Photo. Gorillas - majestic creatures.
There are so many fantastic attractions in Central Africa. But first and foremost I find the gorillas most interesting. It is amazing to see these animals, which are so equal in their behaviour as our selves (as human beings).
Many people have been inspired by the book of Diana Fossey to see the gorillas. Also the movie about her life was inspiring. Diana Fossey (1932-1985) lived among them for almost 18 years, and provided the world with information about these majestic creatures.
A gorilla can weigh up to 450 pounds (225 kg), and I recommend you to stay a certain distance. Not everybody has the same abilities as Diana Fossey to build a trustworthy and close relationship with the gorillas. But in some places the forest is extremely dense, and if you are just 5-6 metres from them, they are still difficult to watch and take photos of.
Am I almost a gorilla?
From an article I read in a magazine I understood that we differ from being a gorilla by 1%. The 1 % is because the ape's brain stagnates developing up to 3 years of age, but our brain continues to develop up to 18-20 years of age. Comparing humans with gorillas I find it amazing how small the difference really is. So our relationship with the gorillas is undisputable. I have done many "ape tricks" (practical "monkey" jokes - very innocent?) during my life, but that I should be a 99 % gorilla is pretty frightening.
Where can you spot gorillas
Probably the best and safest place in Central Africa at the moment to watch gorillas is in Uganda. In addition to gorilla watching, there are many other highlights here. It is a green, tropical country, which Winston Churchill heralded as the "Pearl of Africa". Due to military conflicts and kidnapping of tourists, some areas have been unsafe for a while. There are also problems with poachers. Check reliable sources for information about the situation before you enter the area. Everything looks fine, so it is up to you. Then you have to prepare yourselves for penetrating the bush and climb.
Hopefully you will be able to see the mountain gorillas in some of their last remaining habitats on earth. You find some of them in Chimpanzees at Chambura Gorge and mountain gorillas in the dense, unspoiled rainforests of Bwindi. Bwindi is a new established national park.
Hard efforts have been taken to protect the gorillas` habitat. So here you can still enjoy a close view of adults feeding, grooming, resting. It's fun to see the youngster playing and swing from tree to tree. Uganda's neighbour countries Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, before 1997 named Zaire) have their good gorilla sights too, but are probably more unsafe to visit at the moment because of civil wars on its borders and clashes between military bands. Both Rwanda and Congo are a mess!
Presevation of gorillas
Today there are 650 gorillas left in the world, reports the Diana Fossey Gorilla Fund International, USA. Half of them live in Central Africa. They are now in danger of extinction. Gorillas are being driven out of the rainforest of Central Africa because of poaching and human disturbance in their natural habits.
Watching gorillas is an experience of a lifetime. The thrill will take your breath away. They are so human like. Show them respect, don't disturb them, and just enjoy the view of these wonderful creatures. It is not like watching animals in the zoo, but go before it is too late, sooner or later this can change to being horribly commercialised, or at worst, the gorillas vanish.
Diana Fossey`s death is a still an unsolved mystery. The finale words in her diary were: "When you realise the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate on the preservation of the future." Think about that before you go there, or any other place. Hopefully you meet a gorilla one time in their natural surroundings.
Stein Morten Lund, 25 October 2000
Additional information
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We will come up with more information about experiences and the political situation in Uganda and neighbouring countries!
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