Magical Mountain Gorillas and More - Part Three - Tracking the Orozugo Gorilla Family
I cannot begin to describe the excitement when finally the day arrived for us to go and visit the Mountain Gorillas!!
For our first day Gorilla tracking we had permits to see the Orozugo Gorilla Family that lives on the other side of the forest in Ruhija. The Orozugo Family consisted of 23 individuals. We got up early and left our lodge for the 2 hour drive around the forest to be at the Ruhija entrance at 6.30am as the tracking begins at 7am. It was an interesting drive (although the roads are not great!) and despite the early start we enjoyed it.
Once we arrived at the park office in Ruhija we got our permits, walking sticks and guide and were grouped with another 6 people for the trek. We were then driven a short distance away to the closest road point to where the gorillas has been located by their trackers. On the way our fellow group members told us about the trek they had done yesterday in which it had taken then 10hrs to find the gorillas…… eeek!!!..….we started to feel a bit nervous…..we were fit but did not feel we were up to a 10hr trek! The group that did the 10hr trek the day before was feeling rather sore and tired and were certainly hoping for a shorter trek this time!
We arrived at the set down point and couldn’t believe our luck as the family was feeding only about 200m from the road, down a steep slope into the dense forest. So we scrambled down the steep incline and there they were – our first gorillas! It is hard to describe the incredible feeling when you first glimpse these awe-inspiring animals. They are real gentle giants and so very like us and yet not that it gives you chills! Their eyes are deep brown, soulful and so very expressive. Spending time with them is magical and such a privilege.
One of the younger family members acknowledges us as he comes out from behind a tree.
A wistful look from one of the female gorillas.
The depth and soulfulness of the gaze of these incredible cousins of ours was so moving and unforgettable.
We were lucky enough to spend the whole hour with this family in the same spot. Most were resting and relaxing around the pathway in a relatively open part of the forest. The younger members of the family were playing and zooming up and down the pathway showing off. Some gorillas were feeding, some particularly cute babies were stripping bark off old logs, probably more for fun than anything! The small babies were being cuddled by their mothers. Some of the younger males were testing themselves against each other. Throughout it all the big old silverback oversaw it all by positioning himself prominently then just sitting back and watching us watching his family – as if saying “I am here, I am keeping an eye on you but if you behave you may stay with us” :-)
The silverback keeps watch on us and his family!
A moment of rest and contemplation for this female.
This baby was chewing on a stick.
This baby was trying his teeth on something larger and watching us at the same time.....seemed like he was showing off!
A peek-a-boo moment!
This sub-adult male and his friends were zooming up and down the pathway between the two halves of our group showing off! Incredibly muscular and strong, would be very intimidating if they directed their aggression towards us but they were incredibly gentle.
It was a truly magical hour and over all too quickly....So we left and travelled back to our lodge feeling amazed, elated and very privileged. As we had found them so quickly we returned earlier than normal giving us time to have a leisurely lunch followed by some excellent Ugandan tea and coffee by the fire on the verandah as it had started to rain. We relaxed, read about Uganda from some of the excellent books at the lodge and waited for the rain to stop. After that we explored the lodge grounds which were extensive and very beauitful with lots of flowering plants and heaps of birds, reptiles and insects attracted by the flowers. I spent a very happy couple of hours photographing the birds and other animals.
Double-collared Sunbird in the gardens.
Another denizen of the gardens, a colourful Agama.
An African Pygmy Kingfisher, also in the gardens!
A male Baglafecht Weaver on a banana leaf in the gardens.
A White-tailed Blue Flycatcher.
What a perfect day! Not only the magical gorillas but also seeing all these incredible birds and creatures in the gardens, what an unexpected joy! My birding skills were not equal to naming every bird but I sure enjoyed seeing and photographing them even if I didn't know what they all were!
A great ending to a wonderful day and we couldn't wait for the next day when we would visit another family of gorillas!