{"id":4829,"date":"2026-01-17T23:03:41","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T22:03:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/?p=4829"},"modified":"2026-01-19T00:01:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T23:01:12","slug":"gorillas-from-bwindi-forest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/sr\/blog\/gorillas-from-bwindi-forest\/","title":{"rendered":"Gorile iz Bwindi \u0161ume"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-6adab308db5eb\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 vc_row-6adab308dba70\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center wpb_content_element\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"\" data-lightbox=\"lightbox[rel-4829-453820663]\" href=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4542-1024x733.jpeg\" target=\"_self\" class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"vc_single_image-img \" src=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4542-750x500.jpeg\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" alt=\"IMG_4542\" title=\"IMG_4542\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-6adab308dc399\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 vc_row-6adab308dc47e\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">      <div class=\"heading-block heading-674f9026365a3 tal h-h5\">\n                  <h5 class=\"h\"><span>WHY GORILLAS?<\/span><\/h5>\n              <\/div>\n    \n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ever since I started taking my first steps in wildlife photography, I knew there was one animal I wanted to see more than all others &#8211; the mountain gorilla.\u00a0 At the time it seemed like something far away, almost unattainable.\u00a0 Bwindi was just a name on a map, a point deep in central Africa, a place that is not talked about very often, but when it is, it is spoken of with great respect.\u00a0 Still, I had the hope that such an encounter would happen, not as a tourist adventure, but as a professional challenge.\u00a0 I simply wanted to photograph them.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-6adab308dc7d8\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 vc_row-6adab308dc89d\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">      <div class=\"heading-block heading-696befbd9e717 tal h-h5\">\n                  <h5 class=\"h\"><span>BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST \u2014 A FOREST THAT DICTATES THE PACE<\/span><\/h5>\n              <\/div>\n    \n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bwindi Impenetrable Forest lives up to its name from the first moment you step into it.\u00a0 This is not a forest you can just &#8220;walk&#8221; through.\u00a0 This is the terrain that dictates how you move \u2014 slow, careful, concentrated. Dense vegetation, changing weather, fog that appears out of nowhere, slippery ground and steep climbs create an environment that tests both physical and mental endurance.\u00a0 For some, trekking to the gorillas can be a couple of hours of hiking on more accessible terrain, while for others it can be 5,6 hours of crawling through thick vegetation with fog, rain and mud.\u00a0 It all depends on where the gorillas are at the given moment and which gorilla family you will be assigned.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-6adab308dca35\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 vc_row-6adab308dcadf\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">      <div class=\"heading-block heading-696bf24d932f4 tal h-h5\">\n                  <h5 class=\"h\"><span>ARRIVAL AT THE STARTING POINT<\/span><\/h5>\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Immediately after arriving at the place from where we will start our search for gorillas, we waited for the rangers to assign us a family.\u00a0 We got the Christmas family, which currently has 9 members, including 3 females and three-year-old infants (male and female).\u00a0 The leader of this family is a silverback gorilla named Christmas, who got his name because he was born on Christmas Day.\u00a0 After we were assigned a family, we were given hiking poles, and those who wanted could also take additional equipment such as gaiters or raincoats.\u00a0 A dance group waited for us outside and wished us luck with a traditional dance.\u00a0 The search has begun.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Right at the start we entered a dense fog, and shortly after that the ascent began. Emerging from the fog, locals from the area passed by us\u00a0 &#8211; some carrying large woven baskets on their heads, others with bundles of branches tied around their waists, while the younger ones walked past with backpacks on their backs, most likely on their way to the local school. After about an hour of hiking, a view opened up of a small village through which we had to pass. As we entered the village, I noticed the locals stepping out of their small houses and watching us with curiosity, while the children followed our every move with their eyes, hoping to receive a sweet,\u00a0 which, of course, they eventually did. Throughout the walk, the ranger educated us on how to behave in the presence of gorillas. He told us that we must not make noise, carry food, or touch the gorillas, as this could be fatal.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_center wpb_content_element\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"\" data-lightbox=\"lightbox[rel-4829-2640540118]\" href=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4543-819x1024.jpeg\" target=\"_self\" class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4543-819x1024.jpeg\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_4543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4543-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4543-600x750.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4543-240x300.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4543-768x960.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4543-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4543-10x12.jpeg 10w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4543-56x70.jpeg 56w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4543.jpeg 1638w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-6adab308dd73e\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 vc_row-6adab308dd7e8\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">      <div class=\"heading-block heading-696bf2d10c0cc tal h-h5\">\n                  <h5 class=\"h\"><span>WAITING GAME \u2013 TEN MINUTES THAT FELT LIKE AN ETERNITY<\/span><\/h5>\n              <\/div>\n    \n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a long ascent, the ranger raised his hand and quietly signaled for us to stop. He looked at me and asked, \u201cAre you excited?\u201d I felt as if the entire journey up to that moment had lodged itself in my throat. He told us we need to wait about ten minutes because the gorillas were moving toward us. Those ten minutes felt like an eternity, although in reality we ended up waiting a good half hour, if not more. One of the rangers was unable to make contact with the trackers following our gorilla family via radio, so he went off to look for them. The silence and calm of the forest, where only insects and the occasional snap of twigs can be heard, force you to think about everything, about the fatigue, about your motivations, about the privilege of having the opportunity to be there. After what felt like an eternity, we spotted our ranger returning. He joked that the gorillas might have fallen asleep and that we wouldn\u2019t see them. He was laughing, of course, fully aware of my impatience. And then he uttered the sentence that set off an avalanche of emotions:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cNikola, are you ready?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was \u2014 and yet I wasn\u2019t. Technically yes I was ready, but emotionally it felt as if I had returned to my very first day in nature with a camera. The thought that I had been waiting for this moment for a full year, thinking about it almost every day, kept running through my mind. This was really happening! Just five minutes later, we were near the spot where the trackers had located our gorilla family. We put medical face masks on our faces, which are mandatory, since gorillas and humans share 99% of their DNA and it is very easy for diseases to be transmitted either from us to them or from them to us. At that location, we also left our backpacks, walking sticks, water, and food, and slowly made our way toward the gorillas.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">      <div class=\"project-grid-page\">\n        <div class=\"post-gallery-grid  id-6adab308dda72 grid portfolio_hover_type_1  disable-iso row popup-gallery\">\n                              \n            <div class=\"portfolio-item  col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-6 popup-item\" >\n              <div class=\"wrap\">\n                                  <div class=\"a-img\" data-original=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4545.jpeg\"><div style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4545-1024x768.jpeg)\"><\/div><\/div>\n                                <a href=\"#\" data-popup-json=\"{&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/IMG_4545.jpeg&quot;,&quot;w&quot;:2048,&quot;h&quot;:1536},&quot;post_id&quot;:4862}\" data-id=\"0\"><\/a>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                              \n            <div class=\"portfolio-item  col-12 col-sm-12 col-md-6 popup-item\" >\n              <div class=\"wrap\">\n                                  <div class=\"a-img\" data-original=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4546.jpeg\"><div style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4546-819x1024.jpeg)\"><\/div><\/div>\n                                <a href=\"#\" data-popup-json=\"{&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/01\\\/IMG_4546.jpeg&quot;,&quot;w&quot;:1638,&quot;h&quot;:2048},&quot;post_id&quot;:4863}\" data-id=\"1\"><\/a>\n              <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                  <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-6adab308de3ad\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 vc_row-6adab308de481\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">      <div class=\"heading-block heading-696bf369e66b8 tal h-h5\">\n                  <h5 class=\"h\"><span>FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH MOUNTAIN GORILLAS<\/span><\/h5>\n              <\/div>\n    \n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And then everything went silent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first thing I saw were two furry \u201cballs.\u201d They were infants, lying in the grass and nibbling on it. I don\u2019t remember exactly the first frame I captured, but I remember the feeling perfectly\u2026 it was incredible! A gaze coming from an animal that understands the world around it far more deeply than we assume. There is no chaos, no sudden movements. Their behavioral structure is quiet, yet clear. What touched me the most were the looks in the eyes of these incredibly intelligent beings. Eye contact was the most powerful moment, something that no documentary, no book, can ever describe.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-5\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_left wpb_content_element\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3537-819x1024.jpeg\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_3537\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3537-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3537-600x750.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3537-240x300.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3537-768x960.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3537-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3537-10x12.jpeg 10w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3537-56x70.jpeg 56w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_3537.jpeg 1638w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-7\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mountain gorillas are among the rarest animals in the world, with fewer than 1,100 individuals remaining today, and they live only in the mountain forests of Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC. Although they look strong and intimidating, in the wild they are surprisingly calm and gentle animals that avoid conflict. The males who lead a group are recognized by their characteristic silver backs, which is why they are called \u201csilverbacks,\u201d and their strength can match that of several adult humans combined. Interestingly, mountain gorillas have fingerprints almost identical to humans, they don\u2019t drink water directly from streams but obtain it from plants, and every night they build a new \u201cnest\u201d of branches and leaves to sleep in. Young gorillas are extremely playful and behave like human children, wrestling, jumping, and exploring the world around them. However, due to their genetic closeness to humans, they are highly susceptible to our diseases, and even a common cold can be life-threatening for them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-6adab308ded36\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 vc_row-6adab308dedcc\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">      <div class=\"heading-block heading-696bf3b381501 tal h-h5\">\n                  <h5 class=\"h\"><span>WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY IN BWINDI FOREST \u2013 EQUIPMENT AND CHALLENGES<\/span><\/h5>\n              <\/div>\n    <div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photographing gorillas in the Bwindi rainforest is one of the most exciting experiences for nature lovers, but it requires careful planning and a responsible approach. Dense vegetation, changing light, and limited mobility create challenging conditions, making equipment choice crucial for capturing high-quality images. The most practical are versatile zoom lenses such as 24\u201370mm or 70\u2013200mm, which allow shooting from different distances without frequently changing gear. Due to low-light conditions, it is important to use lenses with a wide aperture (f\/2.8). Flash is not used because it can disturb the gorillas, so photography relies entirely on natural light. Condensation can be an issue due to temperature differences, so equipment should be kept in its bag until it acclimates to the environment. Most importantly, it is essential to follow the ranger\u2019s guidelines and restrictions: maintain the required distance, avoid sudden movements, and do not disturb the animals\u2019 peace. The weather here is unpredictable and we were lucky that it didn\u2019t rain during our encounter, but a cloud did caught up with us on the way back. It is recommended to carry a raincoat both for yourself and for your camera gear. Rainfall in Bwindi Forest can be intense, and in just a few minutes, both you and your equipment can be completely soaked.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-6adab308df10e\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 vc_row-6adab308df196\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">      <div class=\"heading-block heading-696bf4104dc20 tal h-h5\">\n                  <h5 class=\"h\"><span>DIAN FOSSEY - THE WOMAN WHO DEDICATED HER LIFE TO GORILLAS<\/span><\/h5>\n              <\/div>\n    \n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No story about gorillas can be told without mentioning Dian Fossey. After photographing gorillas in Uganda, I visited the Dian Fossey Museum in Rwanda. It isn\u2019t a museum in the traditional sense; it feels more like a combination of an archive, a memorial, and a field laboratory. Original journals, equipment, photographs, and documents present her work without romanticization. She is a woman who dedicated her life entirely to gorillas, often in conditions that were brutal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dian Fossey is:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the first to study the behavior of mountain gorillas in detail,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to document their social structures,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to fight against poaching,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to risk her own life to protect their habitat.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her Karisoke camp became a historic site, and her work made it possible for a stable population of mountain gorillas to exist today. Visiting the museum was a complete success, and her efforts in conserving these incredible animals somehow felt like an inspiration for my own work going forward.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_row-6adab308df400\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12 vc_row-6adab308df48c\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner \"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">      <div class=\"heading-block heading-696bf47ea3e9b tal h-h5\">\n                  <h5 class=\"h\"><span>A MEMORY OF MY BEGINNINGS<\/span><\/h5>\n              <\/div>\n    <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_inner vc_row-fluid\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Standing there among the gorillas, I thought about my early days with a camera. Back then, gorillas were just an unattainable dream. But that dream motivated me, pushed me forward, and reminded me that worthwhile things don\u2019t come easily. My encounter in Bwindi was proof that dreams can come true, you just have to believe in them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bwindi didn\u2019t give me only photographs. It gave me:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a confirmation that I chose the right path,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an understanding of how important respect for nature truly is,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a new perspective on my work.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_left wpb_content_element\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper   vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"837\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4549-837x1024.jpeg\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-large\" alt=\"\" title=\"IMG_4549\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4549-837x1024.jpeg 837w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4549-600x734.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4549-245x300.jpeg 245w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4549-768x940.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4549-1255x1536.jpeg 1255w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4549-10x12.jpeg 10w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4549-57x70.jpeg 57w, https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/IMG_4549.jpeg 1673w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 837px) 100vw, 837px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"WHY GORILLAS? Ever since I started taking my first steps in wildlife photography, I knew there was one animal I wanted to see more than all others - the mountain gorilla.\u00a0 At the time it seemed like something far away, almost unattainable.\u00a0 Bwindi was just a name on a map, a point deep in central [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4833,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4829","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Gorillas from Bwindi forest - Nikola Stevanovic Wildlife Photography<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nikolastevanovicphotography.com\/sr\/blog\/gorillas-from-bwindi-forest\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"sr_RS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gorillas from Bwindi forest - 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