Page 14 - 2017 RWANDA

Maybe it was the exertion, maybe the anxiety during the difficult hike,

maybe dehydration, or maybe it was the thrill and happiness at seeing

those gorillas so close and so peaceful, but whatever caused it, I cried

when I saw them. There was a big silverback asleep among his family

members and he never really stirred. Those who were awake were

chewing on eucalyptus branches and leaves, a la koala bears. There
were several adult females and some teenagers as well as some

toddlers among the family.

The kids who looked like our 8-to 10-year-olds were climbing small

trees and swinging from vines over and behind us. We had to stand

during this entire hour because there was no place to sit. Females