I double checked I'd packed my English gaiters to hold back the mud, had my waterproof walking boots, long socks to pull over my trousers (to stop the ants crawling up my legs), a raincoat and most importantly some binoculars. Yes I was ready to experience everything Uganda and Rwanda could throw at me I thought. What I hadn't considered was my traveling companions - a lively, slim 30 something Irish girl with the longest stride and the biggest capacity to see, do, eat and drink everything we could and an eager, motivated driver guide willing to take us there!

We passed through Entebbe, spent time in busy Kampala, drove to Kibale passing long horned cattle, bikes carrying loads of bananas, and black colobus monkeys en route. We tracked the chimps in Kibale forest, climbed part way up the Rwenzori's - snow and glacier clad mountains sitting spectacularly alongside the Queen Elizabeth National Park. 

We met and chose our live chicken dinner at Chambura Gorge, tracked another fascinating family of chimps and carefully inspected and noted all the lodges, camps and hotels all along the way.  We found giant forest hog and lions in fig tree's in Queen Elizabeth and stood on the Congo border at several different points feeling very daring. My Irish companion fell sick and I spent a night on my own, recovering from too much talking, walking, eating and drinking.

We met Kasimu Shaban - town councilor for Lake Katwe Kabatoro Town Council who charged us some US dollars to show us around the salt pan industry on Lake Katwe - a devastating glimpse at the harsh life these poor people lead. We had our boots washed, our bodies massaged after gorilla treks and our stomachs filled with popcorn, home baked biscuits and gently sautéed green grasshoppers which are the top Ugandan delicacy when in season. 

I felt humble sitting hot, sweaty, muddy in the prickly, bottom stabbing undergrowth keeping company with mountain gorilla's.  I viewed 37 individuals in three treks - 5% of the world's population put another way. We ate some of their bamboo shoots, tested some wild fruits and were glad we didn't have to build a nest in the top of a tree every night before crawling into bed. We visited the volcanoes clustered on the borders of Uganda/Rwanda and Congo and which my companion climbed in record 2 and a half hours.

Most magical of all were the green, green acres of rain forest with swirling mists, splendid trees, giant ferns and snails edged by villages, crops and people in this - the Switzerland of Africa.

I was brought up barefoot with tangled, unbrushed hair on a farm in Africa (until I was sent off to boarding school)! No I'm not a farmer and never have been but I do remember perfectly dark nights with drums banging in the compound and wood smoke drifting through the air with greatest pleasure. We didn't have the big five on the farm but we had acres of bush filled with bushpigs, duiker, guinea fowl and the occassional stray elephant who'd wandered too far from the Zambezi Valley.

Now I grow my own veggies at the bottom of our garden in Devon and I tried keeping 4 hens too. The hens had to be rehomed after getting too intimate with the conservatory and my veggie garden needs secret supplementing from the organic farm down the road. I've turned to cycling instead and these days I follow the tracks across Dartmoor or along the great South west coast whenever I can.

I studied interior architecture for the corporate market and used it to good effect over the years, constantly redesigning our offices and moving everyone about every few weeks until they once grew tired of the changes and bolted everything to the floor!

I've spent 36 years living in Africa and 6 years in England; 12 of these years have been spent concentrating on everything necessary to develop our specialist safari operation which has also involved moving our head office to England after dark days in Zimbabwe.

My love and knowledge of Africa grows every day which I use to good effect when involved with any part of our company whether its marketing, working with clients or looking at financials. I'm always in the Ermington office unless, like Chris, I've become a little fedup with the office routine and gone off to find something a touch more remote!

Overview

USD 2550.00 per person sharing

GBP 1330.00 per person sharing

The eight day safari includes the Mountain Gorillas in Uganda or Rwanda, game viewing, optional chimp tracking in Chamburu Gorge and bird-watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park, including a boat cruise, and Ngamba island chimp sanctuary. Two gorilla tracking opportunities are included on this itinerary, but MUST be requested at time of booking and will be subject to availability.

Gorilla permits are not included and are currently US$375.00 per person in Uganda and US$500.00 per person in Uganda as from June 2007. Permits must be pre-booked and paid in advance. International flights to and from Africa are also excluded.

Contact Trish on for further info