Kicking Off the Year in Rwanda + Uganda

Hey everyone!

It’s been a minute. One whole year, actually. I swear I blinked and twelve months flew by without a single PoshTrips Travel newsletter hitting your inbox. But we’re officially back in action, and my goal for 2026 is to send you something fun, inspiring, and wanderlust-worthy at the beginning of each month.

Before we dive in, I also want to say a huge thank you. This past year was my first full year in business, and because of all of you,  your trust, your trips, your referrals, PoshTrips hit our big goal: over one million dollars in travel sold. I truly couldn’t have done it without you. Every booking and every recommendation helps a small business like mine grow, and I am incredibly grateful.

Alright… let’s get into it.

Kicking Off the Year in Rwanda + Uganda

I started the year with a big bang and headed to Rwanda and Uganda for New Year’s, especially to experience something that has been on my bucket list forever: gorilla trekking.

Every year, I try to kick off January with a major adventure, ideally somewhere trending in the luxury travel space. And lately, the trend has been loud and clear: ultra-affluent travelers are craving more exotic, remote, off-the-beaten-path destinations. So many clients have already done Europe, the Caribbean, and the classics. They want something new, something wild, meaningful, and genuinely different. The kind of trip you bring to the dinner table and say, “You’re not going to believe what we did.”

So, following that trend, I planned a trip to Rwanda and Uganda, part personal bucket-list dream, part professional research into two of Africa’s most exciting emerging luxury destinations.

First Stop: Rwanda

Rwanda blew me away. We started in Kigali, the capital, which is one of the cleanest, safest, and most organized cities I’ve ever visited, genuinely cleaner than New York City, with a full golf course running right through the middle of town.

The country has transformed at an unbelievable pace since the genocide in the 90s, when more than 800,000 lives were lost in just three months. Seeing how far Rwanda has come, the stability, economic growth, impeccable infrastructure, and deep national pride, was truly inspiring.

Rwanda is quickly becoming one of Africa’s rising powerhouses. The luxury scene is exceptional: an amazing national airline, stunning high-end lodges, beautifully maintained roads, and landscapes that feel cinematic. We stayed at the One&Only Gorilla’s Nest, which made the perfect base for trekking into the forest to see the mountain gorillas, gentle giants you get incredibly close to.

One of my favorite moments was watching entire families in matching REI outfits heading off for their trek. It was adorable, wholesome, and such a reminder that gorilla trekking really is for everyone, families, honeymooners, solo travelers, adventure lovers.

A Closer Look at Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla trekking is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, something I think everyone should do at least once. You hike into Volcanoes National Park with expert guides and trackers, and only eight tourists are allowed per gorilla family to protect the animals and minimize stress. You spend one unforgettable hour with them.

I won’t lie,  I was nervous at first being so close to such massive wild animals. Your heart is pounding, you see the silverback, you feel the adrenaline. But then something shifts. They’re incredibly gentle, human-like, and curious. They make eye contact. They go about their day completely unbothered by humans.

And the best part: tourism is the very reason these gorillas are still here. The species was once on the brink of extinction. Today, thanks to rigorous conservation efforts and the revenue from trekking permits, their numbers are finally growing. New babies, new families, new hope. It’s powerful to see how responsible tourism can directly support a species’ survival.

Then Came Uganda

Uganda has a completely different energy, more raw, more wild, more adventurous. The hikes to reach the gorillas are longer and more rugged. The lodges are boutique and often family-run. It almost feels like stepping back into the “original” version of safari: intimate, warm, and wonderfully unfiltered.

We spent time in Murchison Falls, which feels like one of Africa’s best-kept secrets. Picture a picnic overlooking roaring waterfalls, surrounded by the most densely populated hippo region in the world. We saw crocodiles, elephants, amazing birdlife, and landscapes straight out of a documentary.

We stayed at Nile Safari Lodge, barefoot luxury at its best. Eco-chic design, river breezes, candlelit dinners, and hippos grazing nearby at night. 

If gorilla trekking is on your list, whether in Rwanda or Uganda, I’m already booking 2026 and 2027 and can help match you with the right country. Both are spectacular but totally different, and that’s exactly where having an advisor makes the experience seamless.

Where My Clients Are This Month

January is already off to an exciting start. I have clients traveling with Lindblad Expeditions x National Geographic in Antarctica one of the most extraordinary trips on Earth.

They’re spending their days alongside penguins and glaciers in landscapes that feel completely untouched. Expedition cruising is becoming one of the biggest luxury travel trends, especially for clients who feel like they’ve “done it all” and want something deeper and more perspective-shifting.

If an expedition Antarctica, the Arctic, Patagonia, or the Galápagos is calling your name, reach out. These itineraries sell out well in advance, and choosing the right ship makes all the difference.

Thank You Again

Thank you again for reading, and for being part of my first full year with PoshTrips. This business exists because of you, your support, and the incredible trips we create together.

I’ll be back next month with new destination highlights, client spotlights, and a few “unGoogleable” luxury experiences I’m working on behind the scenes.

If you’re dreaming about something big for 2026 or 2027, reply to this email. It’s never too early to plan something extraordinary. Or forward this email to a friend :)

Talk soon, Natalie