August 22 – Gorilla Trek

We left well before dawn this morning for the hour+ drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Rain Forest for our gorilla trek. We had seen small villages and homes in other National Parks, but our guide assured us that no one lived in this truly impenetrable forest.

We were greeted at the staging area by a group of local dancers and singers.  The gorilla "industry" provides opportunities for local people to earn a living through tourist treks and tips.  We enjoyed the performance and gave the group a nice tip.

**********************************
Video of tribal dances
**********************************

We both had concerns about the trekking due to our old knees but wanted to try this anyway.  So to help facilitate the trek we had prebooked a porter to carry our backpacks and to help as needed.  At our guide’s suggestion we each engaged a second porter (apparently one to pull and one to push).

The trails were non-existent most of the time, 

so the guides and trackers spent a fair amount of time hacking new trails using massive machetes (after all, it is the Bwindi Impenetrable Rain Forest).  

The trails that did exist were incredibly steep and very muddy and slippery.  And with every step you had to watch where you were stepping to avoid the roots and vines and branches, while at the same time trying to avoid getting hit it the face with the low hanging branches.

We met the trackers (sent out much earlier in the day to locate the gorilla families) and our first gorilla within an hour of hiking.  The family group we tracked has 8 members.  We saw the silverback, two babies/adolescents and a couple other adults.  They were all buried in the bushes or up in the trees, so it was hard to get good pictures.

                                                                         *************************************
                                            More Gorillas
                                            *************************************

************************************
Video of Gorillas
************************************

At one point we had to make a detour around a very large black wasps nest.  It was huge (the gorillas made a detour around it as well).

Fortunately, they had broken everyone into groups based largely on age and condition.  We were with an older (but younger than us) English gentleman who was in better shape than we were.  And this group of “old folks” were sent out to visit a family of gorillas that were very close in.  So instead of having to hike for 6 or 7 or 8 hours round trip we were actually in and out in about 3 ½ hours and back to the lodge in time for lunch.  Even with the massive amount of help from the porters (especially for Mary – lots of stabilizing, pulling and some pushing) we were exhausted.  But exhilarated.  What an awesome experience.