A Gorillas Story on Netflix

David Attenborough, you beautiful bastard, you.  May that man live forever.  His latest documentary, A Gorilla’s Story, dropped on Netflix last week.  And it’s as great as you might expect a David Attenborough documentary to be.

If you’ve ever looked at gorilla trekking and thought, that sounds incredible, but also expensive, far away, physically demanding, and mildly terrifying, Netflix has done you a favour.  All hail our doomscrolling overlords.

A Gorilla’s Story is one of the best previews you could ask for if you’re sitting on the fence about whether seeing gorillas in the wild is worth the effort.  Spoiler: it is.  It gives you a sense of what makes the experience so special, and it is not just “big monkeys in trees.” Gorilla trekking is one of the most remarkable, intimate wildlife experiences you can have.  Their playful nature.  The intelligence in their eyes.  The family dynamics.  The youngster’s curiosity.  The way a silverback can look both impossibly powerful and strangely gentle at the same time.  The quiet.  The tension.  The moments where nothing happens, followed by the moments you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

I’ve said before that gorilla trekking is one of those rare travel experiences that justifies the hype.  The fact they allow you into their world, briefly, on their terms, is a privilege that stays with you.  It certainly stayed with me. I’ve now been six times and would happily go again, despite only being there last month.

If the idea appeals after watching the documentary, you’ll probably love doing it for real.  If it leaves you cold, congratulations, you’ve saved yourself a long flight and a permit fee.  And you might be in need of a hug.  Either way, it is useful research.