Philip Eichkorn
Managing Director
I am Philip Eichkorn, Managing Director of Take Memories, under whose roof Gorilla Memories is also located. The Orient is my professional core area – but the most moving encounter of my life I found elsewhere: in direct eye contact with a mountain gorilla deep in the rainforests of Rwanda.
Looking into the eyes of a gorilla is like looking into the mirror of one's own existence – one never forgets that.
My most unforgettable journey
Rwanda
My most inspiring encounter was the gorilla trekking in Rwanda – when one looks into the eyes of a gorilla, it feels as if one sees their own reflection, which goes deep. Rwanda has surprised me in many ways: the moving history of the country that can be felt everywhere, the warm and responsible people, and Kigali as a young, green tech hub full of bars, cafés, galleries, and young people.
Learn more about gorilla trekking in RwandaOn my bucket list
Uganda
Uganda is on my bucket list – with its Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, which has its own charm as a counterpoint to my experience in Rwanda. While the trekking in Rwanda offers relatively short, well-developed paths, the jungle in Uganda is considered denser, more pristine, and more challenging – a gorilla experience that promises even more adventure and true wilderness. It is exactly this rawness and immediacy that excite me!
Discover tours in UgandaHow the gorillas stole my heart
Even though my core business is the Orient, Rwanda holds a special place in my heart. It was a single moment in the dense mountain mist of Rwanda: the gaze of a mountain gorilla that quietly and undisturbed looked at me for a few seconds – no zoo, no fence, just immediate proximity to one of the most impressive beings on this earth. The gorilla trekking showed me how powerful and calming nature experiences can be when approached with patience and respect. This experience continues to shape how I view travel today, and it is one of the reasons why the protection of these habitats is so close to my heart. This exact feeling – the mix of awe, silence, and genuine connection to nature – I gladly bring into the work of Gorilla Memories.
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