David Gandy on why Uganda’s gorilla trek beats any fashion shoot
An international exemplar of style and sophistication — not to mention being the world’s most recognisable wearer of a certain set of white D&G sluggos — you’d be forgiven for thinking the world’s biggest male model, David Gandy, would favour sun-soaked Grecian holidays.
But the 45-year-old Brit — who’s busy growing his eponymous label, David Gandy Wellwear between global campaigns for the likes of Burberry, among others — admits his heart lies in adventure and his firm fondness for Africa.
ROAM sat down with Gandy to explore a memorable hike into the Ugandan jungle.
“I was really fortunate that we always travelled as family — a big annual trip. Dad didn’t have loads of money — but he’d save and travel was his thing. I actually say dad was a frustrated David Attenborough — because we were lucky to go on these adventures and they were always based around some sort of animal. It meant Africa or Alaska and the Amazon rainforest, South America too.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“At the time I’m young — from about 10 and through my teens — and I didn’t fully appreciate everything. I remember being about 17 and I said to Dad, ‘these trips you save up to do are expensive. And the old Fiesta out front is looking a bit knackered — can I stay home this year and have the money towards a new car?’ And he’s like, ‘David, you’re not getting a new f...ing car so make the decision, you can sit on your own and be bored and drive around in your 10-year-old Fiesta or you can come to Alaska’.
“These holidays were pretty busy — they were these proper adventures and we used to laugh about needing a break once we got back from them. Dad would organise the whole thing himself and save where he could and so we were always on the move — I remember one trip in South America we had 13 flights in 14 days.
“These trips became a bit of a tradition. And then of course you get on with life and so it was, at the end of 2009 I was working like a madman and flying all over the world and I wanted a break. And so I said to Dad — let’s meet up somewhere. I was in the US, I flew back to Heathrow, changed, and then flew down to meet Mum and Dad in (Ugandan capital) Kampala.
“From there we jumped in an indestructible LandCruiser and headed out to the jungle. En route we actually had an accident — but it wasn’t like you just got out and swapped insurance details. The whole local settlement became involved — the local mayor came as he’s the man who needed to settle it. The other driver was found to be at fault by this committee and then we are allowed to go on our way. I remember it vividly to this day.
“The drive — despite some of the road being really hard going — was equally memorable; you’re cutting across the landscape and seeing the country. Uganda is incredibly beautiful.
“Every time you stop for a break, there’s always kids around — they’re fascinated by you. They’re have so little, they’ve no shoes, they’ve a plastic bag with a sole pencil in it to go to school and they’re just so happy — smiling, singing, laughing. It puts a lot of things in perspective for me — Africa does in general. So many people go to Italy or Greece or wherever, but are they really seeing and feeling the culture? That’s what Africa offers.
“So we eventually arrive at the hotel, Travellers Rest, which is where Dian Fossey (American primatologist and conservationist) worked from. And it’s a basic but a very special place and it’s from here you set off driving for an hour in the dark — super early in the morning — to meet with the rangers who then take you on foot into the jungle. You get to see sunrise and see the heavy mist being burnt off by the sun. It’s incredible.
“It was just the three of us — and then my dad also paid our driver to come with us as he’d mentioned that he’d never seen the gorillas, even though he’d driven thousands of tourists to the jungle over the years. And we were lucky that day — usually it’s groups of around 10 or more but that day it was just us and the rangers.
“It’s backpack on and it’s a proper hike. It depends on the day and where they are, but for us it was about an hour into our hike when we found them.
“It’s literally like you see with Attenborough. You sit there — in silence — and remain still. If they come to you then that’s OK but you don’t approach or interact with them. If the babies come up to you then that’s OK. Although then you see the mum and then you see the silverback — wow! The size is just incredible — the lats! I remember watching one of the males just snap this really large branch like a twig — the power. And the babies are there and they’re banging their chests and you sit and watch and they watch you.
“I like photography and I remember getting out my SLR and shooting for about 10 minutes to try and get that ‘magical’ shot — and the ranger came over and gently pushed the camera down and said, ‘enjoy the moment, and not through your camera’. And that stuck with me — to this day in fact.
“Being there with the gorillas is humbling. You realise, in that moment, that you’re just a very small part of this very big thing. After about 40 minutes with them, maybe an hour — we were lucky being such a small group — we went back to the hotel and we just sat together, with a good cup of tea, and we sat in silence. We reflected on the day and what we’d seen and experienced by just listening to the noises around us.
“And I remember that being an absolutely beautiful moment. It was spectacular. And now I can’t wait to take my girls to Africa and see things through their eyes.”
