Read all about Nienke's group trip through Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania
Ever since I started working at KILROY, one thing has always been at the top of my bucket list: Gorilla Trekking in Uganda. Bucket lists are meant to be checked off, so off to Uganda I went, with my American cousin! But we got so much more than just that. Join me on what turned out to be an epic East Africa overland group trip.
Nienke's Travel Route
This is the route Nienke and her group followed through Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, all the way to the tropical paradise of Zanzibar.
First Stop: Uganda!
This is where our tour kicked off, and where we got to meet the group we would be travelling with for the coming weeks. Uganda is located in East Africa, right on the Equator! During our first day, we already crossed the Equator, on our way to the next stop: Lake Bunyonyi. This massive lake is supposedly one of the safest in Africa, with no crocs or hippos around.
The Main Event: Gorilla Trekking
Lake Bunyonyi was also the starting point for our gorilla trekking in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We got picked up early in the morning and had to divide our group into three smaller groups since only eight people can visit a gorilla family per day. The hike can take anywhere from half an hour to eight hours, depending on where the gorilla family is located.
We hoped for a medium hike, which we got! It took us two hours, crossing a river and trekking through the jungle. We had an hour to watch the gorillas from a distance, sitting still when they came closer. It was an incredibly thrilling experience! After another two-hour hike back, we returned to our camp, exhausted but very, very happy.
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Camping surrounded by wildlife
One thing I haven't mentioned yet—we camped the entire trip. It was incredible because we were always surrounded by nature! This was especially amazing in Tanzania, where many of our campsites were right in the heart of National Parks like Serengeti and Ngorongoro.
These campsites had no fences, so at night, you could hear the animals both nearby and in the distance. You definitely didn’t want to need the bathroom at night. 😉
During the various safaris, we spotted a lot of animals! Hundreds of zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, buffalos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hippos. Free tip from me: bringing binoculars is a must, since not all animals will get close to the safari truck.
A Nice Change: Island Life on Zanzibar
After two weeks of basic camping and adventure, it was finally time to relax those bones a bit. There's no better place for that than Zanzibar. At the end of the trip, we stayed at a beautiful hotel on a pristine white beach, with the bluest sea I've ever seen.
Besides swimming and working on your tan, you can also get an amazing diving experience in Zanzibar. You can take a diving course, or just if you've already got your PADI, join one or more of the fun dives.
Since I hadn't been diving before, I had to try it, and I'll definitely do it again in the future. The underwater world was gorgeous, and taking my first dive in such a pretty location was really special - a high note to end the trip on!
Gorilla Trekking's pricey, but it's the best trip I've ever taken!
I can confidently say this was the best trip I've taken so far, and it's going to be hard to top it. Gorilla trekking is pricey, and there’s a good reason for it. A big chunk of the cost goes towards protecting these endangered mountain gorillas and their habitats.
This includes things like anti-poaching efforts, keeping their environment safe, and supporting local communities so they benefit from gorilla tourism too.
Only a few permits are given out each day to keep things low-impact, making it a rare and special experience. Plus, trekking happens in some pretty remote and rugged areas, so the need for expert guides and infrastructure adds to the cost as well. But even though it's not cheap, I'd say it's absolutely worth it.
Besides having a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you're also contributing to the important cause of protecting these special creatures.
