Month: December 2020

A Safari Paradise!

When our children were young, we enjoyed taking them to the zoo to get a firsthand glimpse of the lions, gorillas, elephants, tigers, giraffes and more. They loved seeing them in real life rather than in the books they read before bedtime. We loved witnessing the wonder and amazement in their eyes as they saw the animals for the first (2nd and 3rd) time!  Their faces lit up and their smiles came alive.

Michael, our youngest son, was always fascinated by their size, color, patterns and shape. He knew God was the master designer, but was in awe with what he saw. When he was in kindergarten, he painted the animals during art class. He titled his masterpiece, “I Wonder Why Animals Have Different Designs?” His teacher was so impressed she entered his painting in the county art competition, where he won first place. I love his painting, the title and his creativity. It’s proudly displayed in our home.

“There is language going on out there, the roars, snorts, trumpets, squeals, whoops and chirps that have meaning derived over eons of expression. We have yet to become fluent in the language – and music – of the wild.”  -Boyd Norton

When I look through my pictures or see Michael’s painting, I am reminded of my recent trip to Uganda. What a magical destination! It’s quite difficult to find the words to adequately describe what it’s really like to be so close to the wildlife. Awestruck!? Amazed!? Inspired!? The animals would frolic through the savanna, stomp across the road, meander through the forest, dangle from the trees or trudge up the mountainside….WOW! It was priceless to see them in their natural habitat eating, sleeping, running or having fun in their “wildlife playgroup”.

Jumping for JOY over Uganda!

Uganda…a lush, green East African country, is a safari and animal trekking paradise. Its’ national parks are home to a huge array of wildlife, including the Big 5 (leopard, lion, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape Buffalo). Not only is there abundant wildlife, there are also stunning landscapes. And the Equator runs right through the country, along with the Nile River. 

Uganda is the Pearl of Africa! It’s a magnificent country, diverse in color, with valleys, tropical rainforests, brilliant wildlife and an abundance of birds, all on a truly vast scale. And of course, it’s home to the world’s best gorilla and chimpanzee encounters too! Uganda is really something to experience.

Let’s meet the stars of the show!  Are you ready?!!!

Powerful & Mysterious…the Leopard 

Of all the animals you will see on a big cat safari, none are as beautiful, powerful and mysterious as the African leopard.  These increasingly rare animals are quite elusive, making the most difficult of the “BIG 5” safari animals to spot.  But we were lucky!  Look at this beauty!  She came right up to our Safari jeep and sat near my door. That’s when the driver suggested I close my window just in case she decided to jump in. If I opened my door, I would have hit her body! Yes…WE WERE THAT CLOSE!

Leopards are graceful. Their coats are simply breathtaking, and their muscular build combined with their confident demeanor makes them both intimidating and captivating. Leopards are strong and comfortable in trees and often haul their kill into the branches. Their spotted coats allow them to blend in with the leaves. These nocturnal predators stalk antelope, deer, hyenas and pigs. They are also strong swimmers.  Many of their populations are endangered, especially outside of Africa. 

Look at her coat?!! It’s so beautiful, shiny and silky. I really wanted to lean out the jeep and touch her. I bet it would have felt like velvet!  What do you think?

The King of the Grassland

Of all the animals that can be seen on a safari, there is one that stands out above the rest: the lion. As we were driving through the savanna, I felt like a kid on a scavenger hunt. My eyes were glued to the binoculars, glancing to and fro, hoping to find the “King of the Grassland”. And when we spotted not one but three, we excitedly jumped on the seats and stuck our heads out the roof to get a better view. 

There is nothing like seeing a lion in its natural habitat, unconstrained and free to roam. Its’ power and beauty are simply unmatched in all of nature and cannot be truly appreciated unless you are able to experience it firsthand. 

Protecting the Rhino

One of our adventures was to ZIWA Rhino Sanctuary, 4 hours from Entebbe. The sanctuary was created to reintroduce rhinos to Uganda after their elimination due to poaching in 1982. It’s the proud home of the only wild rhinos in Uganda. Presently, the sanctuary is home to 33 southern White Rhinos and has become increasingly popular for rhino trekking, bird watching and nature walks. You’ll notice, White Rhinos aren’t white, but slate gray in color. The species color comes from the Dutch word, “weit”, which sounds like “white”, but means wide.

While we were trekking to the rhinos, we learned that one of the females was pregnant. Good news!! On December 10th the sanctuary welcomed a healthy boy into their family. He was born to 7-year-old mom Uhuru. It’s her second calf and he’s a big, strong, healthy rhino!  He had fun wallowing in the mud on day 1. His name will be made public very soon so stay tuned! 

A Pillar of Strength

Elephants were everywhere! We saw them taking a mud bath, eating leaves from the trees, playing follow the leader and walking through the river.  On one of our game drives, we parked close to a herd of elephants and watched them interact with each other.  It was very clear that the Mamma elephant did not want us that close, so she charged at the safari jeep.  Our guide, Richard, was quick to put the pedal to the metal keeping us from harm’s way. It was a pretty exciting experience!!

A fierce one…the Cape Buffalo

It’s not hard to spot the Cape Buffalo. We saw herds of them along the banks of the Kazinga Channel while in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Their horns are quite large and unique and show an indication of their age. The females and young males do not have the hard shielding that protects the base of the skull in large adult males. As we were cruising down the channel, we heard an elephant screeching and then chase after a buffalo because he was invading his territory.

Cape Buffalo are always within a day’s walk of water. This is especially true in the dry season when they are eating dried grasses. These animals are extremely social and live in large, mixed herds of up to 2,000 members!

They made their way into the Big 5 ranking because of their size, moody behavior and their ability to charge without warning. It’s been said that the Cape Buffalo is one of the most dangerous animals to hunt on foot.

Uganda…truly the “Pearl of Africa”!!

You are most welcome here!

Part of what makes Uganda such a special place to visit is its combination of wildlife experiences within such a small region. It’s a beautiful destination for adventurous souls and wildlife lovers.

Next week, I will highlight the spectacular wildlife along with the beautiful landscape. I’ll also share some fun stories and pictures from what I captured on our journey!! Stay tuned!

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I wish you a HOLIDAY SEASON filled with JOY, PEACE, LOVE and great health!

The people that you meet!

To me the best part of traveling is meeting people along the way.  Sometimes they are fellow travelers. Other times they are locals. Sometimes these people can change your trip, or even your life, in ways you’d never imagine. This is what makes each trip a magical experience and one more reason I’m grateful every time I set out on a new adventure.

Uganda has a special place in my heart!  I loved my visit 3 years ago and my most recent trip was just as special.  It’s not only because of the beautiful wildlife, the lush landscape or the interesting lodges but because of the genuine, kindhearted, happy people I met.  I enjoyed connecting with the locals, hearing about their customs and traditions, learning about how they are making a difference in their community and about a typical day.  These moments rank at the top of my memories along with the beauty I saw in each destination!

Below you will discover the real reason why I love to travel!!

The eye never forgets what the heart has seen. -African Proverb

Meet Aubrey Price

Aubrey Price is one of a kind!   And so is Ndali Lodge.  This is THE LODGE! I loved it here!

Here’s a story of one family’s determination to do something good, not only for travelers but for the local community!  Upon arrival, we received a warm welcome from Aubrey (third generation owner), his staff and 3 dogs!

Ndali Lodge is perched on the rim of an extinct volcano which, since its demise, has filled with water to become the breathtaking Lake Nyinambuga. There is a main thatched lodge and 9 solar-powered cottages. It’s secluded, charming, has 360-degree views of the lake and mountains.

The story behind the lodge is so fascinating! The estate dates back to the 1920’s when Aubrey’s grandfather, Englishman Trevor Price and his friend Hugh Naylor, purchased the land for a tea estate. Others followed suit and the great estates of western Uganda flourished until 1972 when the land was appropriated by the military regime. Both Trevor and Hugh returned to England and later passed away.

In 1992 Aubrey’s father, Captain Mark Price, reclaimed the land with the intention of establishing a Safari lodge. His goal was to work on reforestation, support the locals by providing employment, provide sponsorships for the children to attend school and to bring growth and prosperity to the community. He began building in 1993 and opened in 1996. He later passed away. His son, Aubrey Price and his niece Lulu Sturdy, took up the reins of the lodge and farm and have continued Captain Mark’s legacy. It is now an expanse of indigenous trees, beautiful gardens, home to a diverse array of birds, monkeys and other wildlife!

Ndali Lodge is an amazing place with a wonderful history, incredible staff, fabulous cuisine and genuine hospitality! Truly a charming Safari lodge!!

Meet Evelyn Habasa

Evelyn is magnetic!  I loved spending time with her and the ladies from the Bwindi community.  We were the first group of visitors to the area since March and they were beyond thrilled.  It didn’t take long to notice how talented they were in basket weaving, sewing and quilting.  We all wanted a custom-made item…whether it was a dress, a suit, pants or any other craft as a precious gift to take home.  When I asked Evelyn if our order was too big, she said, “Oh, Lisa…over the last several months I needed to remind the ladies to keep the faith…to remain hopeful…good times are coming…it’s a promise.” Evelyn continued to encourage the ladies, but she “noticed their hope start to dwindle”.  When our group arrived, Evelyn said she witnessed “hope rise within each lady from the bottom of their feet to the top of their heads”.  They couldn’t believe it! 

“Ride 4 A Woman” is Evelyn’s passion!

Evelyn started “Ride 4 A Woman” as a way of empowering the local women and to create change in her community. Together with her husband, they started by renting mountain bikes to tourists to fund their training program. After some time, there was a need to maintain the bikes so they taught the ladies how to repair them. 

Three years later, they met Patricia, an Australian tourist, who knew how to quilt.  Evelyn asked her to teach the women in the village, and that’s when they started a sewing program.  The women learn how to sew from scratch, how to measure, cut, hand stitch and provide a nice finish to each item they design.

The ladies also learn basket weaving skills and create masterpieces that they sell in their shop. 

Evelyn and her husband oversee 8 programs that include sewing, bike mechanics, agriculture, water filtration, safety from domestic situations, micro-finance, education and baking.

“Ride 4 A Woman” also provides low interest loans to assist the ladies in starting a small business. They have provided 101 loans to their members.  The women continue to set up shops, market stalls, buy animals and purchase sewing machines to make clothes in their respective villages.  

Today, 300 women from 11 different villages in the Bwindi community are registered with the organization. They enjoy gathering together to learn while having fun!

This is why I travel…to meet people like Evelyn!! The best news…I still chat with her through What’s App and look forward to when I return to the Bwindi community!

Meet Paison

Paison was my porter for our Gorilla tracking experience. He carried my backpack and camera the entire journey.  As we walked through the dense forest, I fixed my eyes on his heels…one step in front of the other, making sure I wouldn’t trip on the roots or step on fire ants.  I held his hand as he pulled me up the mountain and rested my hand on his shoulder when we climbed down. 

Paison is 22 and has his heart set on earning a college degree in tourism.  He is very close to achieving his goal.  When Covid hit, Paison returned home to be with his family. He was without work and did not have the funds to pay for his last semester. He was excited to learn we were the first group of tourists to arrive in Bwindi since March. This meant he would have work for the first time in months and he was beyond thrilled.  He planned to put the $20 he earned toward his schooling.

Paison and I have kept in touch since my trip and he is very grateful for that day of work. This is true evidence of how much the local community needs tourism to return!

Meet Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka

Dr. Gladys was invited to have dinner with us when we were in Bwindi.  She was in town hosting workshops and teaching her colleagues about her specialty…the health and well-being of mountain gorillas. 

Dr. Gladys has become one of the leading conservationists and scientists working to save the critically endangered mountain gorillas of East Africa. She is founder and CEO of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), a 16-year old nonprofit organization that promotes conservation by improving the quality of life of people and wildlife to enable them to coexist in and around protected areas in Africa. This is extremely important because humans can transmit any number of diseases to the gorillas.

FUN FACT:  Dr. Gladys completed a zoological medicine residency and masters in specialized veterinary medicine at North Carolina State University and North Carolina Zoological Park.

It was a pleasure meeting Dr. Gladys.  We both have one commonality – NCSU! She’s a graduate and I’m a DASA (Division of Academic & Student Affairs) Board Member. As I listened to her speak at our dinner one evening, it dawned on me that she must have ties to NCSU and she sure did!!! Go WOLFPACK!!

Meet Deo

Deo is a true pioneer, a teacher, an innovator and a community builder.  He is one remarkable man!  Deo lives in a small farming village that borders Queen Elizabeth National Park. Since his property is so close to the park, elephants and lions would invade his land and destroy his crops and livestock. Instead of killing the wildlife, Deo rallied his neighbors and others in the community and taught them alternatives to poaching. They first started by digging a trench along their property line which took 2 years to complete 2km. He then created a watch tower and an innovative warning system of bells to alert the neighbors that the wildlife was close. When the elephants came to the ditch, they would extend their trunk and quickly realized the depth and turn away.  Uganda’s conservation organization took notice of Deo’s contributions and they assisted with the project. It took 6 years but they worked together to dig a 20 km trench by hand.  Deo is one proud and very humble man…a true inspiration to those in the community!

Uganda…the Pearl of Africa!!

You are most welcome here!

Uganda is a beautiful country with very warm and friendly people. Quite often we heard them say, “You are most welcome here!” and they meant it. They have not seen visitors since March and were thrilled to have us on their soil.

Next week, I will highlight the spectacular wildlife and beautiful landscape. Many of you know I have a passion for photography and I can’t wait to share what I captured from our journey!!

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I wish you a HOLIDAY SEASON filled with JOY, PEACE, LOVE and great health!