Virunga the movie Stealing resources and de-stabling regions. Writing all that stuff about colonisation made me think about the movie I just watched. Virunga the movie which is about the protected Virunga National Park in East Congo. Again the bottom line of the movie was an international British company undermining the national park. The national park’s director is a Belgian Prince who like Dian Fossey cares very much about the faith of the mountain gorillas. The director slash prince is called Emmanuel de Merode. A very famous royal last name. The company that is attempting to undermine Virunga is called SOCO and they want to drill oil in the Virunga National Park. The Virunga National Park is home to many mountain gorillas on the Congo side. The park has been infiltrated by poachers for quite some time. Gorilla meat seems to be a delicatessen in international markets such as London and in Asia the hand of a mountain gorilla is used by the wealthy as a cigar ashtray. In the park you will find gorillas with an amputated hand, rescued by park rangers. Soco couldn’t care less about mountain gorillas and is now financing the rebels M23 in East Congo in order to get control over the national park. Deals have been closed with the Rebels through a British subcontractor slash mercenary. The construction is to keep SOCO so called clean. The Belgian Director of the park is doing everything in its power for this not to happen! They even tried to kill him. He got shot multiple times but he survived. How much more can I say, dark forces are always present trying to destabilise and extract resources out of Africa? Certain sources say that Socco has halted its operations but others say they are continuing with the help of the rebels. This movie is a must see movie; currently available on Netflix. It’s not a movie; it’s a real life documentary. http://virungamovie.com

Nyungwe National Forest After having the most amazing stay in Nyungwe Forest Lodge, a 5 star lodge hotel built in the middle of tea plantations while leaning against the rainforest; we head out to visit the Nyungwe rain forest. We were late and I was worried. I didn’t travel hours to not see it. Speeding through these dangerous hills, we arrived 5 minutes late. Luckily, there were only 2 people visiting today with me. One girl had a long dress on and flats. I was surprised travelling through the forest with a prom dress and flats. Nice one! Both tourists were returning Rwandans from Angola and exploring the country. The park guide explained us the uniqueness of the rainforest flowers and the healing power of many plants. Nyungwe forest is a name given after colonial period, meaning Leopards forest. However, none have been spotted for years. Drivers in the night claim they have seen them but are most likely confusing them for big cats. Park guides haven’t seen leopards. The park used to have elephants and these have been poached since the colonial area. The Belgian colonial rule had announced this as a protected area but allowed poachers in. Nyungwe forest has many specific types of primates. Owl monkeys, blue monkeys and other types I have never heard of. I saw a blue monkey myself :) Beautiful!! I found primate food in the park that I recognised from the Lion King Disney film and took many pictures. I want to try eating it myself. According to my mom, this type of food is eaten in Nigeria by humans. The park guide doesn’t allow me to eat it - I might get sick. I am curious though. The trails in Nyungwe are easy to walk, almost like stairs. Nothing compared to the volcanic mountains I climbed. Arriving at the canopy walk, I get scared. OMG, I am afraid of heights and this bridge is just floating in the sky. All of a sudden my bladder fills itself from fear. Why did I want to do this so badly ? What was I thinking ? The other tourists started crossing the canopy while I watch with shaking legs. I began to cross the canopy slowly screaming… I had crossed the first bridge and the second +100 meter was now in front of me. The park guide named Jules Cesar crossed walking backwards leading the first girl. It seemed she was doing fine but I got a panick attack. I didn’t look down but the feeling of being in the sky made me feel vulnerable. Thoughts of the canopy falling went through my head. The canopy can hold 8 people at a time and technically 4 ton. Yet in movies the canopy always falls! Thoughts of me falling in the valley were going through my head. I began to hyperventilate, I couldn’t control my breathing. Tears started flowing from my eyes. The park guide rushed towards me and began talking to me. Asking me questions to keep my mind off. I put my fate in his hands. I just wanted to get off the canopy! With the help of Jules Cesar, I arrived at the end. I was happy but I probably will never cross again. I wonder if my fear of heights is gone ? While walking back towards the entrance of the park, we rain into Laurent Willenegger, a Swiss birdwatcher slash painter. I looked into it where his binocular was pointing but didn’t see anything. The painting he made was of the birds sitting in their tree nest. A bird named something… Bla bla bla bird because it bla’s a lot. Funny! The works of the Swiss painter can be found on www.wildsideproductions.ch Arriving back at the park entrance, I find park guides taking pictures with my mom. What was going on now? The park guides had come to my mom with their problems and she made them all pray with her. She had a message, one from God. Oh no, she is not going to turn this journey in a pilgrimage is she ? Seems like we will be travelling to the Holy Land of Kibeho.

Francine Carron October 10, 2015