Thank you so much for your support! ❤️

This GoFundMe is now closed as the second trip has been booked thanks to your generosity.

If there’s enough interest in me going again in the future, I’ll open a brand-new GoFundMe page. The reason for this is that the total shown here also included my first trip, which caused some confusion.

New footage of Lope and the troop will be coming at the end of September / early October – I can’t wait to share it with you!

With the trip now completed, I’m keeping the GoFundMe page open as there’s a chance of another trip in the future. Like last time, it would most likely be during a quieter period (not the summer months), working around the zoo’s opening times from September to April 2026. That time of year is significantly cheaper, and the zoo is far less busy, which makes it much easier to film without the crowds and helps keep costs down.

A total of £966 was collected (as of 16th April 2025), and after fees were deducted, £146.18 remains available for a future visit.

If any donators would like a copy of the cost breakdown, just get in touch using the contact button below (GoFundMe Contact Page button).

I’m the creator behind the YouTube channel SloggerVlogger, where I’ve been filming great apes since October 2015. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of filming Gorilla Lope, starting when he was about 3 years old, and watching him grow into the incredible blackback he is today. On 14th November 2023, Lope was moved to Zoo Bassin D'Arcachon in France. His troop now includes Dishi, the silverback, and Aybo, a blackback who has developed a strong bond with Lope, reminding me a lot of Lope’s brother, Shufai.

After seeing how much Lope changed in just six months, it feels more important than ever to continue documenting his progress. With prices constantly changing and costs rising, I can’t put a fixed figure on the next trip – and of course, I don’t yet know how much the footage from this year’s trip will bring in.

For context, the most recent trip’s funding helped cover the cost of flights, airport parking, car hire, hotel, and zoo entry. I covered the remaining expenses myself, including travel insurance, food, fuel, and other essentials needed to make the trip possible.

When the goal was reached, I booked the trip and made Lope the main filming focus, while also capturing Aybo and Dishi. If there were quieter spells, I turned my attention to the Awali troop opposite. I wanted to make sure every possible moment was documented – even if Lope wasn’t visible.

I worked around 9 hours a day in the zoo, from opening until closing, and then spent several more hours back at the hotel sorting equipment, backing up footage, and uploading files to keep everything safely organised.

That content is will be available for everyone to watch on my YouTube channel

Thank you for your support – whether that’s through contributing or simply sharing the page. It makes all the difference and keeps this project going. Looking forward to continuing the journey with you and bringing more special moments of Lope, Aybo, Dishi, and Awali’s troop.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.