Rwanda and Uganda are conservation powerhouses in Central Africa, with impressive achievements in gorilla population recovery and biodiversity protection. Both countries have become research hubs for endangered species recovery and biodiversity conservation, setting high standards in sustainable eco-tourism that benefit local communities while preserving these exceptional ecosystems. My respect and knowledge for the region grew when spending a few months with 2 Rwandan based researchers who were tasked with writing the books on the Central African rainforests. We have since kept in contact and some of the research and conservation successes are impressive to say the least. Off the beaten track takes you to regions such as Nyungwe Forest, a biodiversity hotspot and the more popular areas need no introduction. Akagera and Volcanoes National Parks bring endangered species back from local extinction through a thriving integrating community welfare with strict anti-poaching measures, gaining international recognition for successfully managing wildlife in both forest and savanna habitats. I remember black rhino and lions being relocated to Rwanda from Zululand, where I was working at the time, gaining the country Big 5 status for the first time since the genocide. Uganda and Rwanda protect unique and diverse flora and fauna and I see both countries as an interwoven web of ecology that should be understood and protected in unison.
