Uganda Gorilla Trek - July 2023

Uganda – More than just gorilla trekking (July 2023)

While gorilla trekking is what draws most people to Uganda, when you arrive you will see that it is so much more. The country is beautiful and the people so kind and friendly.

Most trips to Uganda will start in Entebbe or neighboring Kampala. This area is set on the shores of Lake Victoria where you can take an excursion in search of the great Hornbill Stork. There are markets, craft shops, botanical gardens, animal sanctuaries or for the more adventurous you can raft the Jinga River.

The sights are spectacular with visits to Murchison Falls, cruising down the Nile, and so many safaris to see hippo, elephant, water buffalo, lion (in trees), leopard, impala, and so many birds. The amount of wildlife did not disappoint.

The trip highlights for most are the visits to Kibale National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is where you get to embark on the chimpanzee and gorilla treks. The treks are not for the faint of heart. You will need to be sure you have packed the appropriate adventure wear and be in reasonable shape. The porter for the gorilla trek is a must. They will help you through the jungle and ensure you have an unbelievable experience. All safety measures are taken as you are very up close and personal with both the chimps and gorillas. It is truly a trip of a lifetime.

Meanwhile, along the way you will have opportunities to stop and learn about local culture. We had a banana beer demonstration, followed by a tasting followed by a visit to the home of a single lady who grows and grinds coffee for a living. Driving through mountains and craters we were able to see local every day life including men riding motorcycles with a pig on their back!

On our last day we had a community visit, as we had asked our guide if we could by school supplies and meet the kids. They sang and danced for us as we gave them pencils, paper, and books. Then in the same village they taught us how to weave baskets. Our experience ended with meeting the village elder at the Batwa Pygmies ~ Keepers of the Forest. She was the last living Pygmy who had been removed from the forest by the government.

This was a very adventurous trip from trekking to the small 12 passenger propeller planes. The lodges and tented camps were amazing! The food was delicious and the staff over the top friendly. They took such good care of us. We were greeted with messages on our beds made from fresh flowers. The animals are free to roam. One lodge we had hippos walking through the complex after dinner and another I had elephants wake me up eating the trees outside my door and baboons peaking in my windows.

If you have any questions regarding this trip or other African safaris, please feel free to email me at: [email protected].

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