Hi all , we nearly didn't make it to see the gorillas,as the visa approval was not accepted a the Rwanda airline check in. After 2 hrs of phone calls to the Rwanda immigration , a new visa was email to us, but it meant that we missed our flight and had to get on another , with visa acceptance in our hand,then the staff were full of assistance and got us onto another flight leaving at 5.00 pm, Rwandan time.we arrived at the gorilla mountain lodge at 8.00pm just in time for tea.it is a beautiful place ,but long way from nowhere . We are absolutely dead tired so shower and off to bed.
5.30 start for pickup at 6.30am,drive to meeting place where we are placed in groups that can walk distances based on fitness levels, now to starting point at the base of the mountain,we pick porter ,Shirley picks two ,one to pull her up the to push from behind,they will carry everything ,water coat bag you name they carry it, at times it looked like they where carrying Shirley.
1 1/2 hrs of climbing through thick scrub, with the constant sound of the chop chop of the porters machete ,we final had reach the gorillas' hiding place. Our first sighting was the whole family of nine, one came so close that it brushed against Shirley's leg. That moment set the trend for the rest of 1hr stay with these massive but beautiful friendly creature who only eat grass and pose no threat to mankind. For all of our stay, this family was never more than ten meters away and most of that time sitting much much closer. There was never any fear of injury as the gorillas entertain us , showing that they value the family ways the same as most families throughout the world. The album is mainly made up of happy snaps of my new friends and from Rwanda. I hope you see the beauty of these gorillas and understand Shirley's and mine love for them.
The gorillas as you know we're being killed for stupid reason and their numbers had fallen seriously low level , but thanks to the Rwandan government and the local people this has turn around and numbers have increased which mean all our grand ,and great grand children from all over the world will be able to experience these wonderful creatures who live at 2270 meters above sea level, well that was where our friends live
We move on tomorrow to Johannesburg for last part of this fantastic safari ,this is where we become a couple of upper class ,spoon in mouth Aussies . So there is a little more to come and we will be home,we hope all is well and you hear from us in the blog.
Luv Shirley & John