Go See the Gorillas
by Shawna Huffman Owen and Gabrielle Warncke, Luxury Travel Advisor
Post-pandemic, the most common request from our clients is to ‘help me with my bucket list’. Everyone’s bucket list is personal and unique. For many, it’s trekking the very rare and endangered wild mountain gorillas. This Spring, Shawna and Gabrielle each visited Rwanda, on separate trips, but with the same mission of working through their own bucket lists by seeing the gorillas. Read below as they share memories and insights.
What is your most memorable moment/anecdote of the trek?
Gabrielle: There were a couple; the first is when you are walking up to the first group. You simply can’t believe you are there. I was lucky enough to have an entire family of 19 sitting in a few groups and just relaxing – we got to quietly observe them within 10-20 feet as they groomed each other and the young ones played. My other favorite moment was when a Silverback was getting ready to move with one of the females and toddlers – he made a warning noise and then started beating his chest and charged toward us. We all submitted as we were told in the briefing, and they continued on their way. Still, I think we all had a brief moment of panic!
Shawna: My most memorable moment was turning the corner to find a gorilla family…right in front of my eyes. This was after 2+ hours of bushwhacking in the pouring rain and (almost) constantly asking the trackers when we’d find them. In the end, there was no advance warning...they were just there! It is so hard to describe this feeling of awe.
Gabrielle, after visiting the gorillas both in Rwanda and Uganda, how do you compare and contrast both experiences?
They are very different experiences - especially the logistics of getting to the areas you trek.
In Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park and the gorillas are just 3 hours by the main highway from the international airport. Once there, there are a number of great choices for accommodations within 30 minutes of the treks. I found trekking to be easier on this side (Rwanda) and the park services to be very efficient – but costly!
In Uganda on the other hand, it truly is a full-day affair to get to where you need to be to see the gorillas, and the accommodation choices are limited near Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Trekking was also significantly more adventurous on the Uganda side.
People associate gorilla trekking with a safari. What’s your take on this?
Gabrielle: Completely different experiences. Gorilla trekking is a physical and emotional experience with wildlife. You are in their habitat on foot – no boundaries really…I think combining safari and then trekking is a great combo for those who like to be active. There’s really nothing like seeing the animals in a wild habitat.
Shawna: I agree, both experiences are very different. With gorilla trekking, you are on foot, often forging your own path to find the gorillas. There are no fences, no regular patterns, no plan. I trekked for two days in a row in the two days could not have been more different. The weather, the time of year, the mood of the gorillas…all factor into where and how you find the gorillas. These factors come into play on safari as well, but the gorillas really make you work for the encounters. It’s exhilarating and engaging!
Rwanda is mostly known for its famous mountain gorillas. What else about Rwanda were you taken with?
Gabrielle: Rwanda is an extremely resilient country. Having a genocide survivor as my guide throughout the country gave me a unique perspective on the country. It’s amazing how the Hutu people have chosen forgiveness over revenge. They are such warm and kind people. The country is also one of the cleanest countries I’ve ever visited – they banned single-use plastics 10 years ago, and there is a mandatory community cleanup day every month. Finally, I have found the infrastructure to be second to none, organized for tourism, without feeling overly touristy.
Shawna: Hands down the people. The Rwandans have been through so much that it’s hard to comprehend. The people I met were some of the happiest and had the most positive outlook imaginable. They recognize the atrocities of the past, work through them with forgiveness, and focus on a positive and prosperous future. It’s really inspiring.
