Hi guys…..

You will be glad to know this update will be somewhat shorter!

29^th October

The usual early start.  We are heading over to the amusingly named “Bwindi Impenetrable forest”, where we are staying for a couple of days to see the gorillas.  Our journey is the usual long one,  but on our journey we should get the opportunity to see some Tree Climbing lions……  we don’t…..  but we arrive in Bwindi in time for a community walk through the village.  We meet the herbal healer and learn how to make banana gin.  We are the only people in the lodge/camp site so we get the best room/tent.   I know that reads a little weird, but the accommodation is also a little weird?...  imagine a thatched building, with an on suite, but no walls…. Instead they have put a tent up inside the building…… with a double bed etc….  so it feels like your camping… but you’re not….?

30^th October

Its gorilla day!  We meet the other 6 guys of our group whom we will be tracking the gorillas with us.   After an hour’s drive, we jump out of the cars and start hiking up the mountain side.

It’s all very well organized as there are trackers who leave a few hours before us.  They head back to the spot they were located yesterday, using GPS, then track them to their new location.  They then radio this through to our guide, who tries to take us the shortest route, using machetes to hack a path through the undergrowth for us to follow.   It’s quite funny to watch all the westerners, slip, stumble and slide their way down the mountain side, all of whom are wearing the latest, state of the art walking shoes.  Meanwhile, the guides casual walk on, without losing balance, wearing only rubber wellingtons!

After about  one and a half hours, we reach our goal.   It’s a troop of 18, with one silver back male, a few subordinate males and a harem of females, as well as a number of babies.  The silverback is rather large!

We can only view the gorillas for 1 hour, then we have to leave, so we take about 47000 pictures, before the guides leads us away.   All in all, an amazing experience.

Mountain Gorillas……. Tick!  J.

31^st October

 Today makes the end of our African tour, so it is with great sadness we leave the mountain gorillas and head to Kampala for our flight home.   Nothing else to add really…..  it was a very long uneventful drive!... oh yes, we tried to see the tree climbing lions again…….  Didn’t! 

OHHHH....  I almost forgot to tell you!!!!  We got charged by an angry elephant near our hotel!!! we were lucky to escape with our lives but on the up side i managed to get a photo as we ran away!!!   amazing!

Over the next few days we have a stopover in London (looking forward to seeing those of you who can make it to the meal out!) , Peru and Ecuador before we reach our proper next destination, which is the Galapagos!!!       oohhhh  can’t wait

I am of course kidding about the elephant......  come on now...  its a fibre glass model outside one of our hotels!  Just thought i would see if you are paying attention!

So that’s Africa……  Tick,……  south America, here we come!!!

Smiles

Will and Loz