Trekking the Unbelievable Uganda
20 years ago, I began my career in the travel industry, specializing in the continent of Africa. Early on, I first heard stories of Uganda and how magical it is to see the chimpanzees and gorillas up close in their natural habitat. Seeing these beings interact with one another, similarly to how we would, is truly moving. Since then, I’ve dreamt of visiting Uganda, and recently, that wish came to fruition, and it was as amazing as I had hoped it would be.
That being said, Uganda is more than just the gorillas and chimpanzees. It’s the welcoming people, the beautiful countryside, and the various wildlife. It’s a wonderfully diverse country, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for somewhere more off-the-beaten-path.
Some of our highlights were tracking rhinos on foot (we saw 20 up-close), viewing lions and leopards in a vehicle (we saw several lions, including a few babies, and a leopard in a tree), getting to see the rare and endangered shoebill feed on fish, and learning to make a traditional lunch (which was very hands-on and a lot of fun). But, of course, the gorillas and chimpanzees were incredible, and ultimately, they were what we came for.
We had two opportunities to trek to see the chimpanzees—one in Budongo Forest and another in Kibale National Park. As we traveled during the rainy season (though it can rain any time of the year - it’s rainforest, after all), our first trek in Budongo was a bit wet and caused the chimps to be much higher up in the trees. Still, they were an incredible first sighting, eating fruit and not bothered with us spying on them. Our small group of four had an hour with them, simply observing, capturing photos, and taking it all in.
Our second encounter with the chimps in Kibale was exceptional—quite likely my favorite experience of the trip. They were mainly on the ground this time, and we were incredibly close. There was one chimp I took particular interest in; he was sitting next to a tree and looked as though he was deep in thought, looking around and observing his family playing on the ground and in the trees. Again, they are habituated to people and didn’t seem bothered by us at all. They barely acknowledged our group, except to go around us to get where they wanted.
Finally, one of the last experiences of our trip was visiting the gorillas. We only did one trek, though many people do two. It was a difficult hike, but it was worth every second. Again, we were incredibly close. You’re not allowed to approach them fully, but if they come to you, you simply stay where you are or slowly move out of the way if needed. On one occasion, I was looking at a gorilla, not realizing that a teen gorilla was approaching behind me along the path. At the last moment, I moved out of the way, but apparently, the rowdy teen didn’t feel I was quick enough and kicked his foot out as he walked by and hit me in the shin. It was not hard enough to hurt me but strong enough that everyone around me heard the impact. Teenagers can be teenagers, I guess.
Overall, I had the most unforgettable experience traveling through Uganda, and I truly hope these stories entice you to visit this beautiful country for yourself. I can promise you won’t be disappointed!
Written By: Amanda Jamieson