Uganda is known as the Pearl of Africa and its endowed with diverse nature and wildlife. The monk culture is known for having passion for understanding life by retreating into nature across the world. Choosing Uganda as a destination for a monk retreat is one of the best choices a traveler will ever make. Uganda will not disappoint but also it will offer a special pilgrimage in the wild. Explore Uganda where wilderness becomes a temple
Let’s talk about the waters flowing in Lake Victoria that offer a natural treatment and relaxation of a soul,
A safari in Uganda takes you to the most serene places you could dream of visiting in your life time
Safaris are typically for adventures, but for the monks it’s about spiritual discovery. The monks can spend their time on meditations in Uganda’s tropical rainforests for example Mabira, Budongo, Bwindi, Rwenzori Mountains and experiencing Uganda’s sunrise and sunsets in the remote open savannah forests like Kidepo Valley National Park and Murchison falls
WHO ARE THE MONKS?
Monks are seekers who dedicate their lives to prayer and service. They walk in silence practicing meditation. They prefer retreats into the forests and mountains looking for liberation leaving behind distractions of ordinary life thus being drawn closer to wisdom and the divine. Uganda is the best destination for these kinds of spiritual journeys due to the richness of its ecosystems
THE MONK SAFARI EXPERIENCE.
Silence on the Savannah; monks approach wildlife on a safari with respect and humility for the Mother Earth. They often observe the wildlife in a respectful distance within the animals’ comfortable and safe zones to reduce stress that is always caused to these creatures by other normal tourists. This portrays a sense of mindfulness. In Uganda’s iconic park the Murchison Falls National Park. The monks can embark on sundowner in order to honor and respect the beauty of nature which makes them feel entirely connected.
Sacred encounter with the gorillas; the mountain gorillas call Bwindi forest their home, this park is located in southwestern part of Uganda and is one of the African old forests, it’s a tropical rainforest that acts as a water catchment area to the many rivers that serve many communities around these areas with water, it also holds a number of waterfalls . this is the best destination for the monks on a safari as it connects the souls of these people with the land the old tropical impenetrable rainforests are good for meditation that connects their mind to wisdom. they can also spend their time at the Munyaga flowing river as they enjoy the flowing waters along the boarders.
Gorilla trekking is the major tourism activity that takes place in this park, the mountain gorillas are some of the great apes that are closely related to humans and therefore they experience most things that human beings experience in their daily life for example love conflicts and stress. By trekking to these magnificent creatures, the monks get to appreciate the relationship between the wildlife and people, they always get to learn how a family is led by a dominant male that is responsible for any activities like in most human being
Moments in national parks and forests in Uganda
Several parks and forests in Uganda like semuliki national park offer unique calm forest walks that can equip the monks with peace of mind and relaxation, they can also meditate while doing these activities, all they can hear is noise made by birds and the running water, this feeling is like a paradise
Walking in the wild, encountering the wildlife on foot, by approaching the giraffes the tallest land mammal, looking at the dazzle of zebras, together with several species of antelopes as they graze in Lake Mburo National Park, the monks get to appreciate and recognize the togetherness and coexistence in the same habitant
SPIRITUAL LESSONS FROM A MONK SAFARI IN THE WILD
Monks visiting Uganda for a safari are not mainly focused on just seeing the wildlife, but their aim is about what the wild can teach them in their daily life, patience, interdependence and passing moments
Patience: this can be observed in the savannah parks of kidepo valley national park and Murchison falls where lions may lie for hours under the acacia trees gaining their strength until their time to move. for the monks this shows their practice of mediation
Interdependence: this can be recognized when vultures balance the ecosystems by cleaning the carcasses, the monks have a principle that nothing exists in isolation, Ugandan communities especially the cultural traditions use this too many people regard forests and mountains as sacred
Passing moments, a caravan of elephants crossing the road in Murchison falls national park and a leopard disappearing through the grasses. this shows the monks that everything passes thus aiming on cherishing each moment deeply as nothing lasts
REFLECTIONS FOR A TRAVELLER
Monks are driven with a sense of tradition while conducting their journeys, this explains that safaris should not only be about luxury and photographs but also be a journey of pilgrimage. travelers can therefore decide instead of rushing from park to park wanting to cover a wide number of destinations to spending time calmly as they connect with the wildlife like elephants or by breathing in the air of the open savanna.
Travelers can also spend time exploring the old forests in Uganda, walking through the trails of the forest, listening to the bird sounds and calls, keeping quiet and reminding themselves that creatures are not performers, but live to be honored.
Travelers can also explore wildlife as they respect their peace, monks often treat the animals as their fellow human beings. All travelers can approach them with humility instead of intrusion
A monk safari in Uganda can be treated as a pilgrimage. It doesn’t require religious beliefs; all it needs is approaching the journey with relevance. Uganda doesn’t just offer the vast landscapes but also a collection of memories with deeper awareness.