The Rare Jungle Elephants

*This advendure took place at the end of August*

While staying at the Primate Lodge in Kibale National Forest, the manager, Emmanuel informed me that the lodge owned a tree house about one kilometer in the forest behind the cottages. The tree house offered a great view of an opening from the forest where you could spot primates, birds and “if you were very lucky you may see the rare jungle elephants.” Emmanuel arranged for an employee to take me back to this gem in the jungle. I would jump at any chance for a hike in the forest. As soon as we approached the steps to the tree house the guide instructed me to “hurry and climb to the top… they are here!” On my assent I looked out to the open field to my right and there they were… not one, but five jungle elephants. The guide was very excited, as was I, but his excitement was a bit more concern. Jungle elephants are very different from bush elephants. Physically, they are narrower in size, darker, smaller and have more body hair. They also become very agitated easily as they do their best to avoid the human species. I was instructed to “hurry up and take photos… we need to leave the tree house.” The elephants were beginning to move close to the tree house and the guide was afraid they would block the path and trap us. When we returned to the lodge, Emmanuel was speechless when we told him we encountered the jungle elephants. He actually didn’t believe us at first. He told me that visitors would sleep at the tree house with a guide for nights at a time hoping to catch a glance of these rare giants. Just one more special memory about Uganda and Africa that I will remember forever.