Mountain Gorillas

Mountain Gorillas Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda – Sept 14 & 16, ’23

I’m so glad I was able to take this journey to see the mountain gorillas. The photos I’m posting are from two treks. We were scheduled for three, however, I got sick after the first trek and was unable to go on trek 2, and while I did do trek 3, it was very challenging.

Trek 1, September 14, we trekked to see the Gorilla family Kanywani, which translates to Friend. The trek was a trek, through dense forest with little to no paths. The gorilla trackers would go out early in the morning to find where the gorillas were to try and help get the “guests” to the gorillas with less trekking. We hired porters to help with carrying our camera equipment (backpacks) and to help with the actual trek, whether it was to help you up a steep path, over a fallen tree, or to keep you from slipping on the very wet ground. Once you get to the gorilla family, you have one hour to watch, enjoy, and photograph to your hearts content. Marks are worn to help cut down human disease being transmitted to the gorillas. For this family, we were very close to the gorillas, in a small flat area, where the gorillas were all hanging out, eating, playing, grooming, and napping. One momma gorilla walked between two of the people that were trekking with us and then another time, the youngster (lots of photos of him) tried to touch one of our shoes. The rules are as little interaction as possible, so the ranger guide with us, asked us to step back and avoid the contact.

Trek 3, September 16, we drove an hour from the starting point and then we trekked and trekked, through tea fields and up and down valleys – I was miserable (remember, I had been sick and was much weaker than I thought) but thank goodness for the porters. I had two today, one in front and one in back. The treks are challenging when feeling 100% because of the temperature, humidity (it’s a rain forest) and the elevation, and I was not 100% (maybe 70%).

The photos are not in order of trek or sequence, these are the best of them, and I’m really happy that I have these amazing memories. I’m happy to share the edited photos digitally, just ask.

Once again, thank you for joining me on this adventure, it was very comforting knowing you were along for the journey.