PRIME MATES

25th August 2010

Anyone who has been watching BBC2’s documentary series ‘Mountain Gorilla’ could not help but be moved by the plight of these majestic creatures.

Exodus has taken more people to see gorillas over the last 30 years than any other UK travel company so we have a peculiar affinity to this ground-breaking wildlife documentary. 

Narrated by Patrick Stewart, the three-part series follows the last remaining Mountain Gorilla populations left in the world deep in the misty volcanic forests of Uganda and Rwanda. Giving us an intimate portrait of gorilla family life, the documentary shows just how closely related we are to these compassionate primates, and the domestic and alien traumas they face.

Following on from Diane Fossey's years of research and observation, a team of dedicated experts in the Virunga and Bwindi national parks continue the vital conservation work necessary to ensure their ongoing existence. 

The burgeoning local development and growth in human population in these regions mean the gorilla’s natural habitat is being perpetually encroached upon and now these threatened primates are quite literally ‘a species in intensive care’. Among the many perils they face, illegal snares and contamination from human germs and disease are probably the most serious.

Consequently, it is only a privileged few who get the chance to witness these carefully protected Mountain Gorilla populations in their natural habitat. Permit numbers are highly restricted and there is a strict Code of Conduct in place for those lucky enough to embark on this magical wildlife encounter.

Award-winning wildlife photographer Paul Goldstein, no stranger to East Africa, is still profoundly moved by his visits to this mountain kingdom. He writes:

“I was thrilled to see this breathtaking programme on Sunday. I remember keenly a conversation with Rosette Rugamba, the brilliant tourism minister of Rwanda for many years when she bemoaned the one dimensional tourism aspect always given to her small country. ’Rwanda is more than just gorillas.’ Rosette complained. I sympathised, but getting column inches for anything other than gorillas has always been hard, but this programme has been a shot in the arm as the aerial panoramic scenes are stunning. This border country, especially the Virunga Mountains are staggeringly beautiful, seducing many famous explorers from Burton to Speke and Stanley. It is also a country butchered by past tragedies, but if ever there was an example of forgiveness being required for bridges to be built, this is it. The people are humble and hospitable and the tourism, although nascent in some areas, is a delight. However, at some stage any visitor has to come face to face with these Mountain dwellers. I am lucky enough to have visited the populations in both countries, vividly I recall the long treks into their back yard, the absence of tracks or paths, my lungs rasping with the altitude and the rainforest opening its canopy to soak us time and time again. Nothing could prepare me for the precious hour spent among these close relatives and it was worth it a hundred times over. Every visitor has their own story or vignette from their visit, being mock-charged by a Silverback is mine. I will never forget it - standing toe to toe with this monster with its soft inquisitive chestnut eyes and breath smelling of compost. He backed off, I nearly voided myself, the rest of the group had scarpered! That was fifteen years ago, it may as well have been yesterday.

Does anything compare to this priceless hour in wildlife terms, a difficult one, but I think not. What is more your visit brings vital money where it is needed, I defy anyone not to be indelibly marked by any Gorilla encounter. Will I be seeing the next episode? I can’t wait, but it is only TV, astonishing TV, but TV all the same, nothing could ever come close to seeing them yourselves. Sermon over.”

Exodus offers a choice of two memorable trips to see Mountain Gorillas, Primate Safari  and Gorillas & Masai Mara. Which one will you choose for your next wildlife adventure?

Until you can get out to Africa  to see them for yourself, you can catch the next instalment of Mountain Gorilla at 8pm on BBC2 next Sunday.

If you've missed either of the past two episodes, you can catch up on BBC i-Player.