home at Pride Rock,
I never wanted to leave, I came to love it a lot.
We ventured further north to the ostriches and the Sudan,
So the ostriches were OK but for the other there THE ban.
But sometimes you have to go where you're not supposed to be,
When your on safari in the badlands you become wild and free.
The creature of Kidepo are struggling to recover and survive,
They too have been victims of war, I hope someday they'll thrive.
The giraffes are endangered they cling to the earth,
Zebras are losing their manes, trying to shake the curse.
So there's peace in Uganda, will they get a chance to regenerate,
Oh but beware of the Sudan and other matters of state.
We had to leave Pride Rock, our wild Kidepo home,
We hold great hope for her creatures, they will never be alone.
For I left a part of myself behind on that day,
Sitting on Pride Rock, gazing over the savanna at play.
I hope to return to visit the badlands again one day,
To retrieve myself from Pride Rock, come what may.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
A proposal to VSO
I shall start by proclaiming 'Dear VSO',
I have to confess I traveled overland to Kidepo.
There's work to be done in the National Park way up there,
We need to make more tracks so we can go everywhere.
My friends and I would be up for the task,
If you let us do this project we'll do anything you ask.
We promise to be good, all your rules we will obey,
We will return to Kidepo and there we will stay.
Because as well as the tracks there are creatures to save,
If you let us help the Zebra and Giraffe we will surely behave.
We promise to stay out of the Sudan,
Because of course we know all about the ban.
We will wear a helmet and wont catch a boda-boda at night,
We will be good, we have seen the light.
Dear VSO please grant our request,
And help us to make Kidepo the best.
I have to confess I traveled overland to Kidepo.
There's work to be done in the National Park way up there,
We need to make more tracks so we can go everywhere.
My friends and I would be up for the task,
If you let us do this project we'll do anything you ask.
We promise to be good, all your rules we will obey,
We will return to Kidepo and there we will stay.
Because as well as the tracks there are creatures to save,
If you let us help the Zebra and Giraffe we will surely behave.
We promise to stay out of the Sudan,
Because of course we know all about the ban.
We will wear a helmet and wont catch a boda-boda at night,
We will be good, we have seen the light.
Dear VSO please grant our request,
And help us to make Kidepo the best.
The nature walk
The day was hot and the grass oh so long,
They called it a nature walk but something seemed slightly wrong.
The grass hit me in the face and tickled my arms,
Suddenly walking in the wilds of Kidepo had lost all its charm.
Oh why were we walking through this crazy long grass,
If there was something to see then we would surely walk past.
But the buffalo wasn't stupid he heard us amble on by,
He huffed and snorted as he charged and I wondered why.
Why were in walking in long grass that rendered animals invisible,
We were trapped in a bizarre nature walk, I was feeling quite miserable.
Could it be that the ranger really didn't have a clue,
Or perhaps he'd just gone stark raving mad, that could also be true.
I started to dawdle behind, I'd lost the will to go on,
Surely it would be over soon, we'd been walking so long.
Finally it was over and we could go for a beer,
There's nothing like a Club to restore a little cheer.
So if your ever in Kidepo remember not to go nature walking with the ranger,
You'll be smothered by the long grass within which lay many a hidden danger.
They called it a nature walk but something seemed slightly wrong.
The grass hit me in the face and tickled my arms,
Suddenly walking in the wilds of Kidepo had lost all its charm.
Oh why were we walking through this crazy long grass,
If there was something to see then we would surely walk past.
But the buffalo wasn't stupid he heard us amble on by,
He huffed and snorted as he charged and I wondered why.
Why were in walking in long grass that rendered animals invisible,
We were trapped in a bizarre nature walk, I was feeling quite miserable.
Could it be that the ranger really didn't have a clue,
Or perhaps he'd just gone stark raving mad, that could also be true.
I started to dawdle behind, I'd lost the will to go on,
Surely it would be over soon, we'd been walking so long.
Finally it was over and we could go for a beer,
There's nothing like a Club to restore a little cheer.
So if your ever in Kidepo remember not to go nature walking with the ranger,
You'll be smothered by the long grass within which lay many a hidden danger.
Oh how they love me
I traversed Uganda through formerly troubled towns,
And found a place called Kidepo where insects abound.
At first they didn't really bother me much,
But then I got bitten, the bites were red, swollen and hot to touch,
Why do they choose me over all of my friends,
I'd like them to share the love around, I don't want to offend.
There are very many flies both tsetse and regular,
And some other flying insects that look really quite bizarre.
Then there are ants and mosquitoes that are only too happy to bite you,
The insects of Kidepo lie in wait when you head to the loo.
Oh how I wish they would all go away,
And leave me to get on with my day.
But I should stop moaning I've no right to complain,
As Kidepo has lion, leopard and cheetah and all sorts of other game.
As I sit in the paradise that is our campsite home,
I watch the creatures of the savanna that are wild and free to roam.
So I forgive you Kidepo for every pesky and biting insect,
Because in so many other ways you are close to perfect.
And found a place called Kidepo where insects abound.
At first they didn't really bother me much,
But then I got bitten, the bites were red, swollen and hot to touch,
Why do they choose me over all of my friends,
I'd like them to share the love around, I don't want to offend.
There are very many flies both tsetse and regular,
And some other flying insects that look really quite bizarre.
Then there are ants and mosquitoes that are only too happy to bite you,
The insects of Kidepo lie in wait when you head to the loo.
Oh how I wish they would all go away,
And leave me to get on with my day.
But I should stop moaning I've no right to complain,
As Kidepo has lion, leopard and cheetah and all sorts of other game.
As I sit in the paradise that is our campsite home,
I watch the creatures of the savanna that are wild and free to roam.
So I forgive you Kidepo for every pesky and biting insect,
Because in so many other ways you are close to perfect.
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