Each day in the mountains begins with a traditional wecome in music and dance, then we set out on our trek to find the undisputed highlight of our trip, the mountain gorillas.  The fragile nature of the gorillas’ existence becomes apparent as we trek deep into the forests of the Virunga mountains, one of their few remaining habitats.

This is a photographic experience that we truly have to work for – we must be prepared to trek steep paths hacked out of dense undergrowth for between 2 and 6 hours in order to find our family group.  Gorillas change the location of their sleeping nest each night and it is only thanks to our dedicated guides, who track them day after day, that we will be able to find them.  Porters will carry our photography kit and belongings, but a reasonably good level of fitness is required to negotiate the steep and rough terrain for several hours.

When we reach our gorilla group, every minute and every shot counts… but do also remember to stop clicking and take time to fully experience being in the presence of these truly incredible animals.

We will encounter the gorillas on two separate day treks, with further opportunities to experience Rwandan rural life afterwards, and a less physically challenging but very rewarding trek to photograph the region's golden monkeys to round  off our trip.  These beautiful and charming primates are easier to access than mountain gorillas, often gather in great numbers, and provide excellent photographic opportunities.