Texting with Rwanda

@DianneN (246643)
United States
February 18, 2019 11:18am CST
I just finished texting with our older son’s mother-in-law who is vacationing in Rwanda with her husband. What an exciting trip they are on. They have met many natives, seen such beautiful sites, and loved Volcanoes National Park. where Dian Fossey spent so much of her life studying gorillas. This photo shows how close they were able to get to them and live to tell about it. Would you? Tomorrow they head to the Serengeti. This is their third trip to Africa. We’ve only been to Egypt and loved it, but would love going on a safari.
37 people like this
38 responses
Hope
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
18 Feb 19
Who's feet are those? Is that a baby gorilla?
4 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
18 Feb 19
It's a gorilla for sure!
3 people like this
Hope
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
18 Feb 19
@DianneN How can you be sure? Maybe it's a boyrilla!
3 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
18 Feb 19
3 people like this
Val
@valmnz (17099)
• New Zealand
18 Feb 19
I spend my travel exploring Australia now as its also a fascinating place.
3 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
18 Feb 19
Every continent has something fascinating to offer.
3 people like this
Always smiling
@allknowing (130066)
• India
19 Feb 19
Never been there. If not for my accident I would have
2 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
What a shame!
1 person likes this
Jennifer
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
18 Feb 19
That would be amazing!! =)
3 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
18 Feb 19
I think so, too, but my husband is afraid a lion would gobble us up.
3 people like this
sofs
@sofssu (23662)
•
19 Feb 19
I love going on safaris, I love getting close to animals without disturbing their peace.
2 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
Wow! Where have you gone?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325651)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Feb 19
Some of our friends have been to Africa and had a wonderful time. How special to get so close to the gorillas.
2 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
It’s a wonderful place to visit, it seems. I’d love to see gorillas that close, too.
1 person likes this
ShannyBananny
@shaggin (71664)
• United States
19 Feb 19
I would absolutely love that. My boyfriend was telling me how in some zoo he was inside behind glass and a gorilla was on the other side. He said it was insanely big. I always assumed they were about the size of a small man. The one in the photo looks tiny. It would take all I could to hold myself back from hugging it and kissing it.
1 person likes this
ShannyBananny
@shaggin (71664)
• United States
20 Feb 19
@DianneN oh my gosh so funny but man am I glad you ducked in time. My daughter and I learned about them doing that in a book we read years back. I think it was called “The one and only Ivan”
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
20 Feb 19
@shaggin And all this time I thought I was the only one. Perhaps she thought I was Paris Hilton.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
It is so cute! I had an encounter with a female gorilla at the San Diego Zoo. She threw poo at me for staring at the antics of a huge male gorilla.. I ducked in time.
1 person likes this
much2say
@much2say (53960)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Feb 19
Wow, now that's quite an adventurous trip!! If I had the chance, you bet we'd totally go for it ! My friend had always dreamt of going to Africa . . . she finally did a few years ago for her 55th!
1 person likes this
much2say
@much2say (53960)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Feb 19
@DianneN I think I'd be afraid of disease spreading mosquitos (or whatever biting bugs).
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
21 Feb 19
Your friend is so luck! My husband doesn't want to go on a safari. He believes we'd be gobbled up by lions.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
28 Feb 19
@much2say We and they get vaccinated before traveling to third world countries, but something worse than that happened.
1 person likes this
Toni
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
21 Feb 19
oh I would. My husband wouldn't but I would.
1 person likes this
Toni
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
21 Feb 19
@DianneN oh no!
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
21 Feb 19
@toniganzon It could happen! lol
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
21 Feb 19
Same with my husband! He’s afraid to go on a safari for fear we’d be gobbled up by lions.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (305965)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Feb 19
That's a great picture. I don't know if I would be brave enough to get that close. However, I've been known to take dares in my day so anything is possible.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
20 Feb 19
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
She said the gorillas were busy leading their own lives. Lol!
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (305965)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
19 Feb 19
@DianneN That's a good thing.
1 person likes this
Angie
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Feb 19
Oh that is wonderful. No I am not interesting in going over seas. I want to travel the USA.
2 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
18 Feb 19
We do have a magnificent country to see first. I love traveling the world, too.
2 people like this
Manuela Lopes
@nela13 (55698)
• Portugal
18 Feb 19
That Is wonderul, we are planning to visit my sister in Mozambique maybe next year.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
@nela13 I've heard it was great there. That's probably where we would go, too.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
18 Feb 19
Oh how wonderful! That sounds so exotic to me.
1 person likes this
Manuela Lopes
@nela13 (55698)
• Portugal
19 Feb 19
@DianneN we are planning to visit Kruger park in South Africa during that trip.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
18 Feb 19
I would love to be close to these animals.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
18 Feb 19
Join our small club!
2 people like this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
18 Feb 19
@DianneN Seriosuly would love to.
2 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
18 Feb 19
@CarolDM We should plan our own trip. My husband is worried we’d be gobbled up by lions.
2 people like this
Nevena Zivkovic
@Nevena83 (65282)
• Serbia
20 Feb 19
I think I would be afraid to get close to the gorilla.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
20 Feb 19
I wouldn't. They were all very well behaved from what I heard.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
22 Feb 19
@Nevena83 . Gorillas don't eat people, but they could kill you.
1 person likes this
Nevena Zivkovic
@Nevena83 (65282)
• Serbia
22 Feb 19
@DianneN Gorilla would eat me.
1 person likes this
rebel_woman06
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
19 Feb 19
So, they were able to get close to a gorilla. His shoes mesmerized the gorilla.
1 person likes this
rebel_woman06
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
20 Feb 19
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
20 Feb 19
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
I believe those shoes belonged to the guide. I know they wore tall boots.
1 person likes this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (134423)
• Roseburg, Oregon
18 Feb 19
I went to Egypt and Africa when we lived in Europe. My Dad was in the Army and took a month's vacation every six months and we went somewhere. We went to almost every country over there.
1 person likes this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (134423)
• Roseburg, Oregon
19 Feb 19
@DianneN I loved it. Traveling for free everywhere, You can not beat that.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
@jstory07 No, you can’t! We have to pay through the nose! lol
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
18 Feb 19
That's awesome and such a wonderful life experience! I didn't know that about you.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95082)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Feb 19
That is closer than I want to get.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95082)
• Marion, Ohio
18 Feb 19
@DianneN Yep, me
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
18 Feb 19
You of all people!
Sherry
@norcal (4890)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
19 Feb 19
That would be an exciting experience, but I can't help wondering if it's good for the animals to be in such close contact with humans.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
I assume it's just fine, or it wouldn't be allowed.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
@norcal They are well protected now in Volcanoes National Park.
Sherry
@norcal (4890)
• Franklinton, North Carolina
19 Feb 19
@DianneN It's just that it seems like it might make them more vulnerable to poachers if they are too accustomed to humans. (Remember, that's what happened to Fossey's gorillas)
1 person likes this
ARM
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
19 Feb 19
That is pretty near.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
I agree, but they were very mild mannered.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
20 Feb 19
@responsiveme True. lol
1 person likes this
ARM
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
20 Feb 19
@DianneN just goes to show that the saying ...Never judge a book by its cover, is true.
2 people like this
Simone
@Janet357 (75656)
•
19 Feb 19
Africa is a beautiful continent. Good to know that Rwanda’s conflict is over so that tourists can visit it.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
20 Feb 19
@Janet357 From what I heard, the natives were very nice and welcoming and prepared foods and also invited them into their homes. I've only been to Egypt.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
19 Feb 19
They have enjoyed meeting many natives in the places they have visited. It seems a good time to travel there.
1 person likes this
Simone
@Janet357 (75656)
•
20 Feb 19
@DianneN are natives nice ms. D? Or kinda protective with their teritories? Have you visited the entire africa?
1 person likes this