Gorilla Trekking and Good Food in Uganda

A Great Chef in Uganda

When traveling to a foreign country

When traveling to participate in a physically difficult challenge like gorilla trekking, the place you stay makes a significant difference in your traveling experience. Flow Travel, led by Tara Turkington, selected the Gorilla Leisure Lodge because of its location near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Bwindi is one of the best locations for Gorilla trekking in Uganda. At the Gorilla Leisure Lodge, the staff were incredibly gracious and accommodating. The facilities were clean and extremely comfortable, and most importantly, the food was incredible, thanks to Joel Twinamasiko, the chef at the Gorilla Leisure Lodge. I had the opportunity to interview Chef Joel while I took a day off from gorilla trekking. I picked a quiet spot in the spacious lobby to interview the fantastic chef.

Chef Joel grew up in a remote village in Uganda with his mom, dad, and six siblings. As a child, he played football and volleyball and enjoyed reading books. His family did not have money to send him to a university, but Chef Joel was determined. He knew attending college and getting a certificate could significantly impact his family’s future. Joel started small and worked his way up by earning money to continue learning and growing.

Chef Joel Twinamasiko- Born to be a chef

After visiting an uncle who worked as a chef at a hotel, Joel knew he was born to be a chef. Joel joined Great Lakes Regional College as a youth and studied for two years for a tourism and hotel management certificate. His studies included all aspects of hotel management, but he gravitated to cooking. Chef Joel loved creating new recipes as he learned about nutrition, production, food handling, and storage. His favorite topic was food presentation, which is evident in the fabulous dishes we experienced. When he finished college, Chef Joel interned for a tour company. He trained for one year in all departments, then worked as a chef for the tour company for six years.

The Gorilla Leisure Lodge

Chef Joel has been at the Gorilla Leisure Lodge for one year, and the management is extremely happy with the treats Joel creates for the Lodge’s guests. Grilled beef is one of the chef’s favorite dishes. However, I found Chef Joel’s sauces to be supreme. He selects his ingredients from what he has on the grounds. Uganda is rich in fruits and vegetables. Agriculture is one of the country’s key products. Chef Joel blends spices to develop divine flavors that will tingle your palette. His favorite sauce, and mine too, is the mustard sauce, which Chef Joel made for us on a lamb dish. Mushroom sauce is another one of his favorites. See Gorilla Leisure Lodge- Luxury Safari Lodge | Rushaga Sector | Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The Future of the Great Chef

When I asked Chef Joel what he wanted for his future, he smiled and tilted his head. Eventually, Chef Joel’s dream is to have a place of his own. He shared a sad smile and told me how he was helping his brother’s family after his brother died in an accident. His nephew worked in the kitchen with Chef Joel to learn enough to support himself. Unfortunately, there are two more children in primary school. When I asked what would happen to them, he shrugged, eyes sad, and said, “I don’t know. The government does not pay for education after primary and secondary school.” Even though the government provides primary school, the children still need books, shoes, and food to survive. Eventually, Chef Joel wants to create a school in a village for children who do not currently attend a school. He wants to be able to teach the children, and by the grace of God, he knows it will happen.