As part of her BSc Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology course, Lois Clark visited Uganda for 16 days. The trip ran from her Tropical Ecology and Conservation module and led the group to visit many places in Uganda, from Entebbe to Budongo Field Station. Read on to find out more about the trip and how Lois thinks it will help her degree going forward.
Tell me a bit about your trip to Uganda – what did you do?
The real question is, what didn’t we do! My trip to Uganda was honestly a once-in-a-lifetime experience from start to finish. Every single day was packed with new wildlife, culture and research.
We started off in Entebbe, where our very first wildlife sighting was a vervet monkey swinging through the trees outside our accommodation. From there, we went straight into lectures, birdwatching and even a visit to Lake Victoria’s fish market, which gave us an eye-opening look into Uganda’s local fishing communities and markets. In the evenings, we got to experience Uganda’s culture too – we went to the Ndere Cultural Centre for an incredible night of traditional dancing, music, and food.
As we travelled north, we stopped at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and walked alongside rhinos in their natural habitat – hearing them breathe and graze just metres away was unreal. We then visited the Kasenyi Community Tourism Group, who showed us how they’ve transitioned from poaching to conservation through beekeeping, food production, and ecotourism. It was such an inspiring example of community-led conservation. This was Sean’s friend Sipi’s community. Sipi and Sauda who are Sean’s friends and former colleagues joined us for the next few days of our trip.
Then came Murchison Falls National Park – which was just breathtaking. We hiked to the top of the falls, got absolutely drenched in the spray, and spent a few unforgettable days surrounded by wildlife. Some of us went on sunrise safaris where lions and leopards were literally up in the trees, while others explored the Nile by boat and spotted hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and even three shoebills – one of the rarest birds in Africa. We also did a second boat trip right up to the falls, where we saw kingfishers and Nile crocodiles, all while enjoying a Nile beer on the Nile – a true pinch-me moment!
After that, we moved on to Kaniyo Pabidi Forest for a guided walk with our lecturer Dr Sean O’Hara, who actually used to manage the site. Learning about the forest through his eyes was incredible, and we even met some of his local friends and colleagues who shared their knowledge with us.
The final stretch of the trip was spent at Budongo Field Station, right in the heart of the rainforest. This is a chimp research area, so we were greeted by the sounds of chimps calling and one even right outside our house! This was also where our student research projects began – four in total: birds, fish, amphibians, and trees. We carried out late-night amphibian surveys (finding frogs and chameleons), set up fish traps (catching over 20 catfish, a turtle, and a massive frog), ran bird ringing and monitoring sessions, and studied tree diversity and traditional uses of local species. We also got to meet Kacie, a Salford alum working on Sean’s tortoise project, and even got to name a new tortoise ourselves!
Every morning we woke up to the sounds of monkeys and hornbills, and every evening we’d end the day swapping stories over dinner. It was the perfect mix of science, adventure, and laughter.
Our last few days were spent travelling back to Kampala and Entebbe, where we joined the East Africa Women’s Birders for a guided walk around the Botanical Gardens – such an inspiring group empowering women through birding and conservation. We ended the trip glamping, celebrating with music, dancing, and a well-earned cocktail.
From dawn safaris to data collection in the rainforest, Uganda was an unforgettable mix of learning, laughter, and real-world conservation.
Did everyone on your course get to go on the trip?
It was an optional field course open to final-year students. Places were limited, so we had to apply and show our interest and suitability for the trip. There were 16 of us in the module, and we had 2 students join us from Makerere University in Uganda.
What was the process of getting onto the trip? Was it funded?
We had to apply, explaining why we wanted to take part. The trip wasn’t fully funded, but the university helped keep costs as low as possible. We paid £800 – however when you put it into perspective of what we experienced, and the fact that our funds didn’t even cover the transportation costs – it was well worth it!
What did you learn on your trip?
I learnt so much – not just about tropical ecology, but also about culture, teamwork, research, and adapting to unpredictable field conditions. We covered everything from fish and amphibian sampling to vegetation surveys. I also learned how different field sites within the forest vary ecologically, and how human impacts like deforestation affect biodiversity.
How do you think your trip to Uganda will help you in your studies going forward?
It’s massively strengthened my understanding of fieldwork, data collection, and analysis – all of which feed directly into my assignment for the module and my dissertation and future conservation work. It also gave me more confidence working in challenging environments, which is vital for a career in wildlife research.
What do you want to do in the future?
I want to go into wildlife communication and policy, bridging the gap between science and the public. Uganda reminded me how much I love being out in the field and telling conservation stories – so it’s definitely reinforced my passion for combining research with outreach.
Do you have any other trips you’ve been on or coming up?
Yes! I’ve been lucky to take part in multiple field trips through my degree – including visiting Skokholm island twice (2024 and 2025) with Jamie Gundry and 18 other students. It’s an island home to 14,000 puffins, and we have the whole island to ourselves! We spent the week photographing puffins, and swimming with seals. Throughout first and second year we also went on loads of field trips, from the Peak District residential trip, to visiting all the zoos in the north! I’m also working with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust as an Engagement Officer, so I get to spend a lot of time out on peatlands across the North West too!