Uganda & Rwanda Conservation & Community Initiatives

East Africa remains at the forefront of conservation travel, having some of the most vibrant communities, local cultures and certainly wildlife and natural areas. One of the most well-known inhabitants is the endangered mountain gorilla. In fact, most experts agree that integrating mountain gorillas into the safari tourism trade several decades ago in both Uganda and Rwanda is what saved these rare great apes from extinction. Now, a significant travel industry has formed around viewing and photographing these incredible animals, and while the gorillas are center stage, local communities are truly at the heart of it. As stakeholders, the villages and communities around each of the protected habitats for gorillas (and chimpanzees!) are responsible for day-to-day operations and implementation of conservation travel, as well as research and monitoring of wildlife populations.

Our mission in protecting the natural areas and wildlife of the world revolves around the success of local communities, which is why we continually invest in infrastructure, education, health, and businesses in Uganda and Rwanda. We strive to ensure that local stakeholders have what they need for healthy, productive lives, so that everyone can benefit from the natural marvels that exist in these mountain gorilla habitats of East Africa. In addition to funding local schools in Bwindi to businesses in Buhoma, we work closely with World Wildlife Fund to support research and monitoring programs of Uganda and Rwanda’s rare and endangered wildlife.