Day 1 – Arrival at the Pearl of Africa Uganda

Touching down, crossing borders, and witnessing beauty beyond words as I arrived at the Pearl of Africa Uganda

After eight and a half hours in the air, I landed in Uganda just after sunrise. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. My head was a swirl of anticipation, nerves, and tiredness from the overnight flight, but I’d managed to get some sleep thanks to two empty seats on my RwandAir flight from London Heathrow. The crew were lovely and the food surprisingly good.

Outside Kigali airport, I was met by familiar smiles: Alex, Alphonse, and Thilda, who I soon learned was their Rwanda-based guide, met during training earlier in the year. I gave Alex a big hug. It felt surreal to be here, on Ugandan soil, meeting in real life the people I’d worked with so closely from afar.

Rwanda to Uganda

As we drove through Kigali and eventually crossed the border into Uganda, I watched the landscape unfold like a painting in motion. First came the tea plantations—lush, vivid green, patterned like a woven blanket. Then rice paddies shimmered in the sun before giving way to open grazing fields dotted with cattle.

We passed through bustling trading centres, Uganda’s version of the high street, with roadside stalls, wooden or brick lockups with metal doors and no windows, boda bodas, and people going about their day carrying heavy loads on their heads. It was noisy, colourful and chaotic.

At one scenic viewpoint, we pulled over to gaze across a deep, green valley filled with banana trees. The hills rolled endlessly into the distance, layer upon layer of rich fertile land. It was here I saw my first grey crowned crane—the national bird of Uganda. They mate for life, and when one dies, the other often dies of heartbreak. There were two of them, of course.

We reached Kabale and stopped at the Amatsiko Tours office, where I got to see my own designs on the office windows. That felt pretty special. I met Robert and the rest of the team. Alphonse shared his dream: a team of twelve (we’re currently eight). “Twelve like the apostles,” he said with a smile. Twelve—the number of strength, balance, and unity.

From there, we continued towards Lake Bunyonyi, my first real glimpse of what Uganda is famous for.

Lake Bunyonyi: The Pearl in the Pearl of Africa

Winston Churchill famously called Uganda “the Pearl of Africa”, and when you see Lake Bunyonyi, you understand why. Surrounded by misty volcanic hills, this lake of 29 emerald islands looks almost mythical. The name Bunyonyi means “place of little birds,” and it’s not hard to see—or hear—why. Birds flit everywhere, the soundtrack to the stillness.

We stopped for lunch at Arcadia Lodges, perched high above the lake. It felt like eating on the edge of the world. The view was beyond words—miles of water, patchwork islands, misty mountains. I ordered a burger (not quite local, but I was hungry!) and I got my first Ugandan lesson: finish all your food. Not finishing your plate can be seen as rude here, especially in places where food security isn’t guaranteed, but a word of warning—the portions are big.

After lunch, we toured the lodges, beautifully appointed, charming cabins nestled in the hillside. Imagine waking up to that view every day and taking coffee on the balcony.

Then it was down to the lakeside edge to check into Bunyonyi Safari Resort. The rooms were basic but spacious, and I put up my mosquito net just in case, despite the staff saying it was “too cold for them.” I wasn’t taking chances just yet, because mosquitoes love me.

We explored the lakeshore, took a look at the floating platform and boats we’d use the next day, and finally gathered around the firepit for dinner and to talk through the days ahead. I already felt the rhythm of Uganda slowing my pace, stretching my heart, and opening my eyes.

And that was only Day One.

Travel Tip of the Day: Lake Bunyonyi Named The Pearl of Africa Uganda

• The second-deepest lake in Africa at over 900 metres
• No hippos or crocodiles – safe for swimming
• Popular for canoeing, hiking, birdwatching and cultural visits
• Many of the islands have their own stories, including the haunting history of “Punishment Island,” which I’ll share in the next blog

Personal Reflection

I came here expecting to learn about Uganda. What I didn’t expect was to feel so deeply connected to it, so fast. To meet people with big dreams and open arms. To feel like I was exactly where I needed to be.

Tomorrow: cooking with Anna, mountain hikes, and the island with a tragic past.