A Gorilla Story with David Attenborough
Nearly 50 years ago, Sir David Attenborough, English broadcaster, natural historian, writer and national treasure, first met the mountain gorillas of Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park - a moment that changed the public's understanding of this incredible species forever. Now, in a groundbreaking new Netflix documentary, A Gorilla Story: Told By David Attenborough, he returns to share the legacy of that encounter. This intimate film tells the remarkable story of his first meeting with a baby gorilla named Pablo, tracing his journey as he grew into a powerful Silverback. David Attenborough narrates the tale of how Pablo’s direct descendants are faring today in a landscape that has changed as much as they have. Experience the extraordinary gorilla behavior never before captured on film; this documentary is a profound story of hope and joy for the future of these great apes.
David Attenborough's Life On Earth (1979)
In January 1978, David Attenborough travelled to the Virunga Mountains of Rwanda to film what would become the most celebrated sequence in natural history broadcasting. Part of his landmark BBC series Life on Earth (1979), the encounter was filmed within the Karisoke Research Center sanctuary, established by the pioneering primatologist Dian Fossey. While Fossey herself was often wary of film crews, she allowed the crew access to the mountain gorilla family, then named "Group 5".
Attenborough's serious narration about the importance of opposable thumbs was famously derailed when a three-year-old male Gorilla named Pablo began to clamber over him, sitting on Attenborough's legs while an infant named Poppy attempted to untie his shoelaces. Attenborough reflected that, "There is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than any other animal I know." The public’s positive reaction to the film helped to remove the "King Kong" myth of the violent ape, replacing it with an image of gentle, social beings. Pablo went on to become one of the most successful silverbacks in the history of the Rwanda Volcanoes National Park, leading a legendary lineage of his own, and his descendants remain an important conservation success in the region today.
Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park
Located in the northwestern corner of Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park (or Parc National des Volcans) is a sanctuary spanning approximately 160 square kilometres of the Virunga Mountains and is blanketed in dense rainforest and bamboo. It protects five of the eight ancient volcanoes in the range: Karisimbi, Bisoke, Muhabura, Gahinga, and Sabyiny. Established in 1925, it is Africa’s oldest national park.
The park is incredibly important for global conservation; it is one of only two places on Earth where the endangered mountain gorilla survives, sheltering roughly half of the world’s remaining wild population. Beyond the gorillas, the park is a vital habitat for the rare golden monkey and over 200 species of birds. It serves as a model for community-led conservation, where a significant portion of tourism revenue is reinvested into local villages to fund schools and hospitals, effectively turning former poachers into the protectors of the forest.
A Gorilla Story: Narrated By David Attenborough
Nearly fifty years after David Attenborough was famously used as a human climbing frame by a group of Rwandan mountain gorillas, he returns to the Virunga slopes narrating the new Netflix documentary, A Gorilla Story. Now on the cusp of his 100th birthday, the national treasure reflects on his 1978 encounter with a young male named Pablo, whose descendants now form the "Pablo group." While Sir David provides the narration from home, the film itself dives headlong into the high-stakes soap opera currently unfolding within the troop. It is a world of Shakespearean power struggles where the ageing silverback Gicurasi finds his throne under siege by the "alluringly evil" Ubwuzu, a challenger whose penchant for violence steers the documentary into surprisingly dark, albeit engrossing, territory.
Produced by natural history heavyweights Alistair Fothergill and James Reed, the film manages to squeeze a staggering amount of drama into its hour-long runtime. We are treated to beautifully restored archive footage that makes 1970s Rwanda look as crisp as a modern production, against a raw narrative of betrayal, grief, and the brutal realities of gorilla succession. Although the film is grounded by Attenborough’s deeply personal connection to the lineage of this gorilla family. Watching the beloved naturalist recount his affection for a "dear old friend" while the next generation fights for survival is incredibly moving television; it’s a whistlestop tour of legacy that reminds us why we fell in love with both the man and the apes in the first place.
If join us in Rwanda, you have the chance to trek into the forest and see the mountain gorillas in their wild home. If you’re wondering what to expect, Emelye from our Guest Experience team has shared her first-hand account of her own visit earlier this year. By joining us, you are also playing a part in the continued protection of these incredible animals - a mission we are incredibly proud to support.
If you’ve been moved by David Attenborough's story of the mountain gorillas, come and see their world for yourself. From misty morning treks to sunset walks through vibrant Rwandan communities, our Volcanoes, Lakes and Gorillas journeys are designed to immerse you in the soul of this remarkable country.
