After meeting our guide Mark at Nairobi airport we flew the 1.5hrs into Kigali, Rwanda. We spent around 1.5 in the Geonocide Museum then headed back to the hotel for an early dinner before an early night.
The next morning we drove 3.5 to the boarder of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (yes, it's officially on Australias do not fly list). We had to walk across the boarder, get our temperatures and vaccination cardschecked and get into another car on the other side.
We drove through Goma (DRC) and learned that it has the worlds largest UN and Unicef presence. Not surprising as the city was improvierished chaos. Basically the presence there is to stop people shooting each other. We had lunch at a oasis restraunt by the lake where we were all shocked when the menu handed to us was in French!
We then drove another 1.5hrs up a mountain with an armed guard sticking his gun out the window (yikes) and found ourselves at a Lodge the middle of Virunga National Park. The surroundings were stunning but once again early to bed before a big day of trekking to see the Gorillas.
We woke early and trekked for 2.5hrs across fields and jungle to find the largest family group of Gorillas in the country. The group in total comprises of 35 but we were lucky enough to see around 18 of them, and when i say see i mean they surrounded us. Babies curious running up and trying to tug on our pants and doing acrobatics in the trees was amazing.
Our second trek today was just as magical, we were lucky enough to be the first people to see a 2 week old baby gorilla and it's mum. She was so protective but eventually let us see it. We also gota little too well acquainted with a 30yr old Silverback who walked straight up to me and only turned with about 30cm to go. I have never been so terrified in my entire life!
This afternoon we headed to a new (fancier, with wifi!) Lodge and saw their Gorilla orphanage.
5.30am wake up tomorrow morning before a long day travelling back to Nairobi.
- K x
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