Gorillas in the Mist. I’ve only seen that movie once, yet it left such a lasting impression on me that decades later I’m still wondering about the Mountain Gorillas. Every time I think of traveling somewhere exciting, the thought of tracking a Silverback Gorilla permeates my imagination. I’ve also wondered how safe it is to go to East Africa where these magnificent beasts can be found. Countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda weren’t too familiar to me aside from movies of war and genocide. I’m pretty adventurous but, would I be willing to trek in the jungles while the dangers of warring tribes are so real and so near?

September, 2017 comes and the urge to go see the Gorillas overcome me and I start contacting local guides in Rwanda and Uganda to help me plan my safari.  My knowledge in the travel industry helped me with the perfect two-week African Safari!  I’m ready to go.  Do I really want to do this?  I still know nothing about these places! Yes, the urge to go was so strong that I knew I was going and I didn’t even check the State Department websites for any warnings.  Someone told me I needed Yellow Fever shots so, I go and get them.  Knowing about third world countries, I run and get Malaria medication too!

My medical insurance lapsed due to my oversight and now I have another dilemma.  I’ll be traveling without medical insurance.  I help my parents book their travel every year and every year I get them trip insurance and unfortunately/fortunately they had to use it when my Dad got sick on a trip to Peru.  The hospital bills and Air Ambulance would’ve cost us over $100,000.00 if it weren’t for travel insurance.

Up to today, I still haven’t bought my airline tickets.  Buying my tickets would mean I’m really going.  Do I really want to go?  Is it safe?  That last question keeps nagging at me but, I’m not willing to check for travel warnings.

Now, it’s October 29, 2017 and I’m packing for a weekend surfari (surf safari) with my brothers and friends to Baja, Mexico.  I check my email and it’s the fourth message from my guide in Rwanda and he is asking if I’m still going and letting me know he needs to pay the lodges for holding my reservations.  He also has to make sure a Gorilla permit is still available for whatever date I want to track.  I go over to my laptop and book my airfare!  Now it’s for real, I’m going to meet my Gorillas!  The date, November 8, 2017.  I’m flying in to Kigali, Rwanda and flying home from Entebbe, Uganda. Time to buy insect repellant and spray my clothes and gear.  Time to replace my worn out hiking shoes too.

Watch out for the follow up post…The Gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the rangers…