99.7% human

For me the pinnacle of the trip was to spend some time with the closest animal to humans, the Mountain Gorilla. There are just over 700 gorillas in existence which is actually on the increase thanks to amazing conservation work being undertaken in Uganda, Rwanda and Congo and the fees from the 8 visitors a day that go to each group of gorillas helps to increase this number.

Following a hard trek over slippery and muddy rain-forest tracks being hacked away by our guides we arrived on a group of 23 gorillas including three silverbacks, for over an hour our small group marvelled at these huge beasts sat just meters from us. At one point the alpha male decided it was time to move on and took 21 of the other gorillas with him and we followed along the same path. The remaining gorilla realised he had been left behind, slid gently down the tree he had been feeding on and then gently brushed his way through our legs to join the rest of his family - it was the most awe-inspiring moment to be within inches of wild beast and one that will remain with me for the rest of my life.