Gorillas In The Midst
Mindfulness can lead to a personal refuge, real or imagined. A private space of inspiration and spiritual renewal. A sanctuary where creativity sparks wonder, a flurry of questions, and a search for answers that help protect animals and their habitat.
In my expedition I visited some of my favorite animals; African mountain gorillas.
My mental journey takes me deep into mountainous, remote Africa – Dian Fossey’s primate paradise. Here I am privileged to spend one afternoon among relatives of famed film, Gorillas in the Mist.
After twenty-six years of martial arts and three Great Danes, my knees are rebelling. Wet foliage slaps my face. Deep mud sucks at my hiking boots. Stinging nettles brush my jeans. In the shirt-drenching humidity a fog rises. Low rumbles of fading thunder echo, their threat diminished. Vestiges of an early storm retreat past the Virunga mountains. The reality of distance dissolves into a gray, blurry haze.
I am on a gorilla trek. The only item on my bucket list. A once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
I’m joined by seven other self-proclaimed intrepid travelers, led by a highly knowledgeable guide and an experienced park ranger. They gesture that fresh tracks signal the gorillas are nearby. We’re reminded not to make eye contact. No staring. Stay at least thirty feet away.
Exhausted, I momentarily step aside to perch on a fallen log. My fellow adventurers move a short distance ahead.
Suddenly a musky, acrid odor hits me. “Gorillas,” I whisper softly to myself.
I feel an adrenalin rush, and fear – undeniable fear. These ‘gentle giants’ can rip off a human’s head.
The cloud bank is disappearing. Through a small clearing shines a patch of streaming sunlight. The lush rainforest is suddenly transformed into a sacred cathedral.
A liana is shoved aside. A long, low grunt heralds a magnificent 450-pound silverback making his grand entrance. Ngagi, named for. “One who greets the morning” has arrived. His sheer presence is overpowering. As if on cue he steps into the spotlight of sun. I gasp at the sight. Unconcerned, Ngagi gazes in my direction before turning to survey his kingdom. Humbled, I lower my head, eyes averted, completely submissive.
Ngagi utters another low grunt. Two youngsters tumble out of the greenery, wrestling near his huge leathery feet.
A juvenile scampers past my leg. Testing me?
A large female swings onto a low-hanging branch, calmly stripping bamboo stems.
Other family members forage for food nearby, warily watching me.
Ngagi briefly turns his attention back to me before resuming his watchful gaze over his verdant kingdom.
Entranced by their actions, I wonder. Could my words help protect their future? Can I combine writing with my concern and caring? It’s a worthy goal to accomplish.
Without doubt these deserving endangered great apes will remain in my heart. I will know they are alive, here in their green mansions, free of constraints – as nature intended.
(Gorilla images from free image available online)