Travel Diaries Day 3: Gorilla Trek at Dawn and Football Fever in Kigali

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I woke before sunrise to join a volcanic mountain trek and encounter endangered mountain gorillas. After packing the night before, I dressed in locally made activewear and met my friends in the hotel lobby for a quick breakfast of sausages, eggs, muffins, and warm tea. The drive through Rwanda’s misty hills was breathtaking. We watched farmers head to their fields as the sun painted emerald valleys in golden light. At the park briefing, I learned about the gorillas’ near-extinction, the pioneering conservation work, and the strict etiquette we had to follow on the trail. The hike tested me: muddy slopes, thinning air, and countless slips. My porter’s encouragement and a steady chant of “one foot in front of the other” kept me going. When I finally stood face to face with the gorillas, their calm intelligence moved me to tears. One hour beside them on that volcanic slope will stay with me forever. Later, I rinsed off the mountain in a spa shower at Bisate Lodge, savored farm-to-table lunch, and explored its forest villas surrounded by ancient rainforest. That evening I walked into a friendly match at Amahoro Stadium dressed for dinner, flag in hand, and cheered as Rwanda beat Grenada 3–0. My heart was full as I settled into bed, eager for tomorrow’s adventures.

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