Celebrating Sir David Attenborough at 100!
World-renowned broadcaster Sir David Attenborough approaches his 100th birthday on 8 May, and we have been reflecting on his life-long dedication to discovery and education of the natural world.
We have fond memories of his visit in 2012 to our very own Porini Amboseli Camp in Selenkay Conservancy where he was keen to learn of our pioneering conservancy tourism model in which both wildlife and the local Maasai communities benefit from low-impact tourism, commenting “What a marvellous example of how people and wildlife can live alongside one another”.
Memorable Moments with Gorillas
As part of his Centenary celebrations, Sir David has taken part in various documentaries looking back on his life achievements. The BBC documentary “Making Life on Earth – Gorillas” focuses on what is regarded as the most memorable footage of his career – his encounter with a family of mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda in 1978.
“There is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than any other animal I know”.
– Sir David Attenborough
The initial objective was to explain how apes had evolved to grip tools, but what they produced was an unforgettable interaction between a human and gorillas, highlighting our close relationship with the natural world
Due to concerns over safety and access (as poaching and trophy hunting had reduced the mountain gorilla population to under 300), the crew sought the expertise of eminent gorilla specialist Dian Fossey, founder of the Karisoke Research Centre. With her assistance, the team planned their shoot and ascended the steep 3000 metre (9843 ft) slopes in search of some of the few surviving individuals.
Having discovered a small family group, they positioned themselves for Sir David’s piece to camera, but “Poppy”, one of the juvenile gorillas, proceeded to remove his shoes. Three year old “Pablo” then layed on him and an inquisitive adult female approached to feel his head and face and looked straight in his eyes.
Sir David describes the encounter as … “one of the most privileged moments of my life … I dream about it … it was the most breathtaking experience that anybody could possibly want who’s interested in the natural world.”
The episode was broadcast in 1979 and the series was a huge success, seen in almost every country in the world.
Nowadays, of course, science has progressed along with our knowledge of the spread of infection and disease, so there are rules and restrictions relating to the distance we must keep from the gorillas. However, visitors still enjoy thrilling gorilla interaction experiences with ethical and carefully organised treks with dedicated gorilla experts.
- BBC’s “Making Life on Earth – Attenborough’s Greatest Adventure” is on BBC IPlayer from 6 May
- Netflix’s “A Gorilla Story” narrated by Sir David Attenborough follows the descendants of Pablo, the curious, young male he met in 1978.
We offer a choice of various tours including Gorilla tracking in Rwanda or Uganda – often included as part of a broader East Africa tour to include Kenya or Tanzania.
Get Started …
If you are ready to make memories that will last a lifetime, we’re here to help.
See: Gorilla Trekking Tours … or Click here to send us an enquiry.
Or if you’re still at the early stages of deciding where to go and what to do, just sign up to our free 6-part email course here and discover how to book the best safari and make the most of your time and budget.
