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Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris

Ecotourism & Conservation
in Uganda

Ride4aWoman Center Workers © Adam Walter

By traveling with Cheesemans’ to Uganda, you play a pivotal role in supporting local communities, conservation efforts, and the dedicated individuals working in Uganda’s ecotourism sector. Our Ugandan-owned operator meticulously curates itineraries that prioritize sustainability and meaningful impact. Your journey directly contributes to wildlife and habitat conservation funds while uplifting communities through employment, sourcing from local suppliers, and supporting marginalized groups. The remote and thoughtfully designed lodges where you stay on safari are integral to protecting surrounding wildlife populations and preserving the natural environment, ensuring that ecotourism continues to benefit Uganda’s people and wildlife for generations to come.

Uganda’s ecotourism industry on this trip gives local people sustainable job alternatives focused on wildlife and habitat conservation, replacing poaching, and supporting the reduction of human-wildlife conflict. For example, the Ride 4 a Woman nonprofit organization works with local women in Bwindi who struggle with issues associated with HIV, domestic violence, and poverty. Women learn new skills that create opportunities to make a living and provide education for their children, all while promoting the conservation of mountain gorillas in the area. This drastically reduces conflict between the gorillas and communities that live side-by-side. Other activities you enjoy and experience in your itineraries are carefully selected to ensure they are locally owned or directly support wildlife conservation efforts including visits to the National Parks, the Batwa trail experience, the Bigodi Wetlands walk, and guided village and community walks.

How Can You Make A Difference?


How You Can Actively Contribute

CONTRIBUTE

  • Keep an eBird list for each outing – you don’t need to track EVERY bird you see. See our Reading and Resource List for more details.
  • Take GPS-referenced wildlife and nature photos, and upload to iNaturalist. See our Reading and Resource List for more details.
Sharing

SHARE

  • Give a talk about your experience to a local wildlife or nature group or host a virtual webinar to reach a much wider audience!
  • Post your experiences on social media so others can learn more.
  • Submit a written, video, or audio testimonial for Cheesemans’ to share with future travelers.
Acting Locally

PRESERVE

  • Support local vendors if you buy memorabilia to take home.
  • Bring a reusable water bottle to refill rather than accepting plastic bottles. Filtered water is provided in the vehicles and lodges.
  • Ask for the lodging to not replace your towels or bedding during multiple night stays.
  • Turn off lights and fans when leaving your room.
  • Bring biodegradable soap to save waterways. This can also help minimize plastic bottle waste by reducing the number of bottles hotels provide (although many hotels are switching to dispensers in the bathrooms.).

We’d love to hear other ways you are actively participating, so please share that with us on our Facebook groups.

Join Our Africa Facebook Group

Organizations You Can Support

Ride 4 a Woman – This nonprofit organization supports women struggling at home with issues associated with HIV, domestic violence, and poverty in the Bwindi National Forest area by creating a community center where women learn new skills and earn wages to support themselves and their families.

Great Lakes Safari Foundation – This foundation partners with local communities to support programs focusing on education, conservation, and community empowerment. Funded directly from tourism services, it encourages the local communities to value wildlife and nature as resources that can provide for well-being and long-term conservation. You can talk to your local guide for more information and how to contribute during your stay.

Uganda Conservation Foundation – Registered in the UK and Uganda, this not-for-profit organization is dedicated to protecting Uganda’s national parks, protected areas, and conservancies through a range of projects which include recovering neglected protected areas, supporting the recovery of wildlife populations, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, and improving livelihoods of nearby communities.

Uganda Wildlife Authority – By visiting National Parks during your trip, your fees directly support the Uganda Wildlife Authority, which manages 10 National Parks, along with numerous wildlife reserves, community wildlife management areas, and wildlife sanctuaries. Conservation initiatives include community conservation through education, awareness, research, and monitoring.