After breakfast and getting a lunch bag for the trekking we were instructed by some guides. Every group followed some other family of gorillas. They showed us some pictures of the gorillas that we were most likely going to meet in the jungle. Then they asked if anyone needed a porter to carry their backpacks as we had to climb up the mountains, not knowing how long we’d have to hike up and down through the jungle before we’d meet the gorillas. I didn’t need one, I wanted to carry my backpack on my own. As Nelson insisted on booking at least one porter for the hike might end up during hours, we agreed on one to carry Suzie’s backpack. Two ladies of my group ordered even three porters to carry their stuff which was a bit ridiculous, I mean we were not supposed to climb the Himalaya. Anyways, in case of emergency the porters would even carry one to the gorillas and back for 300$ or 350$ a way. We later asked the guide if they – for real - would carry people up the mountain. He just replied that, for 350$, they would even run up the mountain with someone!
After a few minutes a bunch of people in overalls showed up. Those were the porters that had been ordered. The locals can subscribe to a list if they like to be doing this job. They will get at least 15 US$, which they will receive directly after the trekking from their clients, so they will probably even get more. They may show up in order of the list, so no one will be preferred, which I find a fair solution, plus they involve the local people who can thus make a personal profit thanks to the park so they will be loyal with the community and support them, which leads to less poaching and firing in the protected area of the reserve. Very clever! Well, there was also a female porter amongst the group who starred at Suzie all the time. When they were told to chose their clients she literally ran towards our direction smiling a bit in embarrassment which was kind of cute. We introduced ourselves before we entered Nelson’s car. We then drove to the starting point of our tracking and hiked up the hill. We marched on top of the group with the guide and only after a few minutes we could not see the rest of the group anymore. So we had to stop many times in order to not losing the rest of the group. The guides were well organized and had sent trackers in the early morning who were supposed to find the gorilla families. They permanently communicated by radio during the hike or when we stopped to wait for the others to catch up. It was only about 500 m to climb to get to the top but it was steep and sometimes slippery. No problem for a Swiss hiker though. When our guide was told where the gorillas were we had to leave the path to fight ourselves through the jungle which was pretty funny apart from the many thorny bushes. I’m still impressed that all of the group managed to do that hike, but I guess some had been pushed and pulled upwards by their porters.
Then we heard some twigs cracking in the bushes and after a few steps we saw the first gorilla… Then a bit further away the impressive silverback and soon even more members of the family. We followed them for a while and took pictures whenever possible. At one spot we just sat there watching the silverback chewing leaves at a very short distance. He then suddenly continued his way towards where I was sitting. He calmly passed by touching my whole left side. I was too excited to be afraid and it was amazing even though that guy smelled a bit funny. But that he might have thought as well of me.
We followed the gorilla family again until they rested for a while so everyone could take enough pictures and just enjoy. It was really amazing to be in between a group of such huge animals and one could see sheer happiness in every single face of the tracking group’s members and also the guide’s faces.
What can one tell about happy moments like this? Well, I hadn’t felt myself living a moment like this in a long time.
But we had to leave them and get back to the camp. When we got out of the jungle and found a nice spot for the group, we stopped to have lunch watching the village from top of the mountain. Then we hiked back home on slippery and steep paths.
Back at the camp the guides congratulated on mastering that “difficult” hike and presented a certificate. After that we said good bye and got back to the lodge for a very quick shower as we had booked a community walk…
Gorillas – Check!
that was the first of the gorillas that we encountered
then we saw the impressive silverback a bit farther away
soon we found ourselves in the middle of the gorilla family
then the silverback passed me by, touching my left arm, shoulder and leg…
after we had left the gorilla family we had lunch…
with a nice view from the top of the mountains
Suzie and our porter who did great
back at the camp we were presented a certificate by our guide
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