BWINDI VILLAGE, UGANDA

“People protect what they love.”
– Jacques Cousteau

The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to half of the world’s surviving population of mountain gorillas, estimated in 2023 to be less than 800. It is near here, just across the border in Congo, that AKP founder Geoffrey Kent first started to market gorilla safaris in the 1970s.

It wasn’t long before Kent heard from Dian Fossey, who wanted people kept away from gorillas, fearing that human contact would make the animals more vulnerable to poaching. Geoffrey countered with the view that has come to underpin all of his and AKP’s work: “Their habitat will be destroyed unless they can prove themselves financially worthwhile to the community. The locals will protect the gorillas from poachers if they can earn a living from the people who want to watch the gorillas.”

His view is shared by another of the 21st century’s great conservationists, Jane Goodall. Her foundation is based on the premise that species and environmental conservation can only be successful if it includes the needs and wants of local people. Taking people away from animals, or animals away from people, is not the answer — what’s needed are programs and projects that encourage caretaking of the valuable natural resources in pursuit of community benefit and conservation. “Once people realize their power to make a difference in the lives of their families, communities and environment, there’s no going back — only forward,” says the Jane Goodall Institute.

And so, in Bwindi, where A&K operates gorilla safaris every year, conservation focuses on people. AKP work there began in 2003 with the construction of the first lodge and medical facility in the region. Soon after followed a full hospital building, then a training school for nurses, with AKP funding training and a ward for expectant mothers. The community benefits are wide reaching, from the 20,000 people who now have healthcare thanks to an affordable health insurance project to the 3,500 children who receive free lunches each day at school.