Hollywood actress Maisie Williams, famous around the world for her role as Arya Stark in the hit TV series Game of Thrones, has shared how a visit to Uganda completely changed the way she sees wildlife tourism. The young star recently travelled to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, where she came face to face with endangered mountain gorilla for the first time. What started as a routine conservation visit quickly turned into an emotional and eye-opening moment that she says she will never forget.
Williams visited Uganda in her role as an ambassador for World Wide Fund for Nature, where she joined efforts aimed at protecting wildlife and supporting conservation work. While in Bwindi, she trekked deep into the thick forest to observe gorillas in their natural home. She described the moment she first saw a large group of gorillas gathered together as something truly special. According to her, seeing these powerful animals living freely in the wild felt magical and deeply moving. She admitted that before this trip, she had seen gorillas mainly through documentaries and pictures, but nothing could compare to seeing them up close in real life.
Speaking about her first reaction, the actress said the experience was more intense than she had expected. She explained that standing near the gorillas made her feel both amazed and slightly nervous at the same time. She noted that gorillas share many similarities with humans, from their expressions to the way they interact with one another. Williams said she felt a strong sense of respect while watching them, especially because she realized that humans were the visitors in the gorillas’ world. She explained that being in their space made her feel small and reminded her that the animals were in control of the environment, not the tourists.
One of the most unforgettable moments during her trek involved a young baby gorilla that caught her attention. She recalled watching the tiny animal riding comfortably on the back of a large silverback, a sight that guides told her is not very common to witness. Williams described the moment as both touching and rare, saying it showed the deep bond that exists within gorilla families. She explained that seeing such natural behavior made her appreciate how important it is to protect these animals and their habitat so future generations can also experience such moments.
The actress also revealed that before visiting Bwindi, she had doubts about wildlife tourism in general. She admitted that she had often questioned whether some tourist packages that allow people to see wild animals were truly ethical. However, after witnessing the conservation work taking place in Bwindi, her opinion changed. She said the way tourism is handled in the park gave her hope and showed that wildlife tourism can be done responsibly if proper care is taken. According to her, Bwindi stands out as an example of how tourism and conservation can work together in a positive way. She described the park as a shining example of what is possible when people commit to protecting wildlife while still allowing visitors to learn and appreciate nature in the right way.
