And here we go: the first episode of the SEE AFRICA BREATHE AFRICA podcast!
What was originally meant to be a quickly put together recording of a Zoom call is now much more. We kept adding and improving until Joe Kahiri decided to create a theme song — and it became clear that this was going to be a slightly more elaborate audio experience!
Well, unfortunately we can’t change the fact that our Zoom files aren’t technically that great … We will certainly try better in the future! We are recording new content every Tuesday at 6pm Rwandan time but we already have plentiful material for the next few editions.
While we can’t be sure about eventual audio quality, you can be sure about this: every week there will be a new 20-30 minute episode answering a variety of questions in a thoughtful and playful way by a global expert team. Each of the episodes will begin with the Voice of Santa Barbara, Jon Lee, introducing you to another level of the Gorilla Highlands region. In the show notes you are going to be able to read explanations of any unusual things you hear, and there will be links for more. And at the end there will always be Kahiri’s catchy tune, something totally worth waiting for.
Last but not least, don’t forget about Tuesday live sessions where the magic happens and where our members can always chip in! That is a membership privilege while the podcasts are public and anyone can submit any question. Welcome!
SHOW NOTES
Gorilla Highlands region
Patron saint Festo Karwemera
Oruhindu, the Voice of Santa Barbara
• Moderators
Miha Logar
Joe Kahiri
• Expert Panel
Charlotte Beauvoisin
Katharina Lahner
Moses Turinawe
Ramadhan Sindayigaya
• Live Q&A
Gorilla Highlands Mega Trek
• Mailbag Questions
Food listed by Kahiri: matooke, luwombo, eshabwe, boo
Chef Rama’s article on quick and healthy snacks
Rolex recipe
Charlotte’s article on Musanze bus park food from her Diary of a Muzungu
Moses’s artice on national park dangers
Regions listed by Kahiri: Kigezi (old name for southwestern Uganda), Buganda (central Uganda), Ankole (western Uganda)
🎤 voice by:
Charlotte “Nagawa” Beauvoisin is a conservation volunteer, sustainable tourism trainer and the author of Diary of a Muzungu (est. 2008). During the Covid-19 pandemic, it meant the world to her to be part of the Gorilla Highlands Experts online network, regularly communicating with inspiring people around the globe. British by nationality, Charlotte is Ugandan at heart and runs the East Africa Travel Podcast from the edge of Kibale National Park, Uganda. Click for her self-introduction. [bio updated: 2026-04]
Joe Kahiri, a former SEE AFRICA BREATHE AFRICA host, is a Ugandan actor, recording and performing artist, and the founder of Qwela, a top Afro-fusion band. Passionate about creating a positive shift in mindset through artistic creation, he lives between Kabale and Kampala, Uganda. [bio updated: 2026-03]
Katharina Lahner was the historic first Gorilla Highlands Experts volunteer (Lake Bunyonyi, 2015) who continues her involvement as our main digital communications consultant. She is an Austrian marketer and natural-born traveller, currently living in New Zealand. [bio updated: 2026-03]
Moses Turinawe is Senior Tourism and Hospitality officer in Kibale National Park. Among his previous positions with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, he twice worked in Queen Elizabeth National Park and served as Tourism Warden of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park before acting as the Mgahinga Park Warden. He often visits his family in Mitooma, Uganda. [bio updated: 2026-05]
Ramadhan “Rama” Sindayigaya was the first Rwandan chef to win at Gorilla Highlands Silverchef. Nowadays he is Culinary Chef at Griffith Foods for the Sub-Saharan African region and Chef Judge at the Africa Chefs Alliance. His office and his three kids are found in Kigali, Rwanda. [bio updated: 2026-03]
🖋️ text and 🎤 voice by:
ML Rwebandira is an adventure and cultural tourism expert, writer and multimedia producer who co-founded Gorilla Highlands Experts. Born as Miha Logar, he now combines his initials with “Rwebandira” to honour the Bakiga elder Karwemera, who gave him the name. ML’s most recent publication is the Pocket Treasure. A national of both Uganda and Slovenia, Rwebandira resides with his son Lan in Musanze, Rwanda. Click for his personality-infused quarterly newsletters. [bio updated: 2026-09]
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Comments
One response to “Listen to Episode #1 of SEE AFRICA BREATHE AFRICA”
This is a very well produced podcast.
I love how it discusses things that are familiar to my environment and yet I get to see them through the eyes of people who are not from here.
It’s also great to ignore country borders that never highlight the similarity of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda for once in a valid way