Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park (translated)

I am not usually one for gushing testimonials, but this experience made me look in awe at our closest relatives in the animal kingdom and our whole relationship with nature in a new light. That's why I try to express it as vividly and impressively in language as it felt for us.

It's early in the morning, the air is still fresh and a light mist hovers over the water. I'm standing on the terrace of Kasana Lake House, my gaze gliding over the glistening lake as the first rays of sunlight break through the trees. A perfect starting point for today's adventure: chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park.

We - a group of five friends - had been dreaming of this moment for a long time. The idea of meeting our closest relatives in the wild was electrifying. After a hearty breakfast, we set off. Kibale National Park is only a short drive away, and we soon find ourselves immersed in the dense rainforest.

Our guide, an experienced ranger, explains to us what to look out for: the sounds of the chimpanzees, their nests in the treetops, leaves flying around or fruit falling. And then - barely an hour into the forest - we hear it: loud cries, a deep call from the treetops. We stop and listen. Then we see the first dark silhouettes darting through the canopy.

Our heartbeat accelerates as an adult male slides down the trunk of a giant fig right in front of us. I hold my breath - he is sitting just a few meters away, watching us with a knowing look, as if he is sizing us up. His powerful arms rest on his knees, his expression is calm, almost thoughtful. A younger female joins us, then a playing cub, giggling and clinging to its mother.

The next 45 minutes fly by. We follow the group, see them eating, cuddling and scratching each other. It is indescribable how similar they are to us - their facial expressions, their gestures, their social behavior. No movie or photo can even come close to capturing this experience.

On the way back, we are all silent, impressed, almost awestruck. Back at Kasana Lake House, we end the day with a view of the peaceful lake. A cold beer in our hands, the echo of the jungle still in our ears - a day that is forever etched in our memories.

Uganda has enchanted us.