January 18, 2018

Silverback Gorilla in Africa

mountain gorilla, mountain gorilla photos, Volcanoes National Park, gorillas in Volcanoes Natioinal Park, Rwanda mountain gorillas, Rwanda wildlife, Volcanoes National Park wildlife, silverback
January 18, 2018
Silverback Gorilla in Africa

Species: Gorilla | Location: Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda

This photo was taken in Rwanda at Volcanoes National Park. After trekking for over nine hours through thick mud, dense brush, bamboo forests and stinging nettles we located a family of gorillas and this magnificent silverback seemed to strike a pose — as if he did it every day. He was within arms reach as I took this photo. Shortly after this photo he decided he had enough and, pounding his chest, scrambled right past us and back into the forest. It was an amazing encounter.

Visit Benjamin's photography website to see more wildlife photos.

About The Photographer

Cropped benjamin african jungle

I'm a graphic designer and international photographer . . . a free spirit who has lived a life of adventure. I have paraglided off the Carpathian Mountains, scuba dived a glacier lake in Iceland, sat quietly with a silverback gorilla in a volcanic rainforest in Rwanda. I've drank coffee on the Champs-Élysées, gotten drunk in an Irish pub, I've witnessed the famous sunset off Santorini, Greece and spent the night in a farmers barn in the shadow of Dracula's castle in Transylvania. I have fought Klingons alongside the real Captain Kirk. I've ridden a Lipizzaner Stallion, scuba dived with sharks without a cage. Run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. I have been a construction worker, landscaper, soldier, mercenary, factory worker, office worker and peace officer. I've hiked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, driven a jeep across the Serengeti, learned to fly a plane. I have photographed beautiful women, hung out with celebrities in Hollywood, dangled out of helicopters photographing tall ships. Ridden motorcycles cross-country, jumped out of airplanes and rappelled down waterfalls in distant jungles. They say live life without regrets - but I have many. I'm tired and old and jaded - yet there are still adventures to be had . . .

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Since 2003, Natural Habitat Adventures has partnered with World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading environmental conservation organization, to offer conservation travel—sustainable travel that supports the protection of nature and wildlife. Nat Hab has provided more than $4 million to WWF and will continue to give 1 percent of gross sales plus $150,000 annually through 2023 in support of WWF’s mission to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.

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