Most wildlife encounters are experienced at a bit of a distance and many are from the comfort of a game drive vehicle or a boat. When trekking to see the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda recently, I sat within a few feet of several 450lb silverbacks as they fed on vegetation.

On several occasions some of my guests were softly pushed aside by these huge, yet gentle giants, as they walked from one place to the next. There are few encounters in nature that match this, and it’s definitely a personal highlight for me.