My trip to the
mountain-gorillas
in Rwanda.
Magic moments - I found my soul.

Even physically handicapped persons can visit the mountain gorillas.

I am handicapped. This is why a trip to the mountain gorillas has been beyond my imagination. On a flight to Namibia early last year I met an American woman who, in spite of a serious limp, had just visited the gorillas in
Volcanoes National Park in the mountains of Ruanda.

So it was also possible for me to visit the mountain gorillas there.

In most brochures of tour operators no guarantee was given to meet a silverback. I chose a travel business that offered this guarantee.

By means of this report I would like to encourage all people who suffer from problems of their hips or knees that it is also possible for them to visit these
rare ape species that are so close to man.

For those who are interested I have given my telephone number
and my e-mail address in the site notice.

Flight to Kigali.

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Near Kigali Airport.

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Airport of Kigali.

Something totally unexpected, Kigali the capital of Rwanda, is cleaner than cities in Germany.

A big problem at the airport

As the flight was a bit late the tour management wanted my wife to ride to the hotel on her own, which made me be at my best at once.

I said: "I have been married to this woman for 42 years. She is more important to me than all the gorillas of this world. A contract must be kept. I insist on my taking my wife to the hotel.

Otherwise I`ll come back in two or three months, but I wont`t pay a second time."

Then we were informed we had one hour left. 25 minutes to the hotel, 25 minutes back, 10 minutes to check in. It was just in time. Had I had to walk ten more minutes I would not have flown to the gorillas.

Later the driver to the hotel informed me that instead of a helicopter flight it would have been possible to ride in a car from Kigali to the lodge, which, as he testated, would have lasted about three and a half hours.

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Suddenly there was still time for a photo with the pilot.

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View from the helicopter.

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View from the helicopter.

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View from the helicopter.

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View from the helicopter.

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View from the helicopter.

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Helicopter does not land at the lodge in the mountains.

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The drive to the lodge in the mountains took another half an hour.

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The land-rover was parked in pitch darkness and the driver explained to me that there were still some steps to the lodge. He handed me a stick and flashed a torch.

I have not climbed so many steps in the last ten years.

The great number of steps reminded me of Cologne cathedral, which I once climbed when I was still a young man.

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The Lodge was a surprise.

I did not expect that in the mountains of Rwanda.

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Inside the lodge.

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The rooms were very well heated. I will never forget the super-good feeling of the hot water bottle for my feet.

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There was even WiFi here.

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Entrance to the lodge.

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The next morning, January 13, 2019.

After a great breakfast, the carrying aid from the lodge was taken to the parking lot.

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On the way to the Meeting Point.

This trip took about half an hour.

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On the way to the meeting point.

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On the way to the meeting point.

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On the way to the meeting point.

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At this meeting-point all the groups from the various lodges assemble in order to ascend the mountains.

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Previously all those attending were informed about the rules of behaviour, e.g. touching the gorillas is possible, the gorilla should launch the initiative, however. But if a human being takes the initiative and the gorilla does not like it, maybe the gorilla will slap you.

The foresters and rangers thank the participants, because they are ensuring the existence and the survival of the gorillas.

They are absolutely sure that without the visitors the gorillas would long have fallen victims to the poachers and they would have ended in the frying pans of the mountain natives.

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The carrying aid for the handicapped is beeing prepared.

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After about 1 hour and 15 minutes climb up we suddenly saw the mountain gorillas.

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A contact with the gorillas is possible, but the initiative should go out from the gorilla.

If the initiative is human and does not like the gorilla, it may be that the gorilla is slapping people.

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Gorillas do not drink water out of a water surface. The reflection scares them too much. Leaves and stalks are sufficiently juicy to meet their need of liquid.

How dare you say that vegetarians are protected against overweight.

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An entire family with silverbacks have no problem with our visit.

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It was a magical situation, as if he wanted to say:

"There is also a life without cars, mobile phones and soccer arenas.

And I dont`t have to work for a warm flat and my food.

And I dont´t have to worry about the school certificates of my children.

What is the link to humans ?

Senior citizens get on one`s nerves. Especially the old boss.

What is not the link to humans ?

It is the idea to invent weapons that can destroy yourself, your own species and the complete life on our planet.

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PRIMEVAL SENSATION.

With the gorillas I have found my soul.

An encounter like millions of years ago.

Up to now I had not been able to figure out the meaning of the term soul. Now I know what it is like.

Like the arousing of primeval brothers and sisters. A deep sensation of the soul.

Fairy tales , dream world – these words would be too superficial.

Our soul like all our genes have been influenced by all experiences of all our ancestors since the appearance of the first creature that could be identified as human being.

According to rough estimates we incorporate the mental heritage of one hundred thousand generations.

Our primeval soul is the original state prior to all mental experiences.

Here I have felt my primeval soul.

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After 90 minutes of ascent, roughly one hour`s stay with the gorillas and 90 minutes of climbing down the members of my group had reached the limit of their fitness.

Later they explained to me that they had felt admiration for my courage to visit the gorillas in spite of my handicap.

I had done the right thing.

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After all the members of our group had got into the cars I thanked all the 10 burden bearers, the two rangers and the four scouts who had followed the gorilla families during the previous night.

With pleasure I gave each of them a considerable sum of dollars as a tip to express my recognition and estimation of their performance.

Their exultation sounded all over the plain.

My inner thankfulness was even greater.

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