Gorillas in the Mist

From Kampala, we drove for a day to reach Lake Bunyonyi where we are based for three nights. This is where most overland trucks base themselves for transfers on to track mountain gorillas.

There are just 740 mountain gorillas left. They are located in the forests where the Ugandan, Rwandan and Democratic Republic of Congo borders meet. Permits to view them are expensive and in short supply. To protect the gorillas, only one group of eight people is permitted to visit each family for an hour per day. Our permits were for Uganda where there are 9 families that the public are permitted to visit.

The gorillas live in dense forests high up in the mountains so getting to them is a challenge. Firstly, a 2 hour drive from camp setting out at 5.30am along some very bumpy muddy tracks. Some beautiful views once the sun came up of the mists rolling up out of the vallies below. After the briefing, for my group, it was a further 30 minute drive to where we started trekking.

I was very fortunate in that I only had to trek for just over an hour before we got to see gorillas. The trackers set off before us to locate the gorillas sleeping location from the previous night. They then follow their tracks to find where they are that day and radio to the guide so we can head to the right location.

Beforehand, I had envisaged being sat at the edge of a clearing watching a family of gorillas from a safe distance. In reality, the forest is so dense that you have to slip, slide and scramble your way up the hillside. Once there is movement in the trees, the trackers will start to cut a way through so that the gorillas are visible. At times, we were just 5 metres away from them and were able to just sit quietly watching them eating, grooming and playing. They seemed unconcerned by our presence. The silverbacks are massive weighing from 200-300 kgs, and the babies are just so cute. It really was a privilege to get so close to these beautiful and endangered species.

Chilling out by the lake today whilst other members of the group go to see the gorillas. Praying that the sun keeps shining so that we can swim and kayak this afternoon. It poured with rain yesterday at camp - don't like to complain but I am getting a little tired of wet tents and damp clothes now!