If you choose to go....

Before I left for Uganda I was constantly wondering why anyone would want to go there. Once I got there I couldn't help wondering why anyone would not want to go there.

I hope that it isn't just me who thinks that there is something cool (besides being able to write off your airfare as a business/charitable expense) about volunteering and bringing something to a foreign country besides your tourist dollars. Even if you aren't a health care professional/educator there is plenty to do in Uganda and plenty of NGO's that would love to help you to do it. Then the safari part makes it all seem very worthwhile and I would be happy to help you to arrange a trip with good places and people. If you are a healthcare professional/educator CALL OR WRITE TO ME. We need to connect and communicate; HVO Uganda needs to coordinate its efforts.

Things to know before you go:
At the moment, Uganda is really a very safe place. That said, you really can't use a credit card anywhere but in the most expensive grocery stores, hotels and restaurants. Your best bet is to take cash. Clean, unwrinkled $100 US bills dated 2006 or later will get you the best exchange rate in Kampala. There are lots of ATM machines but the fees are steep and the exchange rates aren't as good as you will get for those $100 US bills. You still need to carry Ugandan shillings with you outside of the city. Everyone keeps asking me (of all people) why you need US bills printed 2006 later so I found out the (very interesting!) answer: Kim Jong Il of North Korea has been keeping his economy afloat by counterfeiting US bills. Bills printed since 2006 are much harder to counterfeit so the North Koreans print ones matching the older bills, typically with dates before 2000. The Ugandans know this and, thus, are VERY reluctant to take any US bills with dates before 2004 at the earliest, preferring 2006 or later.

I am very glad that I brought: Anti-malarial prophylaxis an,d my own supply of back-up antibiotics, an REI insect repellent and sweat absorbing sleep sack, umbrella and rain jacket, Pepto Bismol, scarce medical supplies for my specialty (good quality bone marrow biopsy needles in my case). You need to carry your own toilet tissue and hand sanitizer everywhere (even in Kampala). A fanny pack is handy for being able to carry things like your "bathroom kit" along with your passport, cash and a small camera (and, Dr. Troy Lund would advise you, a knife).

Probably should have brought: Better camera, actual laptop (for work and better internet access), 50X oil objective lens (but I would probably have gotten talked into leaving it there and that is a pricey thing to do)

Brought but didn't need to bring: I brought medical textbooks and everyone told me that Africans don't need more books, they need people to help them learn the things that are in the books