Regular readers will know my concern about the gorilla trek and Richard's back - well here we sit in Kigali after a magnificent day today with the Sabyinyo Family. It was largely an easy trek until the end when it was quite steep but our wonderful porters and the main guide made it all happen....and then we spent an hour in sun dappled splendour with the largest silverback in Rwanda and his family (about 12 feet away, I would estimate).

Weather was absolutely superb - not a cloud in the sky and fairly dry in the previous week so not too much mud.

Hope to load some pics on the blog later tonight - we're off tomorrow to Nairobi and onto South Africa where we will start blogging.

Thanks to everyone here for their encouragement - it gave us the confidence to have this most wonderful experience.

(and we were the only ones with gloves - people eyed our gloves jealously)

Yeah!! Sounds like it was amazing. Can't wait for more details and lots of pics.

When we make the gorillas more valuable we protect their survival. Thank you for that.

Wonderful! Looking forward to the pics!

Congratulations! I'm so happy it worked out for you. Gorilla trekking ranks in my Top 5 Most Wonderful Things I've Ever Done. Looking forward to seeing your pictures...

Great news! So happy it worked out well for you.

Looking forward to your pics...cannot imagine what it must have been like. Thanks for sharing.

That's great...glad you enjoyed it. It's one of the most amazing things I've ever done. I can't believe people would go without gloves!

Yay! I'm glad you did it! Looking forward to hearing more details and seeing some pix.

Great! I can't wait to read about it and see pics.

What kind of gloves? I know people say "gardening gloves" but aren't there many different types of gardening gloves?

Any kind of glove that will keep your hands protected from the nettles. You could always go to the gardening center and try a pair on some rose bushes!

Liz - I think I'm following you around the world! A gorilla trek is on my list (although it may be a few years out). Glad you had a good time.
Karen

And Liz? Humbling experience?

(the best ones always are...)

Eagerly awaiting pics!

J.

Thanks everyone - we arrived today in Simon's Town, south of Cape Town - gorgeous house ... the first time I've rented a house where it's actually bigger than I thought.

Will start sorting the photos and blogging - as soon as I do about 10 loads of laundry!

Liz