Adorable baby gorilla cuddles mum

One of our favorite trips in Africa is to both Uganda and Rwanda, where our key highlights are gorilla and chimp trekking through the impenetrable rainforests.

This video shows these serene and gentle giants in their natural habitat – care free, innocent and uncannily human like. It’s an incredibly moving experience to watch gorillas interact in large family groups in their natural habitat and as such an enormous privilege that we are able to watch these encounters up close.

Mother gorillas keep their infants in nearly constant contact for the first 4–6 months. The baby clings to the mother’s chest and belly, relying on her for warmth, protection, and mobility. Infants nurse exclusively for the first 5–6 months and continue nursing up to 3–4 years, even after beginning to eat solid food. Nursing also provides comfort and bonding. As the infant grows, the mother introduces it to social behaviors like grooming, foraging, and play. Her interactions help the infant learn how to navigate gorilla group dynamics and use forest resources.

This once-in-a-lifetime adventure (maybe more than that if you’re addicted like us) can fill the soul with the happiest memories.