Up Among the Mountain Gorillas

by Walter Baumgartel

Genres: Nonfiction

164 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the autobiography of the man who operated the Travellers Rest Inn, a hotel in Uganda who played a critical role in saving the mountain gorillas. As a result of his observations of the gorillas, he funded a one year study of the gorillas undertaken initially by Rosalie Osborne and completed by Jill Donisthorpe. He later played host to George Schaller and his wife, and Dian Fossey when they undertook their studies of the mountain gorillas.

It a fascinating look at the beginning of the efforts in the middle of the 20th century to study, protect and conserve the mountain gorillas.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked up this book at a library sale, because I love the apes. The story is a true one of a German adventurer who buys an inn in then-Zaire and becomes involved in the welfare of the gorillas nesting nearby. Although the idea behind this book is touching, the book is narrated in such a dry, stoic German way, that I couldn't finish the last 2 chapters.