Gorilla Moment in Uganda Part 1

When it came to choosing a honeymoon destination there was only one destination that we knew would be perfect for us both – an amazing trip through Uganda. It had everything we were looking for. It has wildlife, stunning scenery, welcoming people and its a little off the beaten track of other well known safari destinations which means that there is still an intrepid feeling of ‘having the place all to yourself. The first thing most people imagine when they think of Uganda is the kingdom of the mountain gorilla. Clouds of delicate mist rising from the primeval forest canopy, home to some of the last remaining families of this endangered species. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to roughly half the worlds population of mountain gorillas, and its one of the richest ecosystems in Africa home to numerous flora and fauna. Our experience at Bwindi began before we even started tracking the gorillas. We arrived just before dusk to catch the last of the stunning sunbirds disappearing. That night we watched the sky illuminated with great flashes of lightening, spurring on the display from local fireflies whizzing past us. Shooting stars could be spotted through the gaps in the clouds, disappearing over the horizon. It could not have been more magical. The morning of our trek we awoke early, excitedly stepping out of our canvas home retreat into the cool morning air. We took the short walk down to the park headquarters. It seemed to take hours to wait for everyone to assemble and go through the briefing and explanation about the gorillas that live in Bwindi. Our group then set off across the river to find our gorilla family. We were tracking Rushegura group, made up of 19 individuals, and for all our briefing had been very comprehensive nothing could have really prepared us for our experience.