GorillaSound

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 21 2009 | By: gorillasound

This week we received a visitor at Mondika, Pablo, from Uruguay. When I go to the forest I pay attention to gorillas’ behavior and then write about it. Although I am very excited every time I go, I wanted to hear how a person felt like after a first encounter with the amazing Kingo family, so I asked him to make an interview. Pablo can’t stop talking, still excited for what he experienced. Here is a summary of the chat we had in the camp after returning from the forest, while waiting for the dinner Buba, our cook, is preparing for us.

How is to arrive at Mondika?

Oh, the walk was very interesting. It was my first time in the real rain forest. We arrived by truck to a point where we started to walk in the forest, guided by the porters. The light started to diminish as we get into the heart of this immense and intricated system of trees and lianas. The soil is red-brownish and creates an incredible contrast with the different tones of green sorrounding us. Before leaving I was thinking to wear sunglasses… clearly a stupid idea! The sun barely filters through the tall trees… Very soon we arrive to the river I knew we had to cross to arrive at the camp. In my mind I had the image of the forest ending in a clear stream, I even pictured a narrow beach next to the river! But reality couldn’t be more distant… The river actually is more like a swamp, it spreads in several narrow branches of brownish water… We walk with water up to our knees for nearly half an hour; it is a little weird at the begining but soon the fresh water feels nice in the hot weather… After crossing the river we keep walking for nearly two hours; it is not easy to keep the guys’ fast pace! We get deeper and deeper into the forest, is amazing how the vegetation changes along the way. Finally we arrive at Mondika, I can’t believe I will be living in the heart of the tropical forest!

How did you feel in your first experience visiting gorillas in the wild?

Well, I was firstly impressed by how the Baka trackers know the forest; we were walking really fast in the midst of a thick vegetation. They did a great job guiding me and leading us through the forest until we find Kingo… He really makes you hold your breadth, to see such a huge animal just a few meters from you… By just standing with his two powerful arms, shoulders at front and fists on the ground, he displays an amazing strenght… yet he looks undisturbed by our presence. It’s a very exciting experience, to be just a few steps from this big, strong and human-like animal…

How was the whole visit?

We went to find Kingo where the trackers left him the day before, but he and the rest of the group weren’t there… As they told me, they could smell they were around, so the trackers started to look for their tracks. It amazed me how they can find gorilla footprints in the mud and the traces the group leave behind to find where the gorillas are! After a while they found the group; Kingo was quietly sitted while Kusu and Ekendi didn’t stop to play with each other, making mock fights and running around. You could stare them for hours!

And Kingo?

I was first a little intimidated by Kingo’s grunts, but then I realized is his way of saying ‘I’m here’… When he’s eating he looks so quiet, you get hipnotized by his human-like way of taking things with his hands… But as soon as you see him walking and displaying all his strenght… well, he’s kind of scary! (laughs) Fascinating too… He scared the shit out of me when he charged at us! (laughs) He wasn’t really aggresive, but I’m not used to his behavior!

How was the charge?

Well, he was at five or six meters and then he turned facing us… We were right on his way, he started to approach and then run toward us, we just had time to walk one step behind while he passed next to us pushing some branches… It was just a second, so I didn’t have time to get really scared! Then we spend the rest of the day following the group around the jungle, watching them eating, the youngsters playing around…

Would you encourage a friend to visit Mondika and Kingo?

Absolutely! Watching gorillas in a zoo in comparison to walk with them in the wild is like eating canned fruit salad and home-made fruit salad… Both are similar, but they are completely different things! To visit gorillas in their natural environment is a unique experience; I’m sure anybody who loves nature will enjoy it as much as I did.