Our Story
Imagine a place where, for one hour, you can experience a pristine world, a world untouched by mankind’s destructive hand. And that place is also in the presence of man’s second closest relative – the Great Ape.
In 2006, Lisa found such a place, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Uganda. The park stole her heart, changed the course of her life forever, and it was the start of Lisa’s love affair with mountain gorillas.
At the time, travel to Uganda was far from being a bucket list item, let alone a high-profile safari destination. Just the mention of Uganda raised eyebrows and left Lisa’s family aghast. But the seed had been planted, and there was no turning back. With three friends in tow, Lisa left for Uganda to see mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
“Gorillas are among the most spectacular animals on the planet and in my opinion, Uganda is one of the best places to track them”.
– Lisa Marsden
Privately Guided Safaris
In Lisa’s own words – I have trekked gorillas over 80 times, and I am still utterly humbled in their presence. I get goosebumps, stumble over my feet as I follow them, burst out laughing when a silverback passes wind, and often forget to breathe when a juvenile comes too close. I have been blessed with multiple trips to see gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic.
I privately guide all the treks; we stay in beautifully appointed lodges along the way and experience a host of other conservation-inspired activities. I also act as the group photographer, ensuring that everyone receives iconic, personalised photos with the gorillas.
Maybe because I’m African, I feel a special bond with these incredible creatures. Whenever I am with them, I am reminded of how much more I must learn and how much more tolerance the world needs.
Your Gorilla Family
With over 15 years of friendship and working together, we have explored almost every corner of Uganda. Each year, we embark on a team building trip where we hone our skills, forge new relationships and sample the latest products. As tourism in Uganda grows, so does our little team of experts.
Our passionate team combines diverse fields of knowledge to provide you with the very best experiences. We ensure that every detail is taken care of in a professional, personable and friendly manner. From the history of Omukama wa Tooro (the King of Tooro) to where to spot the elusive African Green Broadbill bird, we deliver extraordinary, life-changing Ugandan adventures.
We have been privileged to witness some very special moments in our pursuit to offer the very best; disregarding the wise words of an old Mukaaka (lady) of “do not go there”, only to get stuck bumper deep in mud and be hauled out by a laughing village, to watching a tree-climbing lioness carefully carrying in her mouth, her cub for the very first time, into a huge sycamore fig tree.
Steffi
From training as a mechanic to helping relocate chimpanzees from Queen Elizabeth National Park to Ngamba Island in 2001, Steffi brings expertise, care, and dedication to every safari. An integral part of our team, he combines years of experience, a sharp sense of humour, and specialist guiding skills to ensure every detail is handled. His favourite animal is of course, the chimpanzee!
Fred
Born and raised in Kanyashande near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Fred is our passionate birding expert and all-rounder. An indispensable part of the team, he handles everything from office chores to guiding walks through Bwindi. Fred’s favourite bird is the Black Bee-eater.