Second & Third Gorilla Trek Day in Images

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This photo report is being sent from a tiny island on Lake Mutanda where mobile internet is patchy at best; please pardon our high compression and brevity. Over the weekend we will be in a similar situation, so allow us to complete the story on Monday.

It is early in the morning and the going is alredy getting tough; photo by Grace Shrewsbury
It is early in the morning and the going is alredy getting tough; photo by Grace Shrewsbury
Remember Mountain Goat? He first went up this hill, then down again to collect people's bags; photo by Grace Shrewsbury
Remember Mountain Goat? He first went up this hill, then down again to collect people’s bags; photo by Grace Shrewsbury
Brave people who hiked through the Echuya Forest swamp pictured above Lake Kayumbu; photo by Jane Mulungi
Brave people who hiked through the Echuya Forest swamp pictured above Lake Kayumbu; photo by Jane Mulungi
Volunteers who avoided the exceptionally hard Day 2 enjoyed pretty views from the bus; photo by Madison Jay
Volunteers who avoided the exceptionally hard Day 2 enjoyed pretty views from the bus; photo by Madison Jay
Mt Muhavura (4,127m:13,500ft) is a dormant volcano whose name means %22the guide%22; photo by Grace Shrewsbury
Mt Muhavura (4,127m:13,500ft) is a dormant volcano whose name means %22the guide%22; photo by Grace Shrewsbury
Sun always sets behind Lake Kayumbu in a way that charms a photographer; photo by Frankie Lawrence-Thompson
Sun always sets behind Lake Kayumbu in a way that charms a photographer; photo by Frankie Lawrence-Thompson
Morning departure on Day 3, to walk from Kayumbu to Kisoro Town; photo by Miha Logar
Morning departure on Day 3, to walk from Kayumbu to Kisoro Town; photo by Miha Logar
Motorboat ride to Gahiza Island with Mutanda Island Lodge; photo by Frankie Lawrence-Thompson
Motorboat ride to Gahiza Island with Mutanda Island Lodge; photo by Frankie Lawrence-Thompson
Evening swim in Lake Mutanda, on Gahiza Island that we had to ourselves; photo by Miha Logar
Evening swim in Lake Mutanda, on Gahiza Island that we had to ourselves; photo by Miha Logar
Feasting at Mutanda Island Lodge - they usually serve rabbits that reside on the island today they were hiding; photo by Miha Logar
Feasting at Mutanda Island Lodge – they usually serve rabbits that are abundant on the island but today they were hiding; photo by Miha Logar

🖋️ text by:

ML Rwebandira is an adventure and cultural tourism expert, writer and multimedia producer who co-founded Gorilla Highlands Experts. Born as Miha Logar, he now combines his initials with “Rwebandira” to honour the Bakiga elder Karwemera, who gave him the name. ML’s most recent publication is the Pocket Treasure. A national of both Uganda and Slovenia, Rwebandira resides with his son Lan in Musanze, Rwanda. Click for his personality-infused quarterly newsletters. [bio updated: 2026-09]

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