GORILLAS!

Today was a very exciting day as we got to do our gorilla trek!

We were broken up into smaller groups and taken on a hike to a place were the gorillas have been tracked to be the night before our visit. The gorilla family/group that I got to experience was formally known as group 13 but is now renamed to Aswhate (that translates as special). This group has gotten that name because there is one silverback male and no younger blackback males. The male also has stolen two femals from the Congo and two from Uganda groups.

The baby gorillas was one of the highlights, they were playing with each other and hamming it up for our cameras. I could not believe how close we were able to get to the animals and how calm they remained while we were visiting them. This species is only found in the three countires in Africa and I hope that operations like the one that we participated in today help conserve them and thier unique habitat.

Yesterday we had a very relaxing day at our hotel and hung out at the beach on lake Kivu. We even went to an island for a picnic lunch with the whole class. After relaxing and recharging our batteries from the long hike in Giswhati we traveled to Ruhengeri where we are staying in the guest house of AoC.

I am looking forward to the next few days working in the schools to help Julie's mission with Art of Conservation. Tonight we are going to practice singing the songs we are going to teach the children. The songs have messages about conserving the gorilla habitat and improving hygine.

I can still not believe that I am in Africa and every day is full of new experiences and I can not wait to see what is in store for the remainder of our time!!