Bwindi, Uganda – British actress Maisie Williams has toured Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where she trekked through the rainforest to observe endangered mountain gorillas, describing the experience as both powerful and transformative.
Williams, best known for her role as Arya Stark in Game of Thrones, visited the park in her capacity as a global ambassador for the World Wide Fund for Nature, joining conservation teams working to protect the species.
During the trek, she encountered several gorilla families, including a dominant silverback, an experience she said underscored the unique bond between humans and wildlife.
“Seeing mountain gorillas for the first time was quite confronting… we are in their home, and they hold the power,” Williams said.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park hosts a significant share of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas, a species that has rebounded from near extinction due to decades of conservation efforts, regulated tourism, and community involvement.
Williams praised Uganda’s conservation model, particularly the role of tourism in funding protection efforts.
“This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” she noted, highlighting how gorilla trekking permits contribute to anti-poaching work and community development initiatives that support livelihoods around the park.
As part of her visit, the actress is also promoting the “Adopt a Gorilla” campaign, which encourages global participation in conservation by supporting habitat protection and local communities that coexist with wildlife.
Her visit comes amid increasing international interest in Uganda as a premier eco-tourism destination, with conservation-driven tourism continuing to play a central role in both protecting endangered species and supporting economic growth.
