05/08/2025
In 2016, I explored the back roads of Uganda by bus and moto, chasing both nature and humanity. After a wild moto ride from Portal, I landed at a camp outside Kibale National Park, where hippos slept in the lake and I swapped stories with a lovely British couple under the stars.
The next morning, I thought I could just walk into the park—until the camp owners warned me about wild elephants and monkeys! They got me a driver, and soon I was trekking through the forest, running after chimps as our guides called them down from the trees. I was 39, turning 40 soon, and noticed most of my fellow trekkers were retired—and struggling with the adventure.
Wanderkarma Tip #1: Travel now. Don’t wait until you’re retired. Your knees (and your spirit) will thank you!
Among the chimps, there’s always a leader. I snapped a photo of one who had just been ousted, now wandering the forest alone—a powerful reminder that even great leaders can find themselves on the outside.
When I got out of the forest, it was Election Day in the US. My Ugandan driver said, “You did not vote for the woman. We knew you would not.” In Uganda, many people have grown up with corrupt governments their whole lives. They know the feeling of disappointment, hope, and loss.
Wanderkarma Tip #2: We learn from other people’s history. Listen and let the stories you hear on the road shape your understanding of the world.
Hard to believe it’s 2025 and so much still resonates. That’s the magic of travel—it connects us, teaches us, and reminds us we’re all part of a bigger story.
