In the beginning…

What started as a young man’s dream to return to his homeland has evolved in to a thriving safari and tourism business in Uganda. Jonathan Wright was born and raised in Uganda, on the banks of the River Nile. His childhood was full of adventure, discovery and excitement. Quite clearly, during these formative years, Africa truly became engrained in his soul. It is true that real life has a way of taking over and for a time, Africa seemed very far away. The equatorial sun was eclipsed by school in England, University in Canada, a job in London, marriage, children. Throughout those years, however, the blood of Africa still ran in his veins. Fate, determination (stubbornness), and love for this land eventually brought him home again.

At first, Life in Africa meant commuting between his home in Canada and his new home in the bush in Western Uganda, but after the birth of their second child, the entire family moved to Uganda for good in early 1997. The family based themselves in Kampala, the capital city, and set up an office. This was the base for what was then called ‘Green Wilderness Group’.

The Uganda Safari Company has since its start in 1994 become one of the most respected safari operators in the country, one of the few companies in the country who maintains a full time staff of local safari guides, mechanics, support staff, a fleet of vehicles, and concessions in two of Uganda’s more special wildlife areas.

Semliki Safari Lodge opened to great acclaim in 1998, heralded as a lodge ‘in the true African tradition’. A prize for the company’s contribution to conservation was presented at the Uganda Investor of the Year ceremony in 1999. In 2002 Jonathan was invited to sit on the Board of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the body that oversees the welfare of all wildlife and protected areas in the country.

Now, in 2006 we are proud to announce that the construction of our latest project, the Apoka Safari Lodge, has been completed in the remote, romantic Kidepo Valley.

Furthermore, The Emin Pasha Hotel, Kampala’s first boutique hotel, has successfully opened its doors.

Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, a first in Uganda, is being built as a partnership between The Uganda Safari Company/Wildplaces, and the Africa Wildlife Foundation through the International Gorilla Conservation Programme.