Re: Governors Camp Collection - Rwanda

**Laikipia** Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:35 am

Governors Camp Collection - Rwanda - Page 3 768480

Brilliant, great read and lovely photos.

Thanks Doogs

Lai

**Doogs** Tue Feb 11, 2014 1:23 pm

From FB Tuesday 11th February 2014

Sabyinyo Mountain Gorilla Family

Probably one of the shortest treks to the Gorillas that I have ever done. Quite fortunate though as the rain started falling around 3am that morning. To avoid the rain, we were all huddled together under the roof of the meeting point at the park office, receiving our briefing from the guides who would be conducting the Gorilla treks that morning. With a warm cup of coffee in hand, we listened very intently to all that the guides had to say. It's so easy to spot the first time trekkers, with expressions of overwhelming excitement and a hint of anxiety.

Finally, the guides instructed the 8 of us to move to our vehicles and off we went. A twenty minute drive brought us to the starting point for our trek. Everyone was assigned a porter, given a walking stick and off we went. Not long into our trek, the first of several "how far still to the gorillas?", a question the guides hear all too often. Six hours was the reply from the guide which brought dead silence to the group.

Ten minutes later we were at the park boundary where the guide gave us another quick talk on walking etiquette inside the National Park. The trackers radioed down, informing the guides that they have found the gorillas and that we should come up. Everyone, less talkative now was trying to control their breathing in preparation for the six hour trek to the Gorillas.

Only twenty minutes later, we came across the trackers, much to the relief of many of the folks in our group. We took out our cameras and not too far from us, we could see and hear a rustle in the bamboo. We followed the guides into the bamboo forest. First off all, we came across Shirimpumu, a very boisterous Blackback, soon to turn Silverback and shortly after that we had both the old man, Guhonda and his second-in-charge Silverback, Gihishamwotsi make their way down a trail through the bamboo. Gihishamwotsi is showing off, with constant playful defensive postures.

Guhonda, not taking much notice of his antics continued down to where he settled for a nice bamboo breakfast. Above us, some of the youngsters were swinging between the bamboo clumps using vines hanging down from the bamboo canopy. With very little light for photography, most of the hour was spent just observing these incredible animals playing out their daily routine just meters in front of us. Still, even after so many treks, this is still an emotion that I can not put into words that would justify what is felt when with the Gorillas.

Privileged am I....

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/media/set/?set=a.10152409756478488.1073741843.195591128487&type=1

**Doogs** Fri Mar 21, 2014 2:02 pm

Governors Camp Report

News on the Sabyinyo Gorilla Family - 4 March 2014

http://www.governorscamp.com/blog/news-sabyinyo-gorilla-family

**Laikipia** Fri Mar 21, 2014 6:27 pm

A lovely blog and how lucky they were.

Thanks Doogs.

Lai

**Doogs** Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:03 pm

From FB Tuesday 4th April 2014

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge

Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge in Rwanda was designed, built and is run by Governors Camp Collection, we transferred ownership of the lodge to the local community who through rental income and bed night fees generate substantial income for their community development projects. It is Rwanda's first ever community owned lodge and we are extremely proud to have been the first to pioneer community based tourism in Rwanda. Located at the foot of Mt Sabyinyo and close to Volcanoes National Park Headquarters Sabyinyo is the perfect base for a Gorilla Trekking safari. Money paid for gorilla permits goes to help conserve highly endangered Mountain Gorillas and the community also directly benefits financially from your stay, its the perfect conservation, feel good safari. These stunning photos are courtesy of Nelis Wolmarans Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge Manager, and they give you an look into the lodge and grounds. We look forward to sharing this amazing country and the Mountain Gorillas with you. Many thanks to Nelis for sharing these with us.

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/media/set/?set=a.775077632504460.1073741998.127029937309236&type=1

Looks very nice Very Happy

**Doogs** Thu Jun 26, 2014 1:59 pm

Link via FB - Thursday 26th June 2014

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/gorilla-treks-rwanda-sabyinyo-volcanoes-national-park-89792543757.html

**whitestarling** Thu Jun 26, 2014 11:14 pm

Thanks Doogs I've missed this topic for some reason don't know why scratch

You certainly wouldn't want to mess with Agashya from that photo, I will keep up from now

WS

**Laikipia** Fri Jun 27, 2014 8:58 am

Doogs. Pete is still wanting to go and I am still not sure What a Face

I think it's the humidity and the trekking bit that puts me off, I would love it once I was there!

Lai

**Doogs** Fri Jun 27, 2014 1:23 pm

Better late than never WS, always puts a Very Happy

on my face looking and reading about these wonderful animals I love you

Tell Pete I'll go with him !!! lol!

Oh Lai, you certainly would, go for it Governors Camp Collection - Rwanda - Page 3 768480

**Doogs** Mon Jul 14, 2014 1:15 pm

Nothing can quite prepare you for the first time that you see mountain gorillas in the wild. They have a presence that you cannot convey in a thousand photographs and command such respect that it is difficult to put in words. - See more at:

http://africageographic.com/blog/seeing-wild-gorillas-for-the-first-time/#sthash.DavJjRow.dpuf

**whitestarling** Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:13 pm

The feeling must be awesome, something you really cant imagine, and have to experience at first hand, that's one trip I would dearly love to go on. I remember the look of wonderment DA's face the first time he met them in the programme he did on the Gorillas

WS

**Doogs** Tue Jul 15, 2014 12:48 pm

Mee too WS and now that you mention it, remember that too Very Happy

**Doogs** Mon Feb 16, 2015 1:10 pm

Playtime came to an abrupt end for one little gorilla !

Thanks to our guest Peter Wright for sharing this adorable video with us . . . .

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video.php?v=10153381082198488&fref=nf

**Doogs** Mon Feb 16, 2015 1:11 pm

Faces of Hirwa Gorilla Family

A few of the faces from the Hirwa Gorilla Family courtesy of Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge relief manager Jamie Gomersall

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/media/set/?set=a.950777994934422.1073742177.127029937309236&type=1

**Laikipia** Mon Feb 16, 2015 1:19 pm

for those two Doogs.

Lai

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