Mountain Gorillas

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda.

The 14th of May 2010 still is undoubtedly one of the top three days in my life.

Misty hillside villages and terraced farmland in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest region of Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Where? Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda, East Africa. Home to half the world's population of critically endangered Mountain Gorillas and located amidst some of the most breathtaking scenery on the continent. Given its proximity to the borders of Uganda, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the gorillas move about freely between these countries.

Rural Ugandan village with tin-roofed houses and red dirt roads near Bwindi
Weathered mountain road through the Ugandan highlands on the way to Bwindi National Park

Getting There

This trip was something I'd been thinking about for over 2 years, and honestly, no amount of thinking can fully prepare you for this experience. We were up at 4:30am and had a two hour drive along the weather worn mountain roads from our base camp at Lake Bunyoni. The roads were scary. It had been raining the night before so dirt had become mud and the road felt like a slippery slide on the cliff edges. The vehicle of choice was a 15 year old 8 person mini van, the type that would be used for a small school excursion or an airport transfer. Sunrise was due at approximately 5:30am, so we were perfectly placed to witness the waking of the jungle from the road on the way in. If you've never experienced real natural beauty before, this would be a life changing moment.

Gorilla Rules poster at Bwindi explaining ecotourism guidelines and what to expect with the mountain gorillas

Into the Jungle

Once through the gates we were told about the 'gorilla rules' then made our way to the drop off point where we hit the jungle by foot. Depending on where the gorillas decide to sleep, the trek can last from 1 to 8 hours, we were on the move for only 45 minutes before finding their nest.

Two Ugandan Wildlife Authority rangers scanning the dense jungle canopy during a gorilla trek
Ugandan army soldier with AK-47 providing anti-poaching protection for the mountain gorillas

One Hour with the Gorillas

The time with the gorillas is limited to 1 hour per family per day, and each group is limited to 8 people. We were escorted by members of the of Ugandan Wildlife Authority who were familiar with the gorilla family and able to communicate with them on a basic level. Also present were some armed soldiers from the Ugandan army carrying AK47's to protect the gorillas from poachers, and us from the gorillas. In the past, they have been hunted for their heads, hands, and feet, which were sold to collectors.

Photographer smiling in the Bwindi jungle with a mountain gorilla visible in the foliage behind him
Close-up of a mountain gorilla's hand gripping a branch among green leaves in Bwindi forest
Mountain gorilla resting in thick vegetation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Mountain gorilla feeding among dense green foliage in the Bwindi jungle

This truly is a once if a lifetime experience, if you're ever in the area, drop in and say hi to the Bitukura family for me!

Silverback mountain gorilla portrait looking directly at the camera through jungle foliage
Colorful butterfly resting on a forearm with the Bwindi jungle in the background

Gorilla fun fact: As humans are uniquely identifiable by finger prints, Gorillas can be identified by their nose prints.