My First Encounter with the Mountain Gorillas
 

On October 8, 2007, I had my first encounter with the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda. It was a day that would change my life forever.
 

Our gorilla trek began at the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park headquarters. Visitors gathered and were placed into groups of up to eight—the maximum allowed to visit a gorilla family each day. Only one group per family is permitted daily to minimize disturbance.

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Once our group was assigned, we were briefed by a park ranger about the gorilla family we would visit. We selected our walking sticks and set off into the forest.
 

Ahead of us, trackers had already ventured out to locate the gorillas. They monitor the families daily to make them easier to find and ensure minimal disruption.
 

As we hiked through dense vegetation, it felt as though we were walking through a giant salad bowl—lush, tangled greenery everywhere. Bwindi boasts the highest biodiversity of any national park in Africa, home to countless plant species, including bamboo—a favourite food of the mountain gorillas.
 

After nearly 90 minutes of climbing the steep, slippery slopes, the radio crackled—the trackers had located the family.
 

We quickly made our way to their location, took a final sip of water, dropped our backpacks, readied our cameras, and listened carefully as we were reminded: No flash photography. Remain calm. Respect the gorillas.

As we moved quietly through the forest, the anticipation was electric—nervous energy, curiosity, awe. Then, before we saw them, we smelled them. The musky, earthy scent of gorillas drifted through the air. We were close.
 

Finally, we saw them.
 

Nestled beneath a canopy of branches and vines, the gorillas sat and ate. Some were chewing the surrounding vegetation, while youngsters rolled, played, and tumbled about, mimicking their elders, beating their chests with tiny fists, full of mischief and energy.

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Just seven meters away sat a massive silverback, about 240 kg, calmly eating. He glanced at us but showed no signs of alarm. A toddler approached him, climbing onto his broad back, tugging at his hair like any child would a parent.

The similarities between us were undeniable. And then, something deeper happened — we looked into each other’s eyes. A bond was formed. In that moment, I knew I would never be the same.

       Once you look into the eyes of a gorilla, your life is forever changed.
 

Our guide announced that only a few minutes remained. One hour with the gorillas is strictly enforced, for their protection. We snapped our final photos, returned to our gear, and began the trek back.
 

We were speechless—emotionally and spiritually moved. On the return to headquarters, our group shared stories, laughter, and awe. We were strangers who had just experienced something profound together: a glimpse into the soul of the forest.

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From Visit to Conservation
 

Less than a year after returning home, we founded a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the plight of the gorillas.
 

Today, the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Society of Canada is a registered charity committed to protecting mountain and lowland gorillas. We do this by investing in African-led solutions—providing scholarships in wildlife veterinary medicine to African students who will directly impact the survival of gorillas in their native habitats.
 

This is my story. What’s yours?

We’d love to hear from you.
 

📧 info@mgcsc.ca​​​​

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