The sounds of Africa

(Guest blog by Lizzie Stewart, visitor to Kiwoko)

Crickets, drying their wings
Cries of, ‘Hello, how are you?’ as you walk past people
Cries of, ‘Oli otya?’ as you cycle past people
Cries of, ‘A Mzungu’ as people notice you in car
The squeak, squeak, creak of the 4x4 after the wheel fell off
The other noises in the world you can hear once you’ve bent the brake drum back to the right shape!
Birds that tweet, sing and hoot
Birds that sound like mobile phones, alarm clocks, reversing trucks, dogs…
People praising God to prepare for the their day of work at the hospital at morning chapel
Intense roar of the waterfall at Murchison Falls, as the Nile forces itself through a 5m gap.
Shouts of joy and cheers as we navigated some more white water successfully on the Nile
Shouts of joy and cheers as we capsized through some white water on the Nile
Space, miles away from anywhere on the banks of Lake Albert
Crack of sticks as you creep around the jungle looking for the chimps
Gentle snoring of a sleeping rhino
Sharp intake of breath as the rhino, only 5m away, stands up
Even bigger intake of breath from the majesty of the rhino towering in the shade of the trees
Bang, bang, shoo of the keeper sending the rhino he loves off into the bush
Chatter and clatter of people milling around in the village, all going about their business
Broom, brum of the boda bodas taking people where they want to go.
Kampala, Jinja, Kiwoko, Luwero calls of the conductors touting for business at the taxi park.
Hiss and Crackle of the fires of the chapati makers and maize barbecuers beside the road
Rumble of thunder and the crack of the dry lightning flashing across the sky
Spit, spot of a wee rain shower
Spit, spot, sput of middle sized rain shower,
Plunk, plunk splash of an African rainstorm, run for cover under the nearest tree or veranda
Flick, rattle, fizz opening a bottle of soda.
‘Look over there’ calls of a game drive
Vroom of camera lens and Clunk click of a crocodile or hippo photographed whilst floating gently on a Nile launch boat
Crunch of tyres on murrum as the driver steers round the potholes
Thud of tyres on murrum as the driver drops the car into a pothole
Hum of the fridge now the power is on
Snap of the inverter when the power goes off
Hiss of the stereo when Uganda electricity load-sharing programme does not quite give 240V
Buzz of mosquitoes and the scratching of itches evidence of their last meal
Cock o doodle do of the cockerel – at almost anytime, day or night
Thud of avocados on the corrugated roof as they fall from the tree
Thud, thud, thud, thud of avocados on the roof as Steve shakes them from the tree
‘Well Done’ infested speech of Steve turning into a Ugandan
Satisfied licking of lips munching on the sweetest, yummiest pineapple you could ever eat
Creak, thud of fly screens shutting as you go through outside doors