Once in a life time visit to the Galapagos. My constant companion was my wife and my IWC AT.

Fantastic travelogue and pictures Bill. Seeing your animal closeups I just had to share a few shots I took in Uganda in February.
Ever since seeing the movie "Gorillas in the Mist" with Sigourney Weaver, which tells the story of Dian Fossey and her fight to preserve the threatened mountain gorillas who are only to be found in the mountains of Uganda, Congo and Rwanda, it has been my wife's dream to visit these amazing creatures. Well in February we made her dreams come true - and they were just like the Galapagos animals - not afraid of people at all.
Here are just a few tastes of what we experienced and how close we could get to them, or rather how close they got to us as we were not allowed to walk any closer to them than 7 meters (22 feet) - fortunately no one could tell the gorillas not to get closer to us :o)

The silverback - the "chief" of the family was the first one we saw:

He sat down next to us and sat there eating for almost 20 minutes:

We tracked 2 females in the family and just see how close they got to Anita (my wife) and our guide:




Here one of them was just as close to me and I am actually just shooting a couple of pictures with the camera on my hip, without looking as I did not have time to bring the camera up (and we were told not to do any rapid movements when the gorillas were close to us):


And lastly, the money shot - like you Bill we took a lot of pictures during the 11 days we were there (the gorilla safari was only 2 days), but out of the 2200 pictures this one just stands out - we still cannot believe how close we got to these majestic animals. Life can be really rewarding sometimes!

superb pics Skule - what an up-close experience. I want to do it !!!

You guys lead such exciting lives compared to my dull and urban one. The only wild life I saw these couple of days is this new RG steel 20120 chrono pilot that I believe just came in, lol.

Beautiful picture's, thank you for sharing Bill.

Bill, Shing, Skule:

@ Bill - Exceptional travelogue. Showed them to the wife. She is a certified/licensed (marine) State and Federal "Endangered Species" rescue/rehaber. She has mentioned numerous times how much enjoyment a trip to the Galapagos Islands would be and after viewing your wonderful pic's, this might have moved a trip to Switzerland into 2nd place. Your journey has inspired her to search the web for travel information. Thanks again Bill for allowing us to tag along.

@ Skule - After your posting, showed them to the wife. Different location, same as above !!

@ Shing - Please tell me if possible what model is that (looks like) white dial pilot in the lower left corner ?

Andy

@bill @skule
Great report!
Next year I'm going to mount everest.
For now the training has started.I hope to show as good pixcs as you both did.
Cheers
Bas Dekkers

Hi Andy, it's the older DFB doppel. seems stock of it is drifting into the boutiques again.

@ SHING, you know that I really - really like that wild one on the left hand side! Now, only if it was available in a steel or white gold version!

I think the ardoise dial on the Spitfire Chrono, is a winner over the RG version you post here.

Bas, the debate begins! What watch will travel to the summit with you?

we must BELIEVE Mark, and it will happen :)

meantime, a cousin of the above says high, after spending some time with Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle last night...

@ Skule,
Amazing photos! Since living in Africa I've been seeing up close lots of animals, particularly from grassland (savannah) but never gorillas!

I am so impressed... Must've been the most incredible experience, thank you very much for sharing!

@ Shing
Those IWCs look pretty wild to me...! And you leave in one of the most exciting and beautiful places in the world, and get to see all the new models first hand! I am soooo jealous...!

Bill, Skule, Jeronimo - amazing photos!! Thank you!

Few photos from my trip to Nairobi. Amazing to see so much "wild" animals just next to office buildings:

Hi Roman,

And thank you! Your photos with the buildings on the background are jaw-dropping!!!

Cheers!

@ Bill
See what you have done. Everyone has been inspired to dig through their files to find their best wildlife shots.
LOL

Bill, thanks for sharing. The boobie are great and the giant turtle has always been one of my favorite animals. Would be great to see it in person. This is definitely one of the places to visit for me.

Bill, amazing... many thanks for sharing! Best of luck ticking off the rest on your list.

Regards,
Thang

Thanks guys, I saw some of the best wild animal photos in this thread

Bill -

Great post! What a fantastic trip - thanks for sharing.

Maybe IWC should do another AT Galapagos edition - and use the colors of the "Blue and Red Footed Boobies" feet. Those are great colors - would look great.

Great great report Bill, thanks a lot and enjoy the rest!

Regards,

Bob

Thanks for the answer!