Uganda
Africa · Country #109
Did you know?
Uganda is home to more than half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, found in the misty forests of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
My Experience
Growing up, we had a giant world map on the garage wall, and my grandmother would play a game where she’d call out random countries while my brother and I raced to point to them. For some reason, she always seemed to pick Uganda. Years later, finally arriving there felt strangely surreal.
I started my time there by taking a boat across Lake Victoria to Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, a rescue center supported by the Jane Goodall Institute, where orphaned and rescued chimpanzees are rehabilitated after losing their families to poaching or the illegal wildlife trade. Seeing the work being done to protect one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom was a powerful reminder of the importance of conservation. Afterwards, I explored the capital, Kampala, a lively, energetic city, though I must say the traffic is some of the worst on the planet.
More than anything, though, I found myself thinking about those afternoons in our garage with my grandmother. It’s remarkable how the smallest childhood memories can quietly shape the dreams we carry with us for years.
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