With a history extending more than twenty years, Volcanoes Safaris has paved the way for ensuring the preservation of primates in their limited natural habitat. We spoke exclusively to Founder & CEO, Praveen Moman about being instrumental in allowing visitors to come face to face with gorillas, chimpanzees and the rare golden monkey, as well as the challenges facing these great apes today.
PRAVEEN, TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.

I grew up in the wilds of Uganda, where my family was part of the pioneering Asian community that was central to opening up East Africa. We then moved to the UK as our family became refugees with the Amin expulsion. This was followed by a career as a political and policy adviser in the European Union and the British Government. 
 

WHEN AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO START VOLCANOES SAFARIS"

I founded Volcanoes Safaris in 1997, which was at the forefront of reviving gorilla tourism in Uganda and Rwanda. My vision was to design and build four unique lodges near the great ape parks ? Virunga, Mount Gahinga, Bwindi and Kyambura, while being sensitive to local culture and aesthetics, the post-conflict context and the need to use resources responsibly. I?m proud to employ local people who we have been trained and empowered to run and manage the lodges. Twenty years later, we are still guided by this vision although the basic camps have evolved into the leading lodges of the region.  
Credit: Black Bean Productions and James Suter
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