Big day today our first gorilla trek. We had a team meeting and opted for the medium level trek. Roger took care of all paperwork while we enjoyed the bistro – cappuccino for me, hot chocolate for Wayne and a black coffee for Glenn. After some time, we were called for our briefing with Fidele. We were going to trek the gorilla troop called Kwitonda. Another couple from the US joined us too, there were 6 of us in total. Briefing done and we were off on a rather bumpy road to our starting point. Another “African massage”…

On arrival we hired porters – something we did for each trek. Helps employ the local villages and supports the economy, this is encouraged and recommended because they play a vital role in getting you to and from the gorilla troop. They are extremely helpful with some of the tricky trekking situations. Emme took care of us and guided me through the muddy and wet forest. Holding out a hand to steady me and helped me at river crossings – avoided me face planting in the mud.

The hike was about 5km’s round trip through dense tropical jungle with only 70% on a trail and 30 hacked through brush with machetes. It took about 90 minutes to get to the gorillas. As soon as we neared them all protocols set in. Masks on, no bags and poles, that all remained behind with the porters who stayed back and waited for our return. Our guide and two trekkers took us in to meet the Kwitonda troop. Within 5 minutes we spotted the first gorilla and then spent 1 hour watch and following them. Exhilarating to see them interact, play, graze, groom and move from place to place. Finally, we got a silverback porn show. The chief silverback mated in front of us with one of the females, and at some point, one of the babies came to see what was going on.  During our encounter we kept our distance as best we could, but you do get close as they dash past or between us. The silverback you could touch when he walked past us and Wayne almost felt him as he moved – he was enormous. One of the babies ran past Simonne and touched her. Just before we left an adolescent gorilla ran between Glenn and a trekker who was 3 feet away from each other and grabbed Glenn’s leg on the way past – mistook it for a tree!!! Fortunately, Glenn was standing next to a tree as it almost knocked him over – he fell back into the tree and trekker put out a hand to stabilized Glenn.

Our time was up and we headed back down the mountain. Roger greeted us with smiles and a Tamarillo cocktail and key chain gift with the cocktail recipe and a gorilla as a souvenir. He is the best!!! Saw a sole street vendor and just had to support him – entrepreneurial villager for sure. We toasted to an experience of a lifetime!!!