USA
UK / International
CA
Australia
About Eleanor
Born and raised in Kampala, Eleanor comes from a family deeply rooted in Ugandan tourism, fostering a lifelong passion for safaris and, most importantly, the positive impacts on local communities and wildlife from tourism.
Eleanor is a Uganda specialist, having spent most of her life exploring the ins and outs of the country with her cartographer father. She also knows Rwanda, Kenya, and Namibia very well.
Eleanor's recent travel experience
Eleanor recently travelled to Namibia, where she explored the Namib Desert, camped under the stars, and climbed Big Daddy. She hiked the massifs in Spitzkoppe, searched for desert-adapted elephant in Damaraland, spotted black rhinos in Etosha, and had incredible leopard sightings in Okonjima!
Eleanor's most memorable experience
“I will always love tramping through the damp, tangled forest of Bwindi Forest in search of gorillas. What starts out as dark shapes in the bushes, accompanied by snapping vegetation, soon reveals these solid figures that stop you in your tracks."
“Whilst chimpanzees, our closest relatives, are for the most part oblivious to our presence, gorillas have a natural curiosity for their surroundings, including us. My first time meeting the gaze of a gorilla sparked an inexplicable emotional connection – I could swear I almost saw them raising their eyebrows in judgement!"
“Just watching a family of gorillas and listening to the sounds – the grunting, dozing, branch snapping, farting (of such regularity, resonance, and volume!) – is just so rewarding."
“It’s difficult to think where else one might spend a more rewarding hour.”
Eleanor's biography
Born and raised in Kampala, Eleanor was brought up with a strong foundation of Ugandan tourism and conservation. She spent most holidays exploring the plethora of Uganda’s national parks with her family, her favourites being Kidepo and Bwindi.
She waxes lyrical about Ugandan culture and understands Lugisu (spoken in her village in Mbale, next to Mount Elgon). She is currently learning Swahili to connect with friends across the border.
Eleanor has had the privilege of working behind the scenes in lodges in western Uganda, and she has always gravitated to the kitchen to help make the incredible dishes served each day, fostering an appreciation for supporting local farmers.
From this exposure, Eleanor expanded her knowledge of wider East Africa, and after studying Tourism Management in the UK she began a career as an East Africa Specialist to spread her love of the motherland. She spends as much time as she can back in Uganda every year, where her family still lives.
