Hail to the Good Guy

http://www.artistsforconservation.org/blog-entry/william-richardson/hail-good-guy

My latest Blog post is up. Sorry for the linkthough, but gotta have you on the AFC site.
W

A Surprise Around Every Corner

http://www.artistsforconservation.org/blog-entry/william-richardson/surprise-around-every-corner

Please click the link to go to the blog on the AFC site.

W

Conquering Heroes

I am Shifting my blog to the AFC site for the duration of the expedition.

The latest blog is up. My first look at Stephen and Jeff’s epic adventure in DRC.

http://www.artistsforconservation.org/blog-entry/william-richardson/conquering-heroes

W

Of Baby Gorillas and Special Projects

We are up here.. somewhere!

Today was my second gorilla trek. We were very fortunate to have two extra gorilla permits so we thought it might be time to give back to a couple of the people who are doing great things here in Rwanda. Many of the people who take time to come here, do it out of the kindness of their own hearts and don’t make or have the money to go see the gorillas while they are here. One of the kindest and most open hearted of these volunteers is Devon Kuntzman.

Devon and Val. Cameras ready.

Devon is here doing something amazing. She has left her life in Ohio behind to help out orphans. She works for Imbabzi Orphanage, dedicating her life to help some of the orphans of the genocide. Started in the aftermath of the genocide, Roz Carr came back to Rwanda at the age of 82. She had been the last American to leave, and returned as soon as she could. IN 1994,82 years young, she adopted 400 children and opened her orphanage in the shadow of the Virunga volcanoes. Sadly she died in 2006 but her legacy lives on, currently 110 orphans are living at Imbabazi, supported by their own flower farms, bee projects and help from people like Devon.

Devon truly is a deserving sole.

Our second brave adventurer is my permanent tour guide this week, Valerie van Wassenaer. Val has come up a few times this week as she has taken tons of time out of her schedule to help us get cultural reference shots for the film. Val also works very hard with the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village. Val helped us out so much this week, it was the least we could do.

So we banded together at 5Am with my friend and permanent driver Alex. Today was incredible, the sky was crystal clear, not a rain cloud in sight. This was good omens for what was to come. The hike was by far one of the easiest we have ever done. Todays guide is one of the senior guides for the park. Beck, and he was accompanied by an intern from the local university eco-tourism program.

Today we were visiting Agashya group. Each group is named for it’s silverback. Agashya is a very busy silverback and has by far the largest brood of babies. No one can resist babies! Val quickly pulled some strings and called in some favours to bully our way in to the favorite group of both tourists and the vets at MGVP.

We reached the group very quickly as once again they are down off the mountain munching on bamboo. Bamboo is full of water and alcohol when it is in shoots, so the gorillas are usually a bit drunk and lethargic. A perfect time to watch them play. We came upon the boss, surrounded by family. He is very calm and orderly, very calmly letting us stand right in the midst of his playing brood. He dutifully posed for us, and once again I thank Jeff, steve and AFC for giving this videographer the opportunity of a lifetime. Before we knew it we were surrounded by playing children. It had rained hard last night, and there was mud. Mud and children make for an awesome playpen.

To our amazement, under his mothers watchful eyes, one started playing the drums on his mud pile, soon two were banging rhythmically . This game went on until one of the adolescents decided he didn’t like the tune and put a stop to the game… undaunted, the baby waited for his pushy brother to leave.. and went back to slappin’ the mud.

Ooohh... look ma! Mud!

We pushed deeper in to the bamboo and I had the chance to observe a very tiny baby on her mothers back. There is just something special about babies. The hour was over so fast, none of us could believe it. It really felt like we had just arrived.

I am once again stunned and full of warmth for these creatures. They are touching and enlightening. I am so happy to have shared the experience with a couple of karmically awesome new friends. I wish you could have all been there. THere is nothing as moving as seeing these, life filled, personalities in the fur.

Alex fixing our ride.

(On a side note, my photos and videos came in scientifically handy today. Jan noticed some sort of fungus on the babies nose and needed a copy to closer study, and Martha Robbins had never seen the drumming on mud before… and I thought she had seen everything!)

The car ride home was full of happiness. The truck broke down and Alex fixed it with a bit of rope (things like this happen here). The pause did nothing to slow down time or dumb down our elation. The smell of wild creatures is still in my nose and happiness is still in my heart.

When I arrived home at MGVP, Jan had another thing she wanted me to check out. The vets and locals in an effort to save the forest have created a sawdust briquette program. The local cooking fuel here is charcoal, it is the smell that fills the city when meal time rolls around. ( i tried to describe it when i first got here, green and rich) Unfortunately, 40% of the wood ( or thereabouts) is illegally scavenged from the park. To stop that, the vets had to change how the locals cooked their food. They needed an alternate fuel, and stoves to cook with. With the help of a forward thinking family, it is all starting to happen.

Mao is very proud of his business. He wants to preserve the park, and it shows. His sister owns the business and they already employ five people and families are starting to adopt the new cooking method. He showed us how simple the press was, and how he could produce the wooden clocks with simple sawdust, paper and water ( and the help of a bit of manpower).

To encourage slow to change local people to change after thousands of years of charcoal burning, each family who buys a big bag of briquettes is given a free stove. The system has been adopted by a large group of families and his delivery list is growing.

So this is my last day here in Musanze. Tomorrow we rush off to Kenya for the next leg in our African adventure. Stay tuned as there were great things happening on Mikeno this week, but I will let Jeff and Stephen relay the story. My story here is far from over. In a short week the warm, wonderful people here have made me welcome. The misunderstanding that has come from years of negative media is not warranted. Come here, meet the people, live a while. Rwanda is wonderful.

June asked me if I would be sad to leave. I am, deeply. At the same time, I know more adventure lies ahead.

To Kenya.

W

They Call Me.. The Shadow!

I told you today would be an easy day. It wasn’t super easy, but it was engaging and interesting enough to make up for the lack of ease… bah, I am only here for a short period of my life. What do I need ease for?

Doc JFK... the man.. the myth... the legend.

I got a very awesome opportunity to job shadow the vets today. I think I have spoken passionately enough to you in the last article (if you don’t know about MGVP yet please read this and this). I arrived early at MGVP headquarters so I could upload yesterdays Blog, and Dr. Jan had a surprise for me. Dr. Jean Felix was going to visit the orphans and I got to tag along. Another whole hour with my favorite group of miscreants.

After I got to tag along with Dr. Jan on her rounds… It was like high school. I was gonna job shadow. This was a great way for me to get shots of vets in action. On top of that Dr. Mike is on an intervention and he took along one of my GoPro cameras so that we will have the first full view of a vet in the field. I can’t wait to see it when he comes back, they are removing the noose from the baby!

Jean Felix and I trucked out early to head to the Orphan compound. I spent a ton of time with them this week, so it was really nice to take a bit more time to compose shots and observe the lowland gorilla. Jean Felix is currently collecting samples (poo) from them to track their stress level after the move of their dominant gorillas. Last week just before we arrived, the vets moved the two mountain gorillas in the group to a larger enclosure in the DRC. The move was a herculean task, involving three countries and all the vets and staff. With the help of the caretakers he spent time with each one, observing behaviour and checking for wounds.

You will notice that the vets stay behind a fence. They are very concerned about transfer with this group. The orphans are very important to the survival of this species. Only the cartakers come withing regualr direct contact. Everyone coming from outside must wear clean suits and masks at all times. Visitors like myself must stand 7 feet away from the wall on top of the MGVP truck. We are not allowed anywhere near them. But from atop the truck I could see everything.

Woot! Ride time!

We were there at playtime. Two young ones tolled and played, a baby clung to the new dominant female, and finally, one miscreant climbed the tree he knows he is not supposed to climb… to stick his tongue out at me and pick his nose.

Most of the trees in the encosure have been torn up from being gorilla playthings, but one ancient hygania still stands. The caretakers take great pains to keep the kids off the tree, but sometimes they get up there. It reminds me, when i was a kid I used to climb this giant tree in our forest and watch the cars. I never told my mom about it because I knew it would freak her out. This guy was having a blast being told to get out of the tree.

All too soon my hour was over. Even behind a fence, 7 feet away and on top a truck, there are still very stringent time limits. It was sad, as this is the last time I will be able to visit the orphans (they are such characters), but It was time to meet up with Jan and go on rounds.

Jan needed to go and help rescue a crow that had fallen out of a tree and had wicked mites. Interestingly enough (particularily if you have my interest in the world of cycling) the rescuer was no one other than American Tour De France cyclist, Jock Boyer! (Jock was the first American to participate in the tour; it’s a big deal) I had to work really hard not to act like a stuperfan.

The Pied Crow, or T-shirt crow as Stephen calls them, is the local super intelligent bird. Jock has drooled over the idea of domesticating one, so he really wants to do everything he can to help it out. Jan and the vets here at MGVP are dedicated to helping every animal in the gorilla ecosystem to remain healthy and that includes the local dogs, rescued crows and even stitching up fallen cyclers. Jock admits to having a few scratches fixed by Jan and her crew.

Jan administered some medicine to get rid of the mites, Jock had to gently bathe the bird and force feed it a mash until it would eat regularly. The diagnosis wasn’t good, but with a little TLC there would be a chance. Jock looked sad, but promised to work hard on it. Jan finished up by checking on Jock’s dog, who is super healthy, and then took me in to town to exchange some money and drop me off to meet my personal tour guide this week, Valerie van Wassenaer.

Valerie is one of the people behind the community village I visited earlier this week. She spends a lot of time with the locals and has become a regular site at the market. We are the minority here and a source of great amusement. I focused on getting lots of video for the film so unfortunately there are no pictures. The market is wild though, huge open air mazes full of every odd and end you could think of. A wild extravaganza of smells, colourful fabrics and exotic foods.

I will try to get a shot or two of it before I leave, just so you get a sense.

Tomorrow we head out on our second Gorilla trek. I am very privileged to do what I have done this week. Most people will never get a chance to do a gorilla trek, for some it is a chance in a lifetime, for me, this will be my fourth time. I am honored to have this chance and do not take it lightly. I can’t wait to tell you how that goes.

Africa continues to amaze.

W

A Day with The Vets

I woke up very early this morning. For some reason my body just won’t let me sleep past 4:30. So I repacked all my gear and waited for the sun to rise. The sunrise was stunning, and the perfect start to my day. Today Dr. Mike Cranfield and Dr. Jan Ramer were finally back from traveling all over and I could have a chance to hang out with them at the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project compound.

The compound is a lovely little oasis with a tidy set of gardens and friendly dogs. Each dog has a story as they were all brought to the vets as puppies on the brink. The compund is full of life, students volunteering or working on research projects, the vets are always running out to quell another emergency, and of course the dogs and gardeners.

I sat down with both Mike and Jan today to get their thoughts on the Akeley project and to learn more about the MGVP and the work they are doing. This week we have learned so much, from Dr. Magdalena Lukasik-Braum and  Dr. Jean-Felix Kinani. Mike and Jan filled in even more of the blanks. All the vets who work here are increadibly warm and kindhearted, I guess that’s the type of people a project like this attracts. The best and the brightest, matched with hearts of gold.

I think now I can confidently tell their story. So here it goes.

MGVP is a breakthrough in conservation. When a species like the Mountain Gorilla gets to the critical state this species is in, there is no recourse other than direct intervention. To keep the Gorillas healthy and reproducing requires special hands on care, and this care is one of the great success stories in conservation.

The greatest threat to Gorillas is humans, there is no question. We cut down their forests and farm their homes, and kill them when they take our food. Poachers in search of buffalo and bushbuck (and still today even illegally killing gorilla) lay down snares that maim or kill. Thousands of tourists carrying bacteria and viruses from around the world trundle up after being on a virus filled airplane and cough on the Gorillas food source and every once and a while come in direct contact. The last is the most serious threat of all.

You see, because they are so closely related to us on the genetic level, they are very susceptible to the same diseases we are. Most of us have been immunized from some of the deadlier diseases, but that doesn’t mean we don’t carry them around. It is disease and not guns that will probably kill the last of the gorilla, and the only way to stop that from happening is to give them the same care we get to prevent us from dying. The gorillas are simply a doctor away from survival.

Dr. Mike

Mike, Jan, Jean Felix, Magdalena and a score of vets in both countries, as well as volunteers and assistants have been filling that role since very soon after the murder of Fossey in ’85. Jan had just met Fossey at Kinosoru a few weeks before she was killed. Dian had requested a vet, realizing that disease had become a threat to her groups, and out of the Digit Fund MGVP was born.

The first clinic was a single vet, Doctor *** and has since grown in to the group of dedicated staff that protect the animals in the mountain range today.

Mike Cranfield has been instrumental in introducing an even greater initiative. The vets here realized very quickly that they would need to work with the tourism industry and local communities to save the Gorillas. In fact, it is tourism that peaks the awareness of the plight of the critically endangered species. The tourists are touched and in turn spread the word further and faster, as they now become emotionally involved. Tourism is actually a large part of why there is so much attention on this issue.

From this awareness comes something much larger, and even more groundbreaking. The ‘One Health’ initiative directly involves itself with the community in and around this fragile ecosystem. MGVP has introduced free heathcare to the workers and families in the park, vaccinate and care for local domestic animals to prevent spread of disease in to the jungle and have worked tirelessly to help teach local people to embrace biofuels and alternative fuel sources other than illegally gathered trees from the protected forests. The local population has come to understand that the gorillas are an important source of income, if not the most important, and by protecting themselves, and the local forest, they make an investment in their own future.

Confiscated Snares

That’s right, a few more than a dozen people do all this as well as visit every gorilla group once a month to observe them, rehabilitate a group of orphaned gorillas, treat gorillas with illnesses or injuries, do groundbreaking research, autopsies, studies and about 10 billion more things each and every day. The office calendar is a giant blackboard filled to the brim with to- do lists for each team member.

Dr. Jan

Recent studies have shown a MASSIVE 17% increase in the abituated population of mountain gorilla, 4% per year. 2% of that is a direct, provable result of the work that MGVP is doing here right now. No other conservation effort has had success like that. It is a model, that, as we sit on the brink of ecological chaos, will need to be mimicked to save other critical animals as we push them in to final extinction.

I am not a rich man, but a first hand experience with both my beloved Mountain Gorillas and long, deep, moving conversations with my new friends has made me wish I was, so I could give them all the money they need to keep doing this noble task. I realize my only real power is to spread the word through my craft, and to help Stephen and Jeff get everything they need to spread the word further with their art.

So I am spreading the word. I apologize now to all my friends and family that are going to have to listen to me for the rest of my life as I dron on about these wonderful people and the noble task they are entrenched in. I need everyone I can come in contact with to be moved by my story and to in turn donate money, time, or thought to what they do here.

To make an impact, not only on the Gorilla, but on a local population in dire need of well managed aid, and to support some people I genuinely care about, visit www.gorilladoctors.org. There is no umbrella comitee taking that money and spending it on office space, there is just a small group of heroes that need your help to keep up this task that is overwhelming in scale.

Overwhelming and it works.

So that was my day. I went to dinner with Jan and a few of my other friends, in the course of which my Rwandan circle of collegues grew larger as we were joined by Martha Robbins famed researcher who is currently carrying on Dian Fossey’s work, and Marcell Claassen a respected ornithologist and bird guide who recently discovered a wealth of new birds in the last year and regularly guides birding tours around Musanze.

That is the coolest part of Musanze, and really the thing that everyone is missing when they shuttle off on their package tours. Under the ecotourism is a tightknit group of people from Rwanda and around the world working together to keep this specific eco system alive, and in hopes of improving it before it disappears forever. This is a city full of inspired people giving up comfort and ease in a combined effort for the greater good.

W

Of Hiking and Holy Ground

Yeah, I am having an Indiana Jones moment

So, apparently there are no relaxed days in Africa. I have lost track of time, but manage to maintain a schedule, and I am still subsiting off of about 5 hours of sleep a night. This could be due to jetlag that won’t end, or pure excitement.

It is Saturday night and there is a huge party going on in town. The sound of music is everywhere. So here I sit, at my usual spot at the patio bar, with music all around, local beer growing on me and another cool day in the tank.

Today began early. I am hiking up to the Dian Fossey gravesite on my own today as everyone else is off being busy on other parts of the project. Jungle hiking footage and a shot of the gravesite will be a cool part of the finished film. This is admittedly a touristy eco hike, meant to be for people of mid level athleticism, so it shoulda been easy.

Nothing is ever easy in Africa.

There are not a lot of folks who make this trek. You have to be a hardcore gorilla fan to hike for three and a half hours to see a bunch of old pilings. So I kinda hoped to be on my own and my wish seemed to be answered. Just as we got in the car…

How do I put this diplomatically…. Hmm… two of the most unprepared people in the world came trundling over to the car… ready for adventure. Bright red shirts and track pants, combined with some low-end hiking shoes. I may look like a dork in my fedora, but my Exo clothes and heavy duty jungle boots are part of why doing these treks is easy on me.

Here is my note for eco tours in Rwanda. They are amazing. If you can go on one, do it. It will change your life…BUT!!!!!!

Come prepared and be prepared. Hiking up mountains is hard. You have thin air (you are above the clouds fer crying out loud!) Mud, Stinging nettles, animals, rocks, vertical climbs. Even an easy walk will be torture unless you bring the right shoes… bring good, waterproof hiking boots dammit! Bottled water, a camera and some food would be a good idea too.

They were not prepared.

Mr. and Mrs. Unprepared had no idea what they were up against. Luckily, I am taking pictures, and movies, so I can be nice and pokey. So no problem… we start our ascent.

Our guide was another amazing young local, Denise. She is a dynamic young girl, one of the youngest guides at 23, and one of the only female guides. She speaks 5 languages, and is confidently the best bird and plant specialist of the guides. She is good at what she does and she knows it. That wasn’t gonna help the unprepared couple.

The adventure begins in a very poor village with children playing with their very cool Rwandan whip tops. Then you pass through a few farmers fields with stunning view. The children love to have their picture taken — they love it even more if you show it to them. They will always beg for money, offering you flowers or bits of sugarcane. It was explained to me that giving them money is the worst thing you can do. Rwanda has a huge anti-begging campaign going on right now, and they would like you not encourage the behaviour.

Today is a government enforced cleaning day. Everyone has to help out by sweeping the streets and picking up the trash. Plastic bags are illegal in Rwanda, so combined with this monthly cleaning effort, it is honestly the cleanest country I have ever seen. The clothes of the farmers may be dirty and torn after a days work, but the houses and towns are immaculate.

After the town and the sunny mountain vista… you climb.

Fossey lived at Karisoke for years (1967- until her murder in 1985). She was 3 hours from the nearest town and made the trek once a month to check in on life. Taking her path wasn’t too bad overall, but then… this is 25 years later, and tourists go back and forth twice a week. In her time, it was all uphill and no one regularly marked or cleared the path. The poor unprepared couple nearly died… and then we hit jungle. They convinced themselves that they had to make the trek.. and life got real slow.

On the note of safety. Rwanda is all about tourism at the moment. They send a troop of three fully armed soldiers up the mountain with you. They aren’t there to protect you from violence, but from animals… but none the less, you feel REALLY safe. I mean these guys carry hardcore artillery to fend off buffalo and elephants. They don’t like having pictures taken of them, so I didn’t, although you might catch a glimpse of them in a few shots if you try really hard. They are always stern faced at the beginning of the trek, and rarely talk to you… very serious soldiers.

Six grueling stop filled hours later we made it to the site of the original Karisoke research station. Denise explained that during the genocide, many Rwandans had to hide in the park. To build shelter they took everything they could. That included tearing apart what was left of the holy ground in Gorilla research.

I need a way to describe Karisoke. Paying respects to this icon is only a part of the story. The location itself is something special. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Nestled in between two volcanic mountains, 3000 meters up. High in the clouds. Surrounded by huge trees and hanging moss. It is an Eden, and I can easily imagine spending a lifetime living here.

Only one building and several footings remain. The old workers quarters lies in ruin but shows some of the scale and simplicity of Fossey’s home. After you pass the remains you see  the outline of her house, the bamboo she planted for sick gorillas, and the field they played volleyball in. The last stop, is the burial ground.

I didn’t know this, and many wouldn’t, but they still bury gorillas there today. The newest grave is only a year old and the ground is still high and earthen. I learned today that every time a gorilla dies from the group she studied, the Rwandans climb the mountain with the body and reverently bury them at the site. The numbers have grown in the last few years, and the effect is astounding. (the latest is Titus, who was buried only a year ago) It helps that the hike is so hard, it makes you feel like you ran the gauntlet to visit, to read each name, and to see the final stone.

Unprepared Couple were tired and wanted to go home, so our time was brief. That’s ok, I came to do what I wanted to do. Denise gathered up our personal army and we began the long descent. On the way home, one of my serious soldiers whispered that he could see buffalo. I sneaked up beside him to see three! I would have a picture for you but as I raised the camera, Lady Unprepared screamed “Buffalo? Where???” and clomped up the hill in ther muddy sneakers. Wheezing and crashing all the way… So they left and she still thinks we were seeing things. When my serious soldier friend pointed out a bushbuck for me a few minutes alter, she did THE SAME THING. I nearly killed her. How do you diplomatically say… “This isn’t the zoo, you gotta be careful!” (hmm that is pretty diplomatic, shoulda said that)

Finally we made it to the bottom of the hill and Mr. Unprepared decided to joke about how easy the ascent was. I hopped in my taxi, accompanied by Denise, and we just shook our heads. Really… if you are gonna hike in Rwanda, be in ok shape, and bring a decent pair of shoes. I saw one guy go on a Gorilla Hike today in loafers and dress pants… dude… you are gonna get really muddy! And them there loafers is gonna have you on your ass.

Mike is finally back from Uganda on this epic mission to save a Baby gorilla from a snare caught around her neck. He heads back to Uganda this afternoon to try again. These vets are doing amazing things, and after a great dinner with Mike, Jan and their assistant Shannon, I realized that Fossey’s work didn’t end with her death, it had only just begun.

See you tomorrow, Today should be a quiet day for me… but then, this is Rwanda, adventure should just fall in my lap.

W

Of Orphans and Culture

I will start with a shot of our goal.. to tease you. I give you Mikeno.

This morning the crew got to sleep in a little after an epic week of early mornings and hard days. We knocked on the door of MGVP bright and early to meet up with Magdelina and visit her orphan gorillas.

The orphans are a group of abandoned and humanized lowland gorillas that have been left in the care of MGVP to keep healthy, to study and help in the rehabilitation of future orphans. Although these gorillas have been left in human hands too long, they are part of the future of many orphans to come. Magdalina is incredible, she speaks the language of the creatures, knows each like a beloved child and laughs with full force when they play or act up. Recently, two of their leaders (full on mountain gorillas) have been relocated, so they have been left to rework their social structure. Due to the fragile nature of what the MGVP does, we were asked to wait a while before visiting. The dust has settled for today and we were able to spend some time with these amazing creatures.

The orphans show amazing love for their caretakers, and the caretakers obviously return the love. These guys have taken on the role of friend, playmate and brothers. To prevent the spread of disease, only these chosen few are allowed to interact with the orphans one-on-one. The vets must remain behind a chainlink fence; faces masked and clothes freshly laundered. Visiters like us must be content to stand on top of a car, observing from over a massive stone fence. None the less, the orphans come to visit us, finding any way they can to get close and see the strange new people.

After another incredible hour interacting with these beloved creatures, we had to go. But I think what was most endearing was how much love the vets and handlers have for these little giants. It was so cool to watch them spend quality time together.

My day took a swift turn. It was time to head up to something the Rwandan community has put together to show us how they lived only a few decades ago. My new friends Valerie van Wassenaer and Emmanuel gave me an exclusive tour of their very cool business!

Iby’ Iwacu cultural village is a must-see after your gorilla tour. A small village has (with the help of a few progessive thinking people) put together a true taste of Rwandan culture. The staff are a blend of savvy young guides, students with passion, and ancient local thespians with a wink and sense of humor combined with love of a culture quickly fading in an all too industrialized world. After a Gorilla trek, you would be nuts not to fork out 35 bucks for this two hour extravaganza. They put on a huge show… just for you!

Emmanuel was my personal guide, he explained every plant, how the children got their water, and why, even though he had traveled the world, he still comes home back home to live and work. He loves his people, sees friends around every corner, and for a moment, we all would love to live here, in his friend-filled world.

The dancers and drummers blew me away, and I am happy to say they will be a special part of my African experience. I made more friends today (amazing friends, thanks Valerie), and will be sad that I may never have a chance to connect with them again when I leave this brightest Africa behind.

My last ‘cultural experience’ today was a very cool ride on the local bus home. You know, I have tried to explain it before, but no one ever listens. When in a foreign county, ride the bus. It is the only way to live, breath, and touch a local lifestyle. I sat beside savvy teens and girls who needed a break from balancing things on their head. You are only a bus ride away from making new friends in Rwanda. You know, I have mentioned friends a lot today, but that is what a trip like this is all about. You can take a million pictures of your vacation and feel like you have experienced something… but how many of you got on the bus? Really, then did you actually see anything or just take pictures from the window of a cab?

Thats it for today. Tomorrow I will be visiting The grave of Dian Fossey. I can’t wait. I tread in the footsteps of legends and am humbled. Thank you for coming with me.

I love that you are interested and reading. Don’t forget to check out Jeff and Stephen‘s blogs. They had to go to bed, but I will make sure they update tomorrow afternoon… morning for the EST folks.

W

A Greatest Walk In the Woods Ever

Our first chance to interact with the mountain gorillas has come and gone. Today was a day I will never forget.

We woke up very early this morning to wolf down breakfast and jump in our friend Alex’s cab. I am happy to say the jetlag wore off and I finally got a full night’s sleep. It was a glorious start to this incredible day

Jeff was a bit sluggish as he was still trying to get all the Rwanda visa issues straightened out. There is good news there too, it looks like all has been taken care of. So after hastily running around to get letters and emails off, he wolfed down about two spoonfuls of eggs and we hopped in our ride. The road to the park takes about half an hour.. during the ride the sun came out and the sky cleared. Mist lay low in the foothills and the scene was stunning.

Our guide today was simply called ‘Hope’. One of the youngest guides at only 25, still finishing university and full of knowledge. He was fascinated by the cameras and had a real love for taking pictures. We decided that we would like to see the Kwitonda  family, as they were very close to the park fence which would allow us to return early to give us more time to work in the afternoon. Hope explained that Kwitonda and his family were also very calm, Kwitonda  means ‘Humble’ and he and his group were quiet and very easy to get along with. That sounded great for filming.

The car ride to the part of the park the family was staying this morning was rough and bumpy, the streets crowded with people on their way to their farms. The children all run out of the houses to see the white people shouting ‘Muzungu, Muzungu!’ as you pass by and waving and smiling. It is like being a float in the Thanksgiving Parade.

As we drove up the hill, the car jostled and bumped, Hope explained that he loved driving here as it was a nice massage, and Alex (the driver) called the roads ‘Samba Roads’, driving on em makes you shake and dance.

The hike up the mountain was a simple thirty minute hike, complete with stunning views of the foggy foothills. The jungle loomed close and Hope broke the news that the gorillas had gone deep in the bamboo and the hike would be 4 hours. We would not be back until dark and he would need everyone to use their cell phones to light the route back to the village.

After doing an epic job completely fooling everyone… I mean it.. this guy was a fricken thespian, he finally cracked a smile. The Group was only a few meters past the protective wall of the park. It took us all of ten minutes to find them and…

Everything went silent. For one hour the world ceased to exist. Time flew and life became too short.

Akeley described his first encounter with one of theses wooly giants like this, “I was excited to a near painful degree.” Steve brought them up later, and I now understand how a man could stop and be poetic and profound in the middle of the jungle.

We broke in to a small clearing where suddenly a silverback was right beside me, only a meter or two away. He was calmly lounging and snacking on bamboo. Scratching his armpit and picking his now. The guides have to learn to speak the language of the creatures. It is a combination of grunts and movement. Hope asked for permission to visit, and it was given. After a while with the younger silverback who was lazily guarding the outskirts, we headed in to meet the family.

Suddenly they were all around, close enough to hear them breath, look them in the eyes and know what the smell of a 200 pound ball of muscle and fur is.

The smell is strong and musky, like B.O. done very manly and tough. No aqua velva required.

The dominant male kept tabs on us, but was clearly amused by our visit. He posed for pictures, kept his family in line, all while keeping a very watchful eye on us. Hope found Stephen the perfect spots to make sketches and Stephen went to work, feverishly trying to document the moment in charcoal. Jeff and I grabbed our cameras and went to work capturing the moment in photos and video. This was our moment.

One baby thought it was very funny to come over and look at us and watch as Hope made us all get to the distance regulated by the park. He would try and trick us by rolling near from different sides just to see us all scramble. We saw at least ten of the family, if not more, took thousands of pictures and an hour and a half of video, and before you knew it…

Kwitonda shivered a massive shiver and made a call. It was time to leave. The whole family got up as a unit and went to find a place to sleep. Almost on the hour, it was like he checked his watch and said, ok Muzungu.. your time is up.

Stephen was on an adrenaline high, giggling like a madman, full of inspiration and ideas. I welled up, musta been allergies.. yeah… I must be allergic to bamboo or something. Jeff was silent.

Stephen’s field sketches are amazing. He captured it better than any photo ever could. This was our time. For a moment we walked amongst giants, ancient kings. How could we be responsible for the full scale destruction of something so powerful?

These moments are like a dream to me now. I may never be the same again.

But what is even weirder is coming off this high and having a great lunch while watching the Sens game while listening to disco…

See you tomorrow. Don’t forget to visit Jeff and Stephens blogs as well to get their view of the experience!

W

Of Golden Monkeys and Stunning Views

Our first trek in to the Volcanoes National Park from Musanze. Mike Cranfield, the Director of the MGVP, and our contact here in Rwanda, had to run to Uganda just before we arrived to save a baby Gorilla from a snare. The news is very good, and he will be returning today after successfully removing the snare from around the baby’s neck. Mike and the rest of the people involved in the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary project are working tirelessly, and this is a prime example of how much they are doing for the local population. As Mike is on the road home, and the orphan Gorillas (that we plan on spending lots of quality time with) are still upset from the loss of their leader (who was relocated only a few days ago) we decided it was a good day to visit a little known second attraction in the park.

The Golden Monkeys are indigenous only to this very small region of the park; you cannot see them in any zoo as they are very protected by the local governments. It was also a great dry run for our Gorilla trek tomorrow, giving us a chance to test out our theories, and figure out how we are going to shoot in the deep jungle. The sun was shining and the day was perfect.

Today was also our first real view of Mount Mikeno, the volcano depicted in Akeley’s Diorama and focus of our mission here. The sky was clear and you could see much of the range before it got shrouded in thick thunderclouds and misery. We may be unlucky when it comes to our visa issues, but we were lucky in light today and blessed with hundreds of rare monkeys.

The hike through the jungle was great. Bamboo season brings the monkeys and gorillas down low in the hills in search of sweet shoots. Interestingly enough, the trackers believe the Bamboo shoots are a bit like catnip for gorillas, as they tend to be a bit wilder during the bamboo season. More fights break out and they all act a bit squirrelly.

Interesting bits of learning for today:

The monkeys and gorillas move constantly. In order for the guides to find the migrating tribes, there are permenant ‘trackers’ who follow the families all day, until they tuck in for bed at night, then resume their jobs all day every day so that they won’t lose them.

In the last few years, the park has encouraged poachers to become porters. It has become very important to get a porter for the high cost of ten bucks for the day to carry your gear, no matter how light the load. Keeping poachers employed as porters is saving the animals for the tourists. Plan on having a porter no matter how odd it feels to have someone lug around your gear.

The monkeys are totally worth the extra hundred (+ cost of cab) if you love primates. This is a blast. Bring a long lens for your camera cuz they like to sit up high in the bamboo. I love monkeys, so this was an amazing experience for me.

Bring some small change ( 5’s and 10’s) for gifts and souvenirs. Once again, the local area is trying to get local artisans to become part of the Gorilla business. The art may be simple, but it is hand made and supports the local community, which in turn gets everyone on the side of conservation.

There is plenty more to learn here, but lets get back to the story.

Steve and Jeff were ecstatic to learn that our guide Fidel was very knowledgable about local birds and plants. He was a quiet and friendly soul, soft spoken, excellent english and very funny. I think that a good guide should always have these traits, and I am sure the Park makes sure that all the guides are like this. We leaned so much today, and he took real pleasure in showing us his forest home.

Good news! My construction boot idea worked! I had super grip, and out of all the tacky tourists, I fell in the mud the least. Bully for me!

We spent and hour with the monkeys; the time flew by. The hour rule is enforced for all the tours. You would think that it was all a marketing ploy but really it is a part of the wonderful work MGVP is doing here. Keeping the visits to the Gorillas to 1 visit a day, for 1 hour a day, helps stop the spread of human diseases to the fragile animals. As our new friends also explained to us… No one wants visitors all day every day, eventually you would get frustrated and tell everyone to leave you alone. The hour may seem short, but if it keeps all these creatures alive, then I am 100% behind it.

After a short and laughter-filled trek out of the bamboo jungle, we had a quick lunch and went next door to visit the MGVP to see if Mike had returned from his quest. The guard at the gate explained that Mike was not back, but welcomed us in and took us to the open arms of a person we had wanted to meet for a long time.

Jean-Felix Kinani is MGVP’s Rwandan in-country field veterinarian. What a wonderful person. We spent over two hours with him discussing his passion for the local wildlife, and his love of his people. We learned so much today, things like the local Gorilla population has showed a 17% increase since 2008 ( I am pretty sure that was the number). What an epic increase! We can spend our lives doubting human impact, global warming, deforestation, light polution, plastic ocean destruction, but numbers like that prove that conservation efforts work. Done.

Tomorrow we go on our first Gorilla hike. Only a handful of people get to do this each year. I count myself blessed to get a chance to be part of it. Thankyou.

Don’t forget to check out Steve and Jeff’s blogs for a different perspective!

W