fbpx

Go Backpacking

Round the World Travel Guide

Photo Essay: The Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda

By

With only about 700 mountain gorillas left in the wild, the chance to spend an hour with these gentle creatures was a real once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Despite juggling my digital camera, Flip HD video camera, and BlackBerry to capture the experience, I still managed to take a few minutes to simply watch and enjoy.

A mama gorilla passes by us with a baby on her back.
A mama gorilla passes by us with a baby on her back.
Our guide ensures we keep our distance from this gorilla family gathering.
Our guide ensures we keep our distance from this gorilla family gathering.

The silverbacks seemed to have an insatiable appetite.
The silverbacks seemed to have an insatiable appetite.

These two little gorillas spent the whole hour we were there playing with each other.
These two little gorillas spent the whole hour we were there playing with each other.

Testing the strength of a vine before going for a swing.
Testing the strength of a vine before going for a swing.

Hanging out in the forest.
Hanging out in the forest.

A little one bares his teeth during a wrestling match on the forest floor.
A little one bares his teeth during a wrestling match on the forest floor.

These three gorillas were quietly hanging out behind us.
These three gorillas were quietly hanging out behind us.
As imposing as these big males appear in photos, they went about their normal business while we were around.
As imposing as these big males appear in photos, they went about their normal business while we were around.

The gorilla walking sticks offered to us on the trek. I bought the one with the ribbed handle for $10.
The gorilla walking sticks offered to us on the trek. I bought the one with the ribbed handle for $10.

Last Updated on

About Dave

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking. For more of his adventures, follow him on Instagram or Twitter.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. essay writer says

    April 8, 2010 at 8:10 am

    Amazing shots with baby gorillas. You were lucky to take so many nice pictures. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Melvin says

    April 8, 2010 at 9:38 am

    I was waiting for several days already to see your pics!
    They are great & will get a stumble right away… :)
    I hope that enough is getting done, that the gorillaz are safe in future… It's sooo much nicer to see animals in the wild instead in a zoo.

    BTW, nice walking sticks & nicely chosen! :)

  3. Cornelius Aesop says

    April 8, 2010 at 10:14 am

    MONKEYS! ok well, gorillas but either way I love it. The ribbed for your pleasure walking stick is cool too.

  4. ShannonOD says

    April 8, 2010 at 10:25 am

    Love the photos – baby gorillas are just too cute – what an amazing opportunity to see them. :-)

  5. joanna_haugen says

    April 8, 2010 at 7:56 pm

    What an incredible experience! I'm glad you had the chance to visit Rwanda. Did you feel like the trekking tour you were on help you learn more about the species?

    • Dave says

      April 12, 2010 at 3:36 pm

      Hi Joanna, actually, I don’t think I paid too much attention during the park guide briefings – I was too excited to see the gorillas. I think I learned just as much, if not more, from watching Gorillas in the Mist beforehand. To go a step further, at some point, I’d probably want to read one of Fossey’s books.

  6. Migration Mark says

    April 9, 2010 at 7:07 am

    Hey Dave,
    I have really wanted to trek to see the mountain Gorillas in Rwanda. My parents live in Tanzania so probably the next time I visit, I will try to make it to Rwanda. Great pictures, look like amazing animals to see in the wild!

    • Dave says

      April 12, 2010 at 3:34 pm

      Hey Mark, thanks for stopping by. Hope you do get to see the mountain gorillas – it’s worth the effort.

  7. Migration Mark says

    April 9, 2010 at 12:07 pm

    Hey Dave,
    I have really wanted to trek to see the mountain Gorillas in Rwanda. My parents live in Tanzania so probably the next time I visit, I will try to make it to Rwanda. Great pictures, look like amazing animals to see in the wild!

  8. free live sex chat says

    October 29, 2010 at 6:59 pm

    Say thanks for talk about particularly great informations. Your internet is perfect, I am happy by the data that you just have on this blog. It reveals how well you fully grasp this subject. Bookmarked this page, will come back again for way more. You, my companion, I identified just the specifics I currently explored everywhere and just couldn’t unearth. What an ideal website. Like this website your web-site is a single of my new preferred.I such as this information shown and it has given me some kind of drive to have achievement for some purpose, so maintain up the good work!

shares