We set off at 6 am and drove to the park entrance where we had a briefing. Before long we were walking through the potatoes fields, making our way up to the tree line which was the demarcation for the park. Our guide told us that soon the limits of the park would be increased by some 26 % and those farmers who were farming on its border would be compensated and moved elsewhere. Provided they are properly compensated that is indeed good news as the population of mountain gorillas is healthy and increasing.

We walked into Bamboo forest and it wasn’t long before we came across our first female and a young juvenile playing. They spread their big bodies on the ground, basking in the sunlight, shielding their eyes from the sun, having a scratch or several and generally being playful and relaxed.

Perhaps we need to take a few notes from their gentle lives. A little deeper in and we were treated to the amazing girth of the silverback, Kigoma,the dominant male of this family who entertained us by uprooting shoots of bamboos, peeling them with his teeth or his fingers and thoroughly enjoying the taste.

As we progressed into the forest, the trackers who are constantly monitoring their movements, were able to direct us to the main family group where the little juveniles were rolling around, grooming each other, jumping up trees for some juicy leaves and even having a bit of a raucous fight as to who would get up the tree first.

They looked into our eyes, walked past us, brush by our side, crashed through the undergrowth and generally seemed unperturbed by this over excited bunch of tourists who were looking at their erstwhile relatives with some amusement and total delight.

Memorable and moving. I have posted videos on marina.marangos as the speeds of the internet where we were did not support uploading.