It was a delight to plan the itinerary for Paul and Sarah Baldwin, when they chose to visit Uganda and Rwanda with Journeys Discovering Africa.
You see, Paul is a trustee of The Gorilla Organisation, a conservation charity which runs various vital development projects in local communities adjacent to the forests that the mountain gorillas live in. So if anyone knows more about the link between sustainable community development and gorilla conservation, we haven't met them.
Instead of flying direct to the rainforests in the southwest of Uganda, and tracking gorillas quickly and heading straight out again, Paul and Sarah chose to take the road less travelled - and made a two week adventure of their trip. Of course they tracked gorillas - in both Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Volcanoes National Park - but not for them the quick tick off the bucket list - they chose to take their safari slow and relished every moment. Visits to local communities on the way; meeting ancient forest tribes; learning about local crops; taking a dugout canoe across island-studded lakes; balancing on a canopy walkway high above the treetops; dancing with the ladies from a mountain village; seeing how coffee beans were roasted and ground on nothing more than a three stone fire - all these encounters were far from the crowds and enriched their safari in the most authentic way.
Paul Baldwin has very kindly shared his photos from the trip and they can be seen below in this slideshow gallery. Go ahead, make yourself a cup of fresh coffee (preferably with beans from Uganda or Rwanda for maximum verisimilitude), and enjoy their safari. There are many images - but each photo is a wonderful testament to the empathy the Baldwins felt for people and primates they encountered on their trip.
To enjoy a similar itinerary to Paul & Sarah Baldwin, check out our new Uganda and Rwanda group safaris - which combine similar cultural encounters with wildlife highlights and some of the best properties in the area.
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