From LinkedIn Message to Mountains of Uganda: Designing Hope with Amatsiko Tours

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A woman in a green shirt takes a selfie with a large group of smiling children in school uniforms, all looking at the camera and waving during an Amatsiko Tours visit.

When Alex first messaged me on LinkedIn about a logo design for Amatsiko Tours, I never imagined I’d be standing in the very place that inspired it—watching zebras graze in the misty hills of Lake Mburo, drinking banana gin with local farmers, or hugging children goodbye at a school that now holds a piece of my heart.

The brand project that I got to experience

This wasn’t just a work project. It became a deep connection, a shared purpose, and eventually, an unforgettable journey across Uganda.

  • Logo for Amatsiko Tours featuring a stylized graphic with orange and green shapes above the bold "amatsiko TOURS" text, perfectly capturing the adventurous spirit of Amatsiko Tours.
  • Screenshot of the Amatsiko Tours homepage featuring the Ugandan landscape, tour information, and vibrant images of local culture and wildlife.

From Pixels to People

As a brand and web designer, I often work behind the scenes—helping clients bring their ideas to life with strategy and visual clarity. With Amatsiko Tours, I did all of that: designing the logo, crafting the story, building the website. But it always felt like something more.

Alex and Alphonse—the heart and hands behind Amatsiko—weren’t just starting a tour company. They were building a bridge. A way to connect travellers with Uganda’s landscapes, its wildlife, and its people in a way that was ethical, meaningful, and transformative for everyone involved.

So when they invited me to come experience it for myself, I said yes.

A Journey Through Uganda

Over 11 days, I travelled from the banks of Lake Bunyonyi to the thick jungles of Bwindi, from misty hilltop lodges to vibrant village markets. I trekked for gorillas and chimps. I visited community projects—water tanks, fruit trees, rabbits, and schools—and saw first-hand how tourism can create real, lasting impact.

  • A group of schoolgirls in uniform stand outdoors during an Amatsiko Tours event, each holding up a new pair of underwear and smiling at the camera.
  • Two people stand by an Amatsiko Tours safari vehicle in front of a building labeled "Amatsiko Preparatory School." One person leans out of the driver’s window, with a flag attached to the vehicle.
  • A woman in a green shirt takes a selfie with a large group of smiling children waving and giving thumbs up, capturing the joyful spirit of Amatsiko Tours against a brick wall backdrop.
  • A corrugated metal roof is in the foreground, with sloped farmland, trees, and scattered houses stretching across a hilly rural landscape under a cloudy sky—an authentic scene you might discover on an Amatsiko Tours adventure.
  • A large gorilla sits on the ground among green foliage, looking to the side with its arms crossed over its chest—a captivating sight you could witness with Amatsiko Tours.
  • Three people stand smiling on a grassy hilltop overlooking a large lake and terraced hills under a partly cloudy sky, enjoying the scenic beauty with Amatsiko Tours.

There were big moments, like standing metres from a mountain gorilla in the forest, or walking with giraffes through the savannah. But the small moments moved me just as much: children singing in the classrooms, a girl holding my hand in the market, the quiet faith and unwavering kindness of the people I met.

I laughed. I cried. I danced. I drank banana gin. I learned more about resilience, hope, and generosity than I ever expected from a holiday.

Travel That Changes You

Amatsiko means “hope” in the local language. And that word stayed with me throughout the trip—because hope was everywhere.

In the kids who now get to go to school instead of fetching water. In the fruit trees planted for food and income. In the women who grow coffee, weave baskets, or run classrooms with babies in their arms.

This is what makes Amatsiko Tours different. It’s not just a travel company. It’s a community, a mission, a story unfolding with every person who visits.

From Client to Advocate

This trip deepened everything I believe about travel—and about the kind of businesses I want to support, serve, and champion.

I went from designing a brand… to becoming part of the story. And I know I’ll be back.

Want to experience it for yourself?

If you’re looking for a journey that’s meaningful, life-affirming, and filled with connection—not just another stamp in the passport—then I can’t recommend Amatsiko Tours enough.

Visit amatsikotours.com and book your trip of a lifetime. You won’t just see Uganda. You’ll feel it

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