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Lake Life
24mm, f/6,3, 1/320s, ISO125The Gorilla Highlands region is a land of lakes, and no visit here is complete without a bit of canoeing. This was how I was first introduced to this part of Africa, way back in 2012, though this photo is from a few years later. The canoeing itself is fun (albeit a…
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When Lions Ate Letters
Lions used to be common in the lower altitudes of the Virunga volcanoes but are now are locally extinct, along with the leopard.Historically they gained a bad reputation as man-eaters around the Western Rift Valley (our members can learn more about the Rift Valley in the In-Sights). The two lions that infamously attacked railway construction…
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A Decade of Successes (and Personal Milestones) in Akagera National Park, Rwanda
Named for the Akagera river which winds from south to north — in and out of Rwanda and Tanzania along the eastern border of the park — Akagera National Park lies in the warmer, drier, lower-lying east of Rwanda. Although it hosts the Big Five again, its real advantage is in the spectacular scenery and…
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Funny and Scary Anecdotes From Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park
Savannah greetings to you all! This time I am sharing as I have always shared — but not from my current post in the mountains of Mgahinga for a change. Instead, I am taking you to Queen Elizabeth National Park, right on the equator. It covers 1978 square kilometres (764 square miles) and spans everything…
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Safari Time!
600mm, f/5, 1/640s, ISO160Few people travel to the Gorilla Highlands region to go on safaris that don’t involve gorillas or chimpanzees, but maybe you should? This week we are presenting some truly excellent savannah destinations within a stone’s throw of those primates, so why not take the time to enjoy them? Two national parks stand…
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Personal Take: Hikes in Gorilla Parks of Rwanda and Uganda
Marcus’s introduction to our series of walking articles reminded me of my unique position: I must be one of the few who have done (almost) everything in all mountain gorilla parks of Uganda and Rwanda. I am also a lover of walking trips and it’s kinda my duty to share with others like me!Then again,…
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Little-Known Hiking Overnights in Southwestern Uganda
I am Levi Ayebare, 28, and I have been working with Gorilla Highlands Experts on the Ugandan side of the region as a tecnico. This means that I am providing technical support to hiking groups on the Gorilla Highlands Trails. I take care of setting up camps, allowing tired trekkers to hit the mattresses as…
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Our Gorilla Trek Well Beyond Gorillas
Strange enough, it all started in Prague.It was summer 2009, my wife Marta and I were in town for our vacations, and decided to pay a visit to the local zoo.That was the first time we had the chance to meet face to face with the gorillas, and we spent more than an hour marvelling at…
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Slow and Sweaty Travel
24mm, f/8, 1/250s, ISO800This week I have the (dis)pleasure of introducing the next level of our August theme, the regional attractions — hiking! I have a love-hate relationship with it. When I’m slogging my way up a particularly tough mountain, cameras and other equipment weighing way too much for my comfort, I do tend to…
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New Rules to Guarantee a Friendly Place
Welcome, newcomer! And great to see you again, old friend!Let me thank each and everyone who has joined our beautiful community so far. I hope more and more good people all over the world take a seat around our digital campfire.With the publication of the Gorilla Highlands Experts community rules, we are reaching a new…
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We Were Ready for a Gorilla Battle
Members of the Gorilla Highlands Experts global community, something special happened in Uganda’s Bwindi today! Something that I really need to share with you …I have been a ranger for 12 years, taking visitors to gorillas in both Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks — and yet I had never seen anything like that! You know,…
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How Working in Kahuzi-Biega National Park Works
In yesterday’s photography moment Marcus called my place of work, Kahuzi-Beiga National Park, the most “off-the-beaten-track” place to do gorilla tracking … He is not wrong, and I can think of two reasons for that: It is my job to put the park onto the map, so I’m glad to be your Gorilla Highlands Expert…
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Never Gets Old
70mm, f/5, 1/250s, ISO400As much as we try to focus on highlights, attractions and activities other than gorilla tracking, this remains — undeniably and deservedly — the region’s top drawcard. I am fortunate enough to have lost count of the number of occasions I have been out with gorillas. My first time wasn’t exactly conventional. Near…
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Your August of Attractions
Ladies and gentlemen, members, the next chapter of our storytelling has begun.As you could read in our six-month evaluation, for the rest of 2021 we will be exploring a “digital magazine” concept … and that comes with a monthly topic.The August focus: Attractions.Our experts will take you through everything worthy of your attention across the…
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6-Month Review: Successes, Failures and Ambitions
On Sunday it will be six months since we launched the Gorilla Highlands Experts platform — and based on lessons learned we are about to chart the way forward.First of all, let us remind ourselves about the guidelines we set for ourselves: storytelling to inform, de-stress and entertain our members. This article is part of…
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100 Years Ago Dr Leonard Sharp Revolutionised Lake Bunyonyi
There are three islands on Uganda’s Lake Bunyonyi’s that are connected through the deeply fascinating story of Dr Leonard Sharp, an English missionary (pictured above, driving in Kabale in the 1920s).Today, Bwama Island is best known as secondary school, while Njuyeera (also known as Sharp’s Island) and Bushara serve as tourist accommodation facilities — but their…
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Unripe Berries: Alarms for Coffee Farms
On any given morning, when travelling through the areas surrounding the Virunga volcanoes, one may be forgiven for thinking that all is well in this beautiful countryside. In the distance the rolling hills are covered with lush green forests with clouds moving along the tree tops. Colourful birds and fascinating insects buzz and zoom with…
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Congo Sunrise
20mm, f/8, 1/50s, ISO100One of the reasons I enjoy immersive travel so much is that it’s too easy to miss out on powerful experiences if your trip mainly focuses on “highlights”. I am almost always up before sunrise, no matter what, because … well, why would I want to be asleep when a new day begins? How…
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