The Impenetrable Forest

My Gorilla Years in Uganda

By: Thor Hanson

Narrated by: Andy Ingalls

Lying in the remote hills of southwest Uganda, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest harbors elephants, chimpanzees, monkeys, and half the world’s population of endangered mountain gorillas. For two years, Thor Hanson called that forest home, working with local guides and trackers to develop an ecotourism program for the newly-formed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Thoroughly researched and beautifully told, Hanson’s story blends natural history with cultural insight to place the forest and the gorillas in the context of modern Africa. The Impenetrable Forest offers a rare glimpse into the world of mountain gorillas, and the human cultures that surround them. A must-listen for anyone interested in gorilla tracking, endangered species, or travel to Uganda.

Thor Hanson is a Guggenheim Fellow, a Switzer Environmental Fellow, and an award winning author and biologist. His books include The Impenetrable Forest and Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle, which won the John Burroughs Medal. Hanson lives with his wife and son on an island in the Pacific Northwest.

©2001, 2008, 2014 Thor (P)2024 Hanson

It’s not about the Gorillas

The gorillas are there, and the forest is there, but this is about the people. It takes a place, a people, and a culture that is so distant as to be just a vague concept to many of us and makes it connect to us on a more personal level. As far as the technicalities, the narration is good and very helpful for all of the unfamiliar names, the writing is clear and the narrative flows smoothly.

Riveting Years in the Peace Corps

Loved this story, an open-minded look at the inception years when the park was created to protect the forest's mountain gorilla population from poachers and habitat destruction. Great story telling!