Rwanda Visitors Get Up Close to Gorillas

ByABC News
February 3, 2004, 1:35 PM

V O L C A N O E S  N A T I O N A L  P A R K, Rwanda, Feb. 4 -- Through mossy vines, I was watching large black fuzzy heads munch quietly on leafy lunches when I noticed that I, too, was being watched, closely, on Mount Karisimbi.

As a mountain gorilla emerged briskly from thick vegetation, Istarted planning my retreat. But before I could move, the great apestopped about 15 feet away, wrapped up into a surprisingly roundball and rolled heavily away down a slope of bushy foliage.

It was an exciting look at an individual in the largest group ofmountain gorillas that can be visited by tourists in Rwanda'sVolcanoes National Park. In an hour, our small group would get muchcloser to them.

With seven other hikers, a guide and two armed soldiers, wewalked carefully through the jungle terrain, as about 35 gorillasate and played in the sun.

Hiking in a single-file line, John Martello had thought he wasbringing up the rear until he heard a rustling sound and lookedback. A gorilla about 3 feet tall decided to follow along, just afew feet behind.

Surrounded by Gorillas

"He was one of the bunch," Martello, a Hoboken, N.J., residentsaid, referring to the gorilla's short attachment to our group."It kept on following. It didn't seem very disturbed at all."

The Susa Group, as they are called, include two huge silverbacks males named for the coloring on their backs that occurs when theyreach sexual maturity at about 13 years of age as well as adultfemales and youngsters. Silverbacks can stand up to 6 feet tall andweigh more than 400 pounds. Compared to other gorillas, mountaingorillas have longer hair and larger jaws.

Watching Africa's so-called Big Five safari animals lion,buffalo, leopard, elephant and rhino often requires keeping agood distance, from the safety of a vehicle. Not so with thegorillas. The close viewing on equal footing makes the tripuniquely thrilling.

At times, we found ourselves surrounded by the gorillas, who canbe very active in the short hour tourists get to visit them.