A few years ago, after countless trips to Africa, I decided to step up my game and try something a little more adventurous.
While many would consider sitting in the back of a safari four wheel drive exciting enough, it was time to try something new!
Having travelled across many Southern African countries, I started looking further north into the mountains of East Africa. The unique natural highlight of this part of the world, of course, is the Mountain Gorilla. The Mountain Gorilla can be found only in Rwanda, Uganda and The Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter is largely off-limits for tourists, however, the two former offer excellent trekking opportunities.
I decided on Uganda. This was to be a longer trip, and Uganda is a fascinating country that offers tourists incredible travel opportunities other than just the gorilla trek. There's also a considerable cost difference between the two that cannot be ignored. Uganda charges $700USD for a permit, whereas Rwanda sets you back $1500USD. While that's enough to send some people running, it's worth noting that due to their extreme endangered nature, both countries invest significantly in gorilla security and conservation. Only very limited numbers of permits are issued daily (so plan ahead!).
I set off on a two-week trip through Uganda with my driver, Paul, who stayed with me for the entire trip. We traversed the country, visiting some amazing camps, incredibly diverse national parks and spending time with the wonderful people of Uganda. In all my travels across Africa, I'm yet to cross people as friendly, humble and welcoming as the Ugandans. We arrived in Bwindi National Park and prepared for the gorilla trek.
Gorilla Trek in Uganda
The entire trek is extremely variable, and no two days are the same. Plenty have to hike for hours and hours before finding the gorillas, whereas others will stumble across them after an hour or so. There were eight of us in the group and we set off not long after sunrise. The terrain is spectacular and the trails largely untouched. The cool morning air is refreshing and the hike itself is extremely enjoyable. There's a team of armed guards, assistants and guides to help you through the wilderness.
While I'm fairly fit, the trek was by no means excessive for those of average fitness. While I did have a brief slip, my rather solid assistant dragged me back up by the arm like a mother catching a toddler! After about an hour, the guide received word that the gorilla family has been located nearby. After about 10 minutes, we walk into a clearing and spot them. There are large males, new mothers and a number of newborns. They're suspicious of us, but comfortable enough not to become too alarmed. Once located, you have an hour with the family before moving on. This time just disappears! The gorillas go about their day eating, playing and climbing. One curious tourist gets a little close and is quickly brushed out of the way by a defensive mother. This is all under the eyes of the Ugandan security team who have seen it all before and clearly have a strong bond with the animals.
As our hour passes, we head back. It was quite an emotional experience. One visitor was overcome with emotion and cried the entire hike back. Even I was a little overwhelmed with the knowledge that I'd witnessed something so few people on the planet ever will. With a slight feeling of sadness, I look back knowing it's something I'll probably never see again, and feel much richer for the experience.
Frighteningly, there are less than 1000 Mountain Gorillas remaining in the wild. While the governments of Uganda and Rwanda are doing everything possible to protect them, I can't help but wonder if it's enough, and if this incredible experience will be available in decades to come. I can only encourage people to visit, experience and enjoy the gorillas while the opportunity still exists.
