How Uganda Changed Me — And Might Inspire You, Too

Hello and happy Monday!

Last week, I shared how I finally fulfilled my lifelong dream of traveling to Africa. And now that I’ve returned from ten unforgettable days in Uganda, I’m still processing it all.

This wasn’t just a trip—it was a purpose-filled journey, split into two powerful parts: medical outreach and wildlife safari. One was about connecting with people. The other, with the land. Both changed me.

I could tell you about...

The deep poverty we witnessed—and the dignity of those living in it.
The joyful hospitality of the Ugandan people.
The breathtaking beauty of Murchison Falls National Park.
Seeing lions, leopards, elephants and buffalo—four of the “Big Five”—roaming free.
Or the quiet awe that washed over me, again and again.

But for now, I want to share my why—in hopes it helps you reflect on yours.

My why? Connection.

On my very first day in a clinic in Lira, an elderly man looked at me kindly and said (through a translator), “You should learn my language.”

He was right.
Over the next few days, I learned to say:

How are you? – Itye ni ngo?
I’m good. – Atye aber.
Thank you. – Apwoyo.

Each time I spoke a few words of Longo, the local language, I saw faces light up. We laughed at my pronunciations, and walls disappeared. Strangers became friends. That connection? It’s the reason I love to travel.

And then, on safari, I felt another kind of connection—this time with the land. With the sheer wonder of nature, of wild animals living freely, of a sky wider than I’ve ever known.

At Wander for Days, we often talk about different types of travelers (have you taken the quiz yet?). I’m a Cultural Explorer through and through—I travel to connect with people and understand the heart of a place.

Uganda opened its heart to me.

In return, I want to open yours to something deeper.

So I leave you with this: