I was having lunch in Anchorage, Alaska shortly before my trip to Uganda, seated next to a lovely couple from Canada (who were there before leaving on a cruise). As it turned out, the wife recently returned from a trip to Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya -- and she told me all about her experiences gorilla-trekking.
As I was planning to try to see the gorillas while working in Kampala (not yet realizing that they are a 10+ hour drive away), I appreciated all of her tips.
One thing she mentioned was reading Jane Goodall's My Life with Chimpanzees and Dian Fossey's Gorillas in the Mist in preparation for her trip. (I opened my phone and ordered used copies of both books on eBay before I finished my lunch)
Would you believe that I had never read Fossey's book -- or -- watched the movie! (Gorillas in the Mist movie trailer)?!
Pictured below: reading Fossey's book on the drive out to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest on what was a more than 13-hour drive (the travel to Bwindi deserves its own post ...)
It was so inspiring reading Fossey's account of her ground-breaking research about the mountain gorillas - and Goodall's pioneering research with the chimpanzees.
My own gorilla trekking experience involved a grueling six and a half hours - up and down mountains - in the rain - the muddy, slippery terrain, the guide with the machete clearing some vegetation away - but still getting the vines wrapped around my ankles - avoiding the ants - climbing over downed trees - the mountain sometimes so steep it was practically in my face - after trekking for more than four hours we found our gorilla family - it felt like I was Moses wandering in the desert - I gave up hope that we were ever going to see the gorillas! My legs started to feel like jelly - and I was not sure how I would ever get out of the jungle alive! During this ordeal, an intern - Samuel - assured me that once we got to the gorillas, it would all be worth it.
And right he was!
As soon as we were up close - observing the gorillas in their habitat - it was so enchanting. It's hard to describe in words. (I will do a separate post with pictures and videos of the gorillas)
I tried recalling what I learned in Drs. Goodall's and Fossey's books about their observations. And, of course, I had a renewed respect and admiration for their work for years in the jungle!
May we all have a similar passion and the resilience and dedication to realize our hopes and dreams!
And may we all have a mentors in our lives like Dr. Leakey!!
For more about my gorilla trekking experience, see
For more about my visit with the chimpanzees, see
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| on the drive back down the mountain, after our gorilla trekking adventure in Bwindi - could see where the expression "gorillas in the mist" came from! |
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