Gorilla Trekking in Uganda: When a Broken Plane Led to a Bucket List Adventure

In January, we set off for Rwanda with big plans and even bigger excitement. But just as we were cruising through the skies, our plane… broke. Mid-air. Yep—our flight turned around and we ended up back where we started. And with that unexpected detour, we missed the most anticipated part of the trip: trekking to see mountain gorillas.

But we weren’t giving up that easily.

Once we got home, we regrouped, rebooked, and came back with an even bigger itinerary and a lot more determination. This time, we made it an overnight trip instead of a quick day trek—and honestly, I’m so glad we did. Staying at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, tucked inside Uganda’s stunning Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, was a major highlight. Cozy, welcoming, and perfectly located just minutes from the trek start points—it was everything we needed.

Our guide, Christopher, picked us up right at 8 AM from our guesthouse in Kigali, and from there, our second attempt at gorilla trekking was finally underway.

Why We Chose Uganda Over Rwanda

One of the biggest deciding factors? The gorilla permits.

• Uganda permits are currently $800 per person (as of July 2025)

• Rwanda permits are $1,500 per person

The experience is incredible either way, but if you’re traveling with a group or family, the savings in Uganda can be significant—and the trek is just as magical.

What’s Included in the Safari Package

Every tour company is a little different, but here’s what was included in ours (and what I’d recommend looking for):

• Gorilla trekking permit

• 1 night accommodation (we chose mid-range, triple room)

• All meals

• Bottled water

• Private 4x4 safari vehicle

• Fuel

• English-speaking driver/guide

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kigali

• Optional stop at Lake Bunyonyi or Lake Mutanda

Day 1: Kigali to Bwindi (With a Few Twists)

The drive from Kigali to the Bwindi area takes about five hours—depending on road conditions. We traveled during rainy season, which meant some roads were washed out and, to add another layer of excitement, we had to pass through Ebola checkpoints at the border. (All standard precautions, nothing alarming.)

We originally planned to stop for lunch at The Coffee Pot Café, but it was closed (note: closed Sundays!), so we made an impromptu stop across the street at a nearby hostel. No complaints though—the view of Volcanoes National Park from the courtyard made the detour completely worth it.

The drive through the hills toward Bwindi takes you past remote villages and sparkling lakes—this part of Uganda is often called “The Switzerland of Africa,” and for good reason.

Day 2: Gorilla Trekking with the Mucunguzi Family

We had an early morning meetup with the rangers and were assigned to track the Mucunguzi gorilla family—a group of eight that included one silverback male and three adorable babies.

There’s no shortage of packing lists online, but here’s what I found truly essential:

• A porter (non-negotiable—get one!)

• Walking stick (included with the porter)

• Water

• Gardening gloves

• Bug spray

• Gaiters or high socks

Porters typically cost about $15 USD, and that includes the walking stick. Tipping is appreciated and well-deserved. You’ll likely have two trackers, two guides, and a ranger with you. A standard tip is around $5 USD per person, but more is always appreciated.

Surprise Detour… Again

In true “Trip’n with Trina” fashion, our trek got interesting fast.

About an hour in, we found out we’d been tracking the wrong gorilla family. But thanks to all the snacks, drinks, and patience we packed (plus our incredible porters), we took it in stride. It’s best to prepare for anything—some hikes can take up to six hours depending on the gorilla group’s location.

Once the trackers located the Mucunguzi family, we began the second leg of our hike—straight down the mountain through thick jungle. Even with good hiking boots, we slipped constantly. The foliage was wild, the terrain rough, and I now have even more respect for people who hike through this terrain regularly with machetes in hand.

Face-to-Face with a Silverback

The first gorilla we encountered? The massive silverback.

Let’s just say… he wasn’t thrilled to see us.

The trackers were clearing brush near him when he suddenly charged, showing his teeth in a not-so-subtle warning. The golden rule of gorilla trekking is: don’t run if a gorilla approaches. But of course, most of our group panicked and scattered. Looking back, it’s funny. In the moment? Absolutely terrifying.

A powerful reminder that, while these gorillas are habituated to humans, they’re still wild animals—and we’re in their territory.

After he calmed down and found a comfy spot to nap, we moved on and found the mother and two babies. The little ones were playful and curious, and we did our best to stay still as they checked us out. You’re supposed to keep at least 7 meters of distance, but curious baby gorillas sometimes have their own ideas.

The hour we spent with them flew by—it was surreal, peaceful, and deeply humbling.

The Jungle Doesn’t Let You Leave Easily

The trek back out? Brutal. Straight up through thick undergrowth. At one point, we were literally swinging from vines to climb the steep sections. It felt like something out of Jumanji. But we made it, sweaty and proud.

At the finish, we received a completion certificate, hugged our guides, and thanked them for the unforgettable experience. Our driver met us with our packed lunch, and we headed back to Kigali—physically exhausted but emotionally full.

Final Thoughts

If gorilla trekking is on your bucket list, don’t let delays, rain, or mid-air malfunctions stop you. This experience is one of the most powerful, humbling, and awe-inspiring things I’ve ever done. Uganda delivered in every way, and I’m so thankful we didn’t give up after our first attempt.

Happy Traveling,

Katrina

Colors of Cartagena

Our time was short in Cartagena, but it was incredibly memorable. We started the morning with what many say is a must-do while visiting this gorgeous city riding in a Chiva Bus. A Chiva bus cam only be described as a party on wheels. Upon arrival to the bus we were handed a bucket of ice, local rum and coke. The entertainment on board was a 3-man band located in the middle rows of the bus; which truly bring the party to life. While some shy away from 8am cocktails, we embraced the experience like a local. When in Rome, right?  

We took a short site seeing tour stopping to take photos at San Felipe Castle and Las Bóvedas. Las Bóvedas at one time was the cities dungeon and now turned into a tourist hub for souvenirs. Outside the shops was an authentic Colombia coffee kiosk made out of an old Willys jeep. From Las Bóvedas you can capture views of the ocean or even start a bike ride along the city walls. 

We headed back through the city on our party bus and were dropped off at the clock tower to finish the city highlights. Beyond those walls were some of the most colorful buildings I had ever seen. The balconies, flowers and colorfully dressed ladies carrying baskets of fruit on their heads were along every street. We strolled for hours just taking in each and every square block of this fantastic city. We even stopped into the famous Juan Valdez. 

Cartagena sparked our curiosity for Colombia and we cannot wait to go back to see more. 

Happy Traveling, 

Katrina

Sunshine and Southern Africa

Sunshine and Southern Africa

After watching a recent reality show where two men road tripped from Scotland to Cape Town. I was completely intrigued about what Africa had to offer. All great things start with a flight and a ton of planning. I decided to use Victoria Falls for my base to travel around the region. Many safaris and overland tours use Victoria Falls, as a starting and end-point for their tours. Usually only spending a day or two in the area.

There are 3 airports that serve the region, and all are in three different countries. Picking the right one and the right visa is key to a seamless trip. I watched quite a few American’s come via Botswana and did only single-entry visas for the region. They were held at the border for over 3 hours trying to enter. I cannot stress enough that if you plan to country hop the Kasa Visa (Zimbabwe and Zambia) 30-day visa was the best option. I do not believe it’s possible to obtain this when coming into Botswana currently.

Now do you book ahead or wing it on arrival? I came in the height of high-season and many of the tours I had booked were sold out when I arrived. So, it’s a risk you must weigh if you chose to wing it. Choosing who to book through was the hardest thing by far. With the amount of tour companies in the area, it was overwhelming to say the least. I decided to go with Shearwater Adventures, as they were budget friendly and offered the largest variety of tours. They even helped with organize an external camping trip, but due to the water levels it had to be cancelled last minute.

Day One

Upon arrival I was collected by the Shearwater staff and taken to Explorers Village in the heart of Victoria Falls. The village offered camping and chalet accommodation. I stayed in a tent the first two days and then moved to the chalets the latter three days. To be honest knowing what I know now I would have stayed in the tents the whole time, as it was feasible for time I spent in the “room”. The shower/toilet block was large and clean. Don’t forget a towel and a lock for your tent and you are set.  The village was a five-minute walk to local craft markets and most of the restaurants. The falls were under a 10-minute walk.  

Straight off the plane I wasted no time and headed over to get some views of the bridge and waterfalls. There is a small trail that runs parallel to the road to the falls. Along the way you will see signs for the “Lookout Cafe” which is owned by Wild Horizons another prominent tour company in the area. I turned up as lunch was ending, but they did not skip a beat in letting me order. The view from here was downright incredible. From their viewpoint you can watch the zipline and swing that plunges into the falls. I called it an early night and headed back to camp.

Day Two

The next morning, I was collected for my trip to Botswana. The border crossing was quite quick, if you have the right visa to exit Zimbabwe. I love pedestrian border crossings, as they always have that good amount of chaos and excitement. We had some free time in Kasane to walk around before heading down to Chobe Safari Lodge on the river. Killing some time before our safari boat launch and I opted for a speed boat tour along the river. It was amazing, as you get into areas where the large barges cannot reach. If you an elephant lover, you are in for a freaking treat!!

I had pre-booked the game drive and river safari cruise with lunch to commence at 11am. You will get close to crocodiles, hippos and if you are lucky you will see tons of elephants. I preferred the water safari over the land, as many of the animals had already started migrating due to the bush being dry in areas. We saw a lot of impalas, water buffalo and a family of giraffes.

The group headed back to Zimbabwe and I met up with some of the other campers. We had found out that there was a free bus to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, which is said to have the best sunset views. Off we went on the bus to check out this new-found gem. Upon arrival we headed to the bar for drinks and grabbed a seat overlooking the national park. The sunset did not disappoint in the slightest and glad this saved us the chaotic burden of the sunset cruise.

Day Three

Another morning and another activity. This by far was the one I was looking forward to the most. Canoe safari down the Zambezi river. I convinced one of the campers to join me, as I had book two spots to have this private tour. We headed through the national park for about 25km until reaching our landing point. As it was very early the game in the park was really on the move. We spotted so many animals, including a mother and baby giraffe.

We stopped and had a quick breakfast with the guides. The guides went over all the risks and safety information and we set off down the Zambezi. I say risks, as there are points when you come in close contact to hippos and they do try to capsize boats. I will not sugar coat it, I was damn scared. But how cool to talk about if you survive. This is quite strenuous, as you do canoe for over 20km down a river avoiding wildlife and debris. I got the experience of a lifetime and while we did have a near miss. I call it a win in my book.

As the excursion was quite early we ventured out to the Victoria Falls Bridge for some views. This was the perfect time to watch the bungee jumpers from the main platform. I cannot believe that over 1,000 people a month jump off that bridge. 90% of them women. The money from the activities on the bridge is used to paint and provide restoration. Sunset was approaching, and we whisked off to local brewery for some beer and grub. The River Brewing Company was touristy, but tasty.

Day Four

The next day was a bit chaotic, as I naively crammed three tours in one day. It usually works, but my transport in route was shared and well the group sharing transport turned up nearly an hour late (no apologises either). I started my day in a foul mood to be honest. The transport rushed me to the border to start my historic bridge tour, but I had missed it. They sorted it out and got me a private guide Simba. He really made the best of my frustrating morning. You are given some information about the bridge and then jump in a harness to walk the underneath of the bridge. I found this interesting and had the pleasure of a train coming over the top when we were underneath. As we finished the tour I walk to meet the bus and see it leaving back to Zimbabwe. Apparently, the others who were late, were too impatient to wait another 5 minutes for me to finish. The irony I tell you. The driver came back shortly after, as he saw me waving him down from Zambia. (HAHA)

I was rushed to the National Park to meet my guide Thabani for our waterfall tour. It was well worth the wait!! As it was now mid-afternoon most of the tourist had left. We had the waterfalls to ourselves for most of the tour. After a picturesque walk in the rain forest we headed back to the lodge. I killed a few hours before the sunset cruise I had booked for this evening.

I will spare you the grim details, but if you want to feel like cattle on a boat this is for you. We had arrived nearly last and others had already rearranged tables for their parties. I get it, but spare seats were sparse and forget anyone being considerate when asked to use a chair they had their bags in. I ended up standing right above the stairs in a nook to even get breathing room. Only bonus is unlimited booze was included, but we got some very unpleasant looking snacks. There were lots of boats on the river that looked orderly, but this was not it. So, do your research and book a sunset dinner cruise. I believe I got a better experience for free at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, but to each their own. The amount of alcohol consumption helped my fear of heights, as impromptu booked the helicopter flight for the next day.

Day Five

Final day in Victoria Falls and my hike to the Boiling Point was cancelled the night before. Rightfully so as the water was still too high, and we would have been swept away. There was one spot left to visit the local Elephant Orphanage. It was a before sunrise departure, but I felt it was totally worth it. On arrival you are greeted by the staff at the lodge and paired up with an elephant for your 45-minute walk.  I will spare you too many details but consider the Elephant Back Safari. After a walk in the bush, snacks with the elephants and breakfast we left. I was thankful I was able to go and learn more about the elephants native to the region. This is no dog and pony show, so if you really want to learn about elephant migration and conservation this place is for you. They limit the visitors to around 30 people a day.

Then the finale happened. Somehow convinced that getting in a helicopter over the falls was a great idea. My fear of heights and questioning the safety of the aircraft kept playing over and over in my head.  The van showed up to take me about 10 minutes away to the helipad. After arriving I jumped on the scale with my bags in hand and was briefed on my 15-minute flight. The couple I was to share the trip with had flown before, so pretty much told me I was taking the front seat. It was incredible and memorable seeing the falls from a few thousand feet above. You can get the video from your flight after your tour if you wish.

This trip was really one of the most amazing trips I have been on. It was great to meet so many people along the way, but enjoyed being outside my comfort zone alone.

Happy Travels,

Katrina

Uniquely Tokyo

When most people think Japan, they think technology. Japan is so unique in its own right, that Tokyo truly lives up to the hype. 

Imagine ordering food from a vending machine, cuddling cats in a cafe or riding Mario Karts through the city. Well its all available to try in Tokyo.  

I headed to Tokyo to run the 2017 Marathon. Having lived in Japan before, I already had my heart set on some of the top crazy things to do in the city. 

I used Shinjuku as a good base, staying at the Keio Plaza Hotel. The hotel was centrally located near metro and JR stations. The hotel offers a penthouse Karaoke bar if thats something to tick off your bucket list. 

Vending machine restaurant  

Tokyo is truly the city that never sleeps. Suffering from jet lag made it easy to wander out late to see what crazy things happen after dark. The night life is incredible and you will be spoiled for choice on what to eat and see.  I mean even the man hole covers are gorgeous. After a long day I headed in to get some rest before the adventure truly began. 

Man hole covers.  

Shinagawa Port Area

A lot of things in Tokyo book up in advance, so I highly recommend prebooking if possible. While I came for the race, a chance to dress up and drive go-karts through the city was a dream come true. I left busy Shinjuku for Shinagawa port. What I found there was ornately painted temples and beautifully done metal doors. Each one offering a different part of the port towns story. 

I turned the corner to find about 20 cars all tucked in and ready to tour the city. This experience is truly a MUST do!   

After 2 hours wizzing around Tokyo it was time to find more fun. Now off to see what the Cat Cafe and Robot restaurant were all about.  For a small fee you can go in and pet cats!! 

And if thats not enough. Go have dinner with a few robots. 

Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto, you know you were thinking it. Dinner was not open yet, so I did my robot moves out front and moved on. I was on a mission now and in search of the holy grail of Japanese treats, the KITKAT. No, I am not kidding. The flavours are unique and endless. Don Quiote is where you can find these magical treats. 

I loaded up on flavors such as red bean and sake. This store was packed with so much!! I decided a costume for the race was a must. 

I mean how many times will I have a chance to run in a Kimono with Pikachu and the gang. Tokyo lived up to all its expectations and a little more. 

Happy Traveling,  

Katrina