African Safari Adventures. Thomas Walsh

in the morning and already located the gorilla family. Paul had a walkie talkie radio which he used to stay in touch with the trackers. He told the group that the trackers carried high powered rifles for protection against poachers and Cape buffalo. The Cape buffalo, which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, is very aggressive and highly dangerous to humans. Paul said the Cape buffalo is considered the most dangerous animal in the wild, because they are so aggressive, more so than lions or elephants.

      We slowly climbed higher into the forest. As we ascended the foliage became dense and was covered in moisture. Leaves slid under our feet on the slippery mountainside, which had become like a tropical rain forest. Paul had to use a machete to open the trail. We brought along leather gloves to wear on the trek because they were on the recommended equipment list. We were glad we did. Some of the plants you have to grab climbing the mountainside have nettles that can become imbedded in your skin and give burning sensations for hours. The plants with nettles were fearsome and plentiful along the trail.

      The mountain side became steeper and more slippery due to the ever present moisture. Finally we squeezed through a large stand of bamboo to break into an open meadow where the trackers were waiting. After greeting the trackers and introducing them to us Paul issued final instructions before the group met the gorilla family. Paul told us that we were to sit or squat in a group about 20 feet from the gorillas, and avoid staring them in the eye. Loud noises or sudden movements could upset them so talking needed to be limited and done in whispers. If a gorilla charged the group it was important to not run or act afraid. The gorilla would stop short of the group and then back off. We all looked around at each other. Everyone was thinking yeah sure, he must be kidding. Only cameras could be carried to minimize the noise and distraction, everything else had to be left with the trackers.

      Paul led the way into the forest making low moaning sounds, “mmaagghh” a message to the gorillas that we had come as friends. He stopped and waited until he heard a low rumbling response from Guhonda, “mmaagghh” before proceeding. As we got closer to the gorilla family we could smell them before we saw them. There were small piles of pungent, green gorilla dung in the area. Paul spoke quietly to us as he continued to make the soothing low moaning sounds, “mmaagghh” and Guhonda rumbled in response. He pointed out the various members of the family as we carefully entered the area where they were camped. The silverback Guhonda was stupendous. He sat a little ways off from the other gorillas, but kept a wary eye on us as we entered his realm. Paul had us sit in a semi-circle a little below the family where we could comfortably see all the gorillas without making them feel threatened.

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      Guhonda watched the humans as they made their way into his camp. The small chocolate colored man had visited them many times before. Guhonda liked the low moaning sound he made. He was a friend. The white people were nervous and they made him nervous. They fidgeted with cameras and shot glances at him constantly, a few stared at him much more than he liked. Guhonda caught a whiff of the scent of the tourists and wrinkled his nose in displeasure. He uttered a few low hoots to remind the family and the tourists of his supremacy. The chocolate colored man moved among the whites talking softly about the gorilla family.

      After a few minutes some of the gorilla family moved about within the camp. They were comfortable with the presence of the humans for the time being. The children began to play with each other and the adults went about their business of eating and preening themselves and others. Except for the physical difference, Guhonda’s family seemed much like a human family. The gorillas are normally docile and interact with each other with love and affection. But, like humans they also squabbled on occasion.

      On the far side of the tourists a commotion developed between two gorillas, an adult male and female. In the process the gorillas moved very close to the tourists. Paul carefully walked over and shepherded the tourists who were too near the gorillas to a safer distance. I was one of those who needed to move. I stood quietly and walked slowly across a small clearing to the other side of the group. As I walked I saw out of the corner of my eye, a large female gorilla walking toward me from the side. She could have easily avoided me but for some reason decided to brush my leg with her shoulder as she walked by on all fours. She was fully grown and weighed about 150 pounds. Her powerful muscles rippled under her shiny black fur as she bumped me and continued walking past. She glanced back at me over her shoulder. For a fleeting moment I felt I knew the message the bump conveyed. It was a reminder that we were visitors in their home.

      Guhonda continued to watch his family members and the tourists carefully while occasionally munching on bamboo shoots. He noticed that the other younger silverback named Gsihamwotsi was showing off for the family and the tourists. He became irritated and began to hoot. When no one seemed to notice him his hoots picked up steam. Guhonda suddenly rose from his sitting position. His massive bulk, like a giant boulder, came charging toward Gsihamwotsi. The gorilla family scattered out of his way. Guhonda came up just short of the younger silverback, who quickly assumed a submissive position. Guhonda snorted and violently threw vegetation about. The tourists watched in shocked amazement at Guhonda’s speed and power. He had erupted like a volcano but once he was satisfied that his supremacy was reasserted in the eyes of the family he calmed, walked back to his nest, sat down and resumed eating bamboo shoots.

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      Guhonda’s charge was the highlight of our first day’s visit to the gorillas. It was an amazing experience that far exceeded anything we had expected. We felt privileged to have had the opportunity to be so close to these wild but human-like creatures. When our time was up we quietly withdrew into the forest and hiked back to the pick-up point. The excitement and wonder of being so near the gorillas felt like a surreal experience. It was so unique and emotionally stimulating that once it was over you questioned if it had really just been a dream.

      It was a short drive back to the park headquarters. Our driver Charles was waiting for us. He drove us back to the Virunga Lodge. We sat at the open air bar on the mountain top with a panoramic view of the Virunga volcanoes on one side and Lakes Burera and Ruhondo on the other. We relived the day’s events over and over as we had cocktails and dinner. All four of us were filled with amazement at the experience. I thought how lucky we were to have decided to make this trip. It was pure serendipity that we did. Night fell and the mist enveloped the volcanoes in its arms.

      Silverback mountain gorilla

      CHAPTER 2

      CHUCK THE SAFARI PLANNER

      Nine months earlier, my wife Lee and I attended a charity fund raising event hosted by Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, a well- known philanthropist in Santa Barbara. We each grabbed a glass of wine from a waiter when we came in and looked around for people we knew. Our friends Steve and Nancy were in a circle with some other people we knew. Steve and Nancy are east coast transplants. My wife Lee and I are from the Midwest. It seems like most of the people you meet in Santa Barbara are from somewhere else. We joined the group in the middle of a story Steve was telling.

      A group of people we knew from Santa Barbara had just come back from an African safari. Steve was very animated as he relayed what he had heard about their trip. It was a customized safari, filled with exciting once in a lifetime experiences. They had stayed at remote eco-lodges with delicious meals, and excellent service. The guides were top notch. The trip was truly seamless with every detail planned flawlessly.

      Steve’s enthusiasm in telling the story was so infectious that when he finished and asked the people in the circle if we wanted to take a safari trip with them, we of course said yes. Lee had a safari on her “bucket list” so she jumped at the opportunity. I wasn’t as enthusiastic initially, but was certainly willing to look into it. Nancy was also more reserved in her reaction. She probably wanted to save her comments for when they got home. Another couple said they were interested as well.

      I asked Steve who had planned the safari for the other group and he said, “Chuck the Safari Planner”. Steve explained that Chuck was Charles Aljian, a local man who runs a safari travel business under the name “Safari Planner”. He said the other group had raved about him.

      We left the