The beginning of the journey
The journey began in Entebbe: a small tropical town next to Kampala and on Lake Victoria, where the international airport is located. Charles had planned a motor city tour, which is a great way to experience the city! You’re out in the open, and it’s easy to reach interesting spots. The guides who drove us around were very friendly and made for an enjoyable afternoon. Kampala itself doesn’t have many fascinating "sights," but it was still nice to experience urban Africa in a different country than Kenya. We visited many religious sites, explored one of the largest markets in Africa, and, of course, enjoyed a local meal!
Rafting in Jinja
From Kampala, we continued to Jinja. This small jungle town is known as "The Source of the Nile" – the origin of the White Nile. Here, we went rafting! We had a very active and fun day on the water. The route was stunning, with a mix of beautiful scenery and some great adrenaline rushes during the faster and steeper sections. Even my father, who is getting on in years, absolutely loved it! The organization was very professional, with thorough instructions and well-trained guides. All in all, a fantastic experience!
From Jinja, we traveled to Murchison Falls National Park. Charles had already mentioned via Skype that
Uganda isn’t
really a safari destination like Kenya or Tanzania… But that didn’t take away from the experience! We saw plenty of wildlife and took a fun boat trip with hippos and crocodiles. The waterfall is beautiful, but we didn’t find it particularly special.
On safari!
The safari adventure continued in Queen Elizabeth. Here, we stayed at Katara Lodge—our favorite accommodation of the trip! The staff was incredibly friendly and made our three-day stay truly enjoyable. The view was breathtaking, the cottages were beautiful, and the food was absolutely delicious! We loved every moment of it!
Gorillas
Deeper into the south to Bwindi, the Impenetrable Forest. Off to the gorillas! Of course, this was one of the planned highlights, and in real life, it was just as impressive as we had imagined! It was incredible to spend an hour with the gorillas; they were very close by, so we only had to search for about 15 minutes before spending the rest of the hour walking with them through the jungle!
What made the experience even more special was that our group was the only one that day (apparently, only one group of up to 8 people is allowed at a time), meaning we didn’t encounter any other tourists, making it even more intimate.
The lodge where we stayed, Mount Gahinga Lodge, was also fantastic! Beautiful rooms, amazing food, and a complimentary massage for anyone who wanted one—what more could you ask for?
Kigali
Our Uganda trip ended with some relaxation at Lake Mutanda. This is a stunning lake where you can swim while enjoying an exceptional view! We also took a boat trip to one of the islands on the lake to visit a local community. It was a beautiful experience to get a glimpse of life there.
From southwestern Uganda, we crossed into Rwanda to spend the last few days relaxing at Lake Kivu (bordering the Congo). Once again, we had an amazing hotel: the Cormoran Lodge. These charming wooden chalets sat on a hill, offering views of the dark Congo in the distance, numerous islands, and total tranquility.
The difference between Rwanda and other East African countries is striking! Kigali—the capital—is very organized and clean. Lunch at the (historically significant) Hotel Rwanda wasn’t particularly special, but the Genocide Museum was deeply moving and left a lasting impression on us.
