When you think of Rwanda, images of its dark past are evoked but as the country looks to its future, the country is making a miraculous transformation.
Home to Gorillas, volcanoes, mountains and jungle – it’s one worth considering. Especially to see the Gorillas – what’s not to love about these powerful and striking, yet gentle creatures? In April and May, heavy rains mark the bamboo season and fresh shoots are in abundance. Our furry friends descend from the heights of the volcanoes to sample their favourite juicy bamboo shoots or ‘gorilla beer’. Gorilla beer?! That’s right. They say that the fresh bamboo changes the mood of the gorillas and liken it to having one too many cocktails!
Reporting from the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in Rwanda we’ve heard that juvenile gorillas and babies have been tumbling and play fighting. Two Agasha female gorillas even had a wee scuffle and a Silverback gorilla stormed in to break it up, giving bites to the arm as punishment. Whilst this is natural behaviour, the trackers will keep an eye on the cut and gorilla doctors will intervene if it becomes necessary.
The gorillas of the Hirwa family have also been showing off with acrobats and the Blackbacks have been trying to show how grown up they are by beating their chests after their fill of bamboo! It is always a guest favourite when the little baby gorillas copy their older siblings as well as the Silverback and try to beat their tiny chests as well!
A fantastic place to see all this in action is on our Gorillas and Golden Monkeys journey, staying at the stunning Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge, located at the foothills of the mighty Virungas, the chain of 15,000 ft volcanoes stretching through Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. From this lodge you can trek on foot to see the rare magnificent Mountain Gorilla and stunning views of the volcanoes and the surrounding countryside.
Although the rainy season is drawing to a close, we’ve heard the gorillas will be sampling their gorilla beer for some time and antics are set to continue! Book now to explore the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ and enjoy one of the most dramatic, thrilling and poignant wildlife experiences available.