Meeting with AmCham - the American Chamber of Commerce in Uganda

It was a pleasure to sit down with the American Chamber of Commerce in Uganda -- AmCham -- to discuss the newly launched Center for the Study of the United States at Makerere University and to explore avenues for partnerships between the Center and the American business community.

For more about the American Chamber of Commerce in Uganda, see 

https://www.amchamuganda.co.ug/

I brought sunglass from Visit St. Pete Clearwater! 

https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/

the official tourism and marketing board in Pinellas County, Florida

I have not been able to visit the US Embassy or the US Embassy American Center while in Uganda, due to the US federal government shutdown. This has been my biggest regret/disappointment about my Fulbright position here. So, imagine the pleasant surprise when I saw literature from the US Embassy on display at AmCham. I wasn't able to visit the American Center (or bring book donations or deliver a guest lecture) - but - I DO now have a copy of the brochure.

Sadly I will already be back in the US when the chamber presents this program for businesses on what they should know about how to prepare for election season in Uganda:

Gorilla Mist Camp -- our lodging at the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

When visiting the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (which is about a 10-12-14 hour drive from Kampala) for the gorilla trekking adventures, we stayed at the Gorilla Mist Camp.

Given our late arrival - then early morning departures - I never managed to have more than a few minutes to sit and enjoy the scenic views from the front porch of my lodge. That said, I did enjoy the time we did spend at the Gorilla Mist Camp. I would definitely recommend to prospective gorilla trekkers.

this was the deck of my cabin

With my driver from Ondaba Safari - Muhereza Callis.  I will write separately about the treacherous drive up the mountain. THANKS to Callis - we made it up and back down the mountain and to Kampala safely 

beautiful hand-carved gorillas carved on the door of the cabin

the stunning view from my porch  

on my porch - about 6:45 am - super excited about the gorilla trekking!

this was my room attendant - pictured here bringing my luggage back to our van - on his head - which is how people carry their loads

a nice fireplace where guests can hang out after dinner - this is in the dining room area

the lodge grounds were very well manicured

Up in the mountains the nights were cool; no central heating in the lodges, but with the blankets, this Florida girl did fine.  As I nestled into bed and rolled over to get comfortable - much to my surprise - I felt something FURRY.  I jumped out of bed and turned on the lights so fast!!  As it turned out, my room attendant had prepared my bed with this water bottle LOL It was definitely cozy, even without the central heating.

this silverback came home with me -- and so did a t-shirt declaring my gorilla trekking milestone 

For more about Gorilla Mist Camp, see https://gorillamistcamp.com/

Meeting with the Batwa Pygmies - cultural experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Yes -- I was exhausted after the SIX AND A HALF HOURS of gorilla trekking -- but -- I am so glad that I did not cancel the community tour planned for later in the day (as I was very tempted to do!)

My wonderful community Gude Susan escorted me to a number of stops (more climbing up and down the slippery mountainside!) -- including the school/orphanage, the basket weaving experience, the coffee plantation, and a visit to the Batwa village.

The Batwa Pygmies had lived in what is the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park -- a protected area for the gorillas. There is now land designated for the tribe, and while on the community tour, visitors can visit with them and learn more about their traditional way of life.

For some reason I am having "issues" uploading my videos here - which is a shame - because I want to share their dances with you.  I was greeted with a welcome dance, a dance welcoming me to their huts/homes, a dance after a successful hunt, and a farewell dance.

I appreciated learning more about their traditions -- translated by my guide Susan. The Batwa language is Rutwa, but Susan was translating for me in Rukiga - the language of the Bakiga tribe located in the Kigezi region.

(Note - I was traveling in the rainy season - but - if you travel in the dry season - I am sure your hikes would not be as slippery - so - please visit)

For more, see 

https://www.bwindiimpenetrablenationalpark.com/things-to-do/batwa-cultural-experience/

https://batwaexperience.org/tours/

I purchased hand-carved gorillas - and these are the artists who crafted them

the welcome dance

demonstrating how they would start fire using the friction of 2 sticks - I have to say this was most impressive to think of fires starting this way in the wet, rainy, muddy jungle that I had just spent 6.5 hours trekking!! 

success!

they showed me their houses where they lived - shown here a dance to welcome me to the village

the village

this is the special cave where women would give birth

this nest high in the tree is where babies would stay for safe keeping - far from any animals who could do them harm

simulating going out for a hunt (no longer allowed due to poaching rules)
Not pictured -- the chief trying to show me how to use their bow and arrow

there was a dance when the men came back from a successful hunt

a Farewell Dance

Basket weaving experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

As mentioned elsewhere on this blog, my gorilla trekking experience ended up taking SIX AND A HALF HOURS of grueling hiking, up and down the mountains, in the rain, the slippery mud, avoiding the ants and the snakes, etc, etc, 

I had booked excursions for the afternoon, after the gorilla trekking.

The very last thing we did om the community Tour was to visit the women for the basket weaving experience. Their hut was dark after sundown, and we were using the "flashlights" on our phone. 

Nevertheless, we persisted, I was able to get my much-anticipated basket weaving class. And also observed the demonstration about how to make the porridge and the fermented drink from sorghum.

Coffee Experience -- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Before I knew that it would take us SIX AND A HALF HOURS of grueling trekking up and down mountains, in the rain, in the slippery mud, with the ants and the snakes and the vines wrapping around my ankles, climbing over logs, etc, etc during the incredible gorilla trekking adventure, I had booked a number of excursions for the afternoon.

One of the experiences I was most looking forward to was the coffee experience -- the opportunity to visit a coffee plantation, and take the experience from picking the beans, roasting the beans, and enjoying brewed coffee.

Given how late we started the tour, we did an accelerated/abbreviated approach. But the experience did culminate in a delicious "cup 'o joe" 

Also - after the tour I was able to purchase some coffee from Bwindi to enjoy back home (and for holiday gifts).

Cheers to Susan, my wonderful Community Tour Guide

the ground coffee was added to the boiling water -- and then poured through this filter - it was delicious!

this is the kitchen where we prepared the coffee; this is the fire where we boiled the water

the beautiful views from the kitchen