The Trip That Changed My Life
How a journey to Rwanda opened our eyes to the gorillas in our midst by JANIE GALE
I’m the world’s biggest chicken. I’m terrified of germs, diseases and shots. So you know there has to be a prize at the end to make me go someplace where all are rampant. Good thing I married Jeff—he drags me along on adventures. Turned out, Rwanda changed my life.
Our journey to Rwanda (and a side trip to Tanzania) was with Conservation International. I joined a group of eight, including our friend Rob Walton, chairman of the board of Wal-Mart and a committed conservationist. The lure of climbing mountains to follow in Dian Fossey’s footsteps was irresistible. She gave her life to protect her beloved gorillas, and she did not die in vain. Mountain gorillas and their habitat are protected by the Rwandan government. The only caveat: To shield them from human germs (we share 95 percent of their DNA), we had to stay back 10 meters.
As we made our way through the jungle, we saw how Rwanda has gotten a lot done under President Paul Kagame—he’s the Nelson Mandela of Rwanda. People feel that after the atrocities they suffered during the genocide 14 years ago, they needed a principled leader. Kagame was a fighter in the RPF, the rebel group that stopped the genocide. Instead of revenge, he chose to keep his country focused on a better future.
With about 300 gorillas left in the country, only eight groups of eight people can visit a day. We climbed for hours, slipping on vines and clearing the bush. Suddenly there they were: gorillas in the mist. Magnificent creatures eating, playing, making us laugh and cry with their beauty. It was almost too much to take in. I found myself wishing the silverback would find me attractive and carry me off. Me Fay Wray, him my King.
As I boarded the plane home, I looked back instinctively, thinking of the wonder of my new friends. I’d never been happier than I was with my gorillas and chimps—so much like people, only sweeter, kinder, somehow pure. Such majesty.
Categories: Photos / Pictorials
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All the above is true. Rwanda is not only a land of thousand Hills, but also a home to 360 mountain gorillas in Volacanoes National park. Trekking Gorillas is for sure a life changing event which every body should experience before leaving the world. There are also 13 primates species in Nyungwe forest: with large communities of Chimpanzees that raise up to 400-500 individuals in a group.
Posted by: Basudde Paul | 08/19/2010 at 06:14 AM
My first trip to Rwanda for gorilla trekking in Parc National des Volcans changed my life. Looking direct in eyas of gorillas is a thrilling experience. We did not only track gorillas but also tracked golden monkeys, visted Diana Fossey's grave yard nestled between the beautiful Bishoke and Karisimbi mountain ranges. We later proceeded to Nyungwe forest for chimpanzee trekking. I would encourage every body to go for gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda.
Posted by: Cathy Marialynne | 08/19/2010 at 06:38 AM