b'soul-stirring journeysGRAPHER, GUILLERMO CENI EAST AFRICA is the birthplace of modern HOTO CERO humans. Its where our ancestors roamed EL P S for thousands of years before migrating to RAVD T the rest of the world. Few places have such N biodiversity, a connectedness to nature, T A and a focus on preservation. Which is why, ESGU when my wife and I were planning a trip to LScelebrate a big birthday milestone in 2019, VE East Africa made it to the top of our list. It R A seemed like the perfect place for stories, T authentic experiences, and photography. It G N seemed a good way to be amid nature, with TIN experienced local guides from whom we A could learn about places and cultures. Our H of journey took us through Uganda, Kenya, and CNE Tanzania, and was filled with manyYB fascinating and life-changing experiences. SO Here are a few that stood out. TO H In south-east Uganda we trekked into P the impenetrable forest hoping to see D Nmountain gorillas. Our Travel Consultant AT X picked the Mgahinga Mountain area for its E T challenging terrain. This park issues only eight permits per day for a guided trek to see gorillas, which meant fewer people, but also advance planning. In the area we were assigned, one mid-sized gorilla family had been sighted: three silverbacks, five females, A couples life-affirming journey into the and five young. Park rangers tracked and led African wilderness endorses their belief in the us to them. The demanding trek was part connectedness of all living thingshiking, part crawling through steep ravines and inclines. Once our group reached the gorillas we had one hour to take photos and observe them from a safe distance. Words cannot fully describe the experi-ence of seeing these impressive mountain gorillas. They are a critically endangered species with barely 1,000 left in the wild.This experience made us think a lot about key conservation questions, the role of humans in creating stable environments for the biodiversity of our planet, and keeping the circle of life alive.Ngorongoro, Tanzania56 \x1a BE ENCHANTED'