Category: Advice for Travellers
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Should I Be Cautious of Wildlife?
100mm, f/4, 1/250, ISO640 This is actually a well-worded question. Had it been whether you should be worried about wildlife, my answer would have been no. But cautious? Well, a bit of caution never hurt anyone. Animals come in all shapes and sizes, and people often worry about the wrong ones. Spider and snake bites…
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What Should I Expect in Terms of Cultural Shock?
Culture shock is expected, and even welcome, when you exchange a life in the West for a dive into African life. But your culture shock will inevitably be quite personal. Considering that I’m a fresh Gorilla Highlands Experts intern that will stay in Uganda for six months, my very recent arrival puts me in a prime position to share my…
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SABA Episode #4 — Driving in Queen Elizabeth NP & Why Is Africa Poor?
The fourth episode of our weekly SEE AFRICA BREATHE AFRICA podcast is, as always, preoccupied with the questions you send us. In the first segment, Kahiri and Miha have many provocative, critical and inspiring things to say as a reply to the following: It’s crazy how many African countries are insanely rich with natural resources…
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Should I Expect Very Basic Accommodation Facilities?
120mm, f/8.0, 1/250s, ISO250 Hotels in the Gorilla Highlands region range from cheap and very, very basic — though rarely dirty — to the kind of opulence you would expect to be able to find in most big cities. Outside of urban areas, however, hotels probably aren’t where you want to spend your nights when…
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Is It Right to Come with Gifts for Children?
No and yes and no. On the one hand, there is some serious danger that you will contribute to the culture of begging that can be quite annoying. At my Ugandan home, Lake Bunyonyi, it’s almost like children learn “Give me money!” before “Mama”. At my Rwandan home, Musanze, we have a startlingly common problem…
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What Photography Gear Should I Pack for Rwanda, Uganda or DR Congo?
There are a dozen ways to answer this question, and it is obviously very subjective. What kind of equipment do you own? How important is photography to you? What’s your budget like? The Gorilla Highlands region is very diverse, and different activities call for different equipment. Still, there’s no point in bringing more than you…
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Why is Akagera National Park So Expensive — And Where Does My Money Go?
OK, let’s talk about money … Safaris are probably not the cheapest holiday option. As well as your flights, accommodation, food and transport, you might also have game drives, park fees, and additional activities to budget for. There is also a whole mixed-bag of options when it comes to planning a safari. Whereas private reserves…
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Why Choose Uganda and Rwanda over Tanzania and Kenya?
70mm, f/8.0, 1/400s, ISO125 Every place has its charms and attractions, and Kenya and Tanzania certainly received their fair share. For sheer volume of large mammals, the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem is probably unmatched anywhere in the world. Still, Rwanda and Uganda — even if we limit ourselves to Uganda’s southwest as pictured here — are something…
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What to Pack for Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC?
This is a question that sounds just about right to open our new theme, Frequently Asked Questions … First, let us deal with the most obvious sub-question: To track mountain gorillas, you will have to pack good hiking shoes, long trousers and long sleeved shirts which will protect you against stinging plants. You should also bring rain…
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