After a long flight, we finally arrived at Entebbe airport to discover that the airline had lost my bag once again! In the usual African fashion, it took at least 2 hours to make the baggage claim. 5 clerks and 5 passengers without bags and 2 hours! Despite no bag it was exciting being in Africa with its characteristic wonderful smell. 
We spent the next morning arranging for transportation to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the west of Uganda near the border of the Congo. We decided to rent a 4×4 Landrover instead of a grueling 10-12 hour bus ride on supposedly unpaved roads. We were pleased to discover that the roads were paved for most of the journey and it took only 9 hours to arrive. It was a pleasant journey along lush tea and banana plantations. The countryside seems way more green and mountainous than the other east African countries we have visited (Tanzania and Kenya). We stopped about an hour into the drive from Kampala, the capital, to take the requisite photos of the equator north/south sign.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is an area of dense rainforest where nearly half of the world’s endangered Mountain Gorillas are located (about 350). They have no natural predators so their numbers have deminished due to man! They have been hunted for sport and for their meat as well as to capture the babies to be sold as pets!
We were a little surprised to find that our 80 USD accomadations, booked from Kampala sight unseeen, was a tent! It was located on the side of a hill overlooking the mountainous rainforest and had an ensuite toilet and shower albeit with cold water.
The next day we set out to trak the elusive 18 member gorilla family. They allow 60 minutes with the gorillas in order to minimise our impact on them. We were split into 3 groups of 4 people to trak the 3 different families. It takes anywhere from 2 hours if you are lucky to 12 hours if not.
They are constantly on the move during daylight hours, eating, sleeping and playing. Our group found them after only 20 minutes!! We spent the shortest hour of our lives watching these gentle giants habituated to human presence.
There was one silverback gorilla (the patriarch) and many blackbacks and their young. The silverback is the largest and oldest male and so named due to the large patch of silver hair (not fur) on its back. He was quite intimidating and we naturally kept our distance. The others in the family were so close at times that you could smell them (and what an odour…major B.O.) It was a surreal experience! The young were playing around with each other and the babies were breastfeeding. The older adults were hanging about eating and constantly moving searching for food. One of the gorillas was laying on its back with his arms over his head scratching his belly with his feet up in the air. Quite the amusing sight.
It was hard to leave after our 60 minutes were up. The guide kept calling my name but I couldn’t pull myself away. We were supposed to stay 7 metres away from them to limit their exposure to our potential germs and if you have a cold you are not permitted to trak (they apparently refund your $50o usd permit).
On one occasion a gorilla passed by almost brushing against my legs!
Seeing as we finished our trek in 20 minutes we decided to go on a 4 hour hike in the rain forest up the mountain. At the top we were rewarded with a stunning vista. We were able to see the entirety of the Bwindi Forest as well as the bordering areas of Rwanda and the Congo.
On the way back to Kampala we unexpectedly came across 3 adult lions along the side of the road! We stopped the car to observe these huge cats.
The driver kept rolling up his windows as we were that close. We could see their battle wounds on their paws and faces!
Continuing out of the Quen Elisabeth NAtional Park we encountered elephants and babboons. Quite the imprompt safari.
NEXT STOP…..Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.