When you arrive to the Gorilla Highlands region, you will experience positive, colorful, and exuberant vibes. The people, the forests, and the calm, impressive lakes are right at your fingertips. Then comes nightfall.
A comfortable breeze turns into a hollow, howling wind. The vivid birds seem to die out, and the obnoxious crickets make their presence known. You look out at what was a beautiful lake, and now is a dark, empty abyss. No one is out. There is barely any electricity.
The only way of seeing what is in front of you relies on the faint moonlight that is rarely given. You have now realised that the lakes, islands, volcanoes, and the people here have another side…
Unending life is for real. After the head of the family dies, he takes on a new leadership as a spirit guardian. If somebody does wrong to the family, their leader will punish him or her, through poisoning, terrifying, and even killing. More, sometimes when the head of the family passes away, he is immediately still there… You can’t see him but he can still order you around.
So watch your mouth and control your thoughts or you may never live to see the morning light!
🖋️ text by:
Henry “Hank” Rugg volunteered for Gorilla Highlands Experts in 2016, still a teenager. He fell in love with East Africa and is planning to return by 2027. Now a professional actor with appearances in numerous productions (such as Caryl Churchill, Shakespeare & Edward Albee), Hank simply has to be in Hollywood, California. [bio updated: 2026-04]
📸 photography by:
Marcus Westberg is a multiple award-winning photographer and writer from Sweden whose work — covering conservation, wildlife and travel — appears regularly in several global publications. He has made several trips to our region specifically to volunteer for Gorilla Highlands Experts. When not globetrotting, Marcus lives with his wife and daughter close to Lisbon, Portugal. Click for our interview with Marcus. [bio updated: 2026-03]