Uganda – a country I always knew I would visit one day! Not only is this the place where you can see Gorillas and Chimpanzees up close, but it also has so much more to offer. The trip I took in the summer of 2025 was mainly focused on seeing as many bird species as possible. Personally, I’ve long accepted that I won’t end up with the world’s biggest bird list, since I also love dedicating time to other animals. My personal “must-see” bird list was therefore quite short. But there was no doubt which one stood at the very top: the Shoebill.
Experiencing certain natural phenomena can be an experience like nothing else. Witnessing a solar eclipse, for instance, that happened to me in Chile. I still remember it well and it was one of the most special things I have ever seen. Watching an erupting volcano or a roaring tornado also strikes me as one of those unique experiences. Encounters with animals in the wild can evoke a similar feeling. There is a difference between simply seeing an animal and truly experiencing an animal.