Uganda
1989 - visited Kabali (next to me) in his hometown of
Kampala on my way to Zaire to see the gorillas
1989 - visited Kabali (next to me) in his hometown of
Kampala on my way to Zaire to see the gorillas
July 2008 - Almost half of the world's mountain gorilla population live here - approx. 460 of 1,050 total as of Dec. 2020. To learn more about mountain gorillas, visit www.igorilla.org
July 2008 - Almost half of the world's mountain gorilla population live here - approx. 460 of 1,050 total as of Dec. 2020. To learn more about mountain gorillas, visit www.igorilla.org
We started the day trekking through tea plantations in the foothills.
We started the day trekking through tea plantations in the foothills.
The women harvest the tea leaves and the men haul, sort, and dry them.
The women harvest the tea leaves and the men haul, sort, and dry them.
A park ranger keeping a keen eye out for poachers as we entered the jungle
A park ranger keeping a keen eye out for poachers as we entered the jungle
Almost half of the world's mountain gorilla population live here - 459 of 1,069 total
as of Dec. 2020. These are estimates as there is no way to get an exact count.
Impenetrable indeed - We trudged through wild, overgrown walls of
dangling vines, towering trees, stinging nettles, and dense bush.
It took us 3 hard hours to hike to the gorillas. Depending on where
they are, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to six hours.
It took us 3 hard hours to hike to the gorillas. Depending on where
they are, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to six hours.
The jungle is so dense that we can hear them before we finally see them.
The jungle is so dense that we can hear them before we finally see them.
All of a sudden, there they were.
All of a sudden, there they were.
Due to the dense vegetation, one can only see them up close so each
group needs to be habituated to humans before tourists can visit them
Due to the dense vegetation, one can only see them up close so each
group needs to be habituated to humans before tourists can visit them
This one is 3-4 years old
This one is 3-4 years old
Silverbacks are at least 12 years old and are named for the distinctive patch of silver hair on the small of their backs. They can live up to 40 years.
Silverbacks are at least 12 years old and are named for the distinctive
patch of silver hair on the small of their backs. They can live up to 40 years.
That's me, second from left, along with our crew
That's me, second from left, along with our crew
Exhausted and dripping sweat, we took a break as soon as we left the jungle
Exhausted and dripping sweat, we took a break as soon as we left the jungle
July 2008 - I told my friend Trevor Saxty, then head honcho of Adventure Center, that I was going to Africa to check out the mountain gorillas. He said "why don't you donate a laptop to a local school for me and document it so I can use it to promote our company's commitment to local communities?" "Why coitanly" I replied.
July 2008 - I told my friend Trevor Saxty, then head honcho of Adventure Center, that I was going to Africa to check out the mountain gorillas. He said "why don't you donate a laptop to a local school for me and document it so I can use it to promote our company's commitment to local communities?" "Why coitanly" I replied.
So I'm in Bwindi and I see this sign for this school. Bingo!
So I'm in Bwindi and I see this sign for this school. Bingo!
I spent the day with the kids and teachers
I spent the day with the kids and teachers
nap time
nap time
Watoto School staff
Watoto School staff
Watch the laptop presentation and the kids singing on the next two slides
Watch the laptop presentation and the kids singing on the next two slides
We spent one hour with a family of gorillas, which is the maximum allowed.
The next slide has 5 minutes of random clips from that hour - enjoy!
We spent one hour with a family of gorillas, which is the maximum allowed.
The next slide has 5 minutes of random clips from that hour - enjoy!
