Gorillas in the pouring rain

Our arrival is  causing much bemusement  in a small village where we are starting our trek to see Rwanda's gorillas.     We are following the Shinda  group  (these are the ones that Dian Fossey studied).     Just ten of the gorrila groups can each be visited by 8 people a day.   It’s probably one of the few wildlife viewing things you can do guilt free - the 500$ a day permit means that someone is making a lot of money and that person will be inclined to try and stop  poachers destroying  his money making scheme

Trackers are already way up in the mountain trying to locate the group.  We start off with guides and armed guards.   The latter is  supposedly to save us from elephants and buffalo but really to protect us stumble upon armed poachers or wandering Congolese guerrilllas.

After a couple of hours we hear a noise and though the trees I can make out the black shape of a gorilla.   It’s partly hidden but an exhilarating experience and I think 'well that’s my money's worth'.  The next moment we are surrounded by gorilla’s -  mothers with babies, adolescents and several silver backs.  We are meant to be 7 meters away but no-one told the gorillas and they even brush past us.  All the activity is because it has started to rain and gorillas hate getting wet.  For the next 20 minutes they huddle under trees looking extremely miserable

As soon as the rain stops they start getting active and the chief silverback comes through with his favorite family

It’s all deeply moving especially looking deep into their eyes.  There is definatly some sort of understanding or connection that goes back to a common ancestry.    It’s difficult to believe that I belong to the same species that will kill these creatures for a hand or foot trophy!!

 

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