Africa
Judging panel:
Dr Anna Spenceley, Christopher Imbsen, Diana Jarvis, George Kipouros, Jana Apih, Jeremy Smith, Dr Lauren Siegel, Lyn Hughes, Dr Nicole Cocolas, Sally Davey and Tiffany Chan
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park, Central Africa’s largest protected wetland, has undergone a huge transformation since the mid-1990s, when dispossessed Tutsi people were resettled on its fringes at the end of the 1994 genocide.
Back then, poaching was rife as 700,000 head of cattle battled for grazing space with buffalo and zebra. By 2002, the last of the park’s 300 lions had died, many poisoned by farmers. Now you’ll find Africa’s ‘Big Five’ here once again, thanks to targeted efforts to combat poaching and reintroduce key species.
Lion and rhino populations are steadily growing, and visitors can join walking safaris with guides from the local community or take boat excursions on Lake Ihema to view the birdlife. You can also hear behind-the-scenes talks at the park’s HQ for an insight into the conservation work being done to resurrect the park. DJ (Photos: Shutterstock)
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Côte d’Ivoire
The concept behind Domaine Bini, a collective enterprise that currently joins up ten separate tourism businesses across the Côte d’Ivoire, is: ‘One ecosystem, one village, one eco-tourism activity.’
For visitors, this leads to many ways to engage with nature and the communities, from guided explorations of forests, savannahs and lagoons to home-cooked meals using local ingredients.
The initiative prioritises job creation, with 95% of staff hired from local communities and 70% of tourism revenue staying within the local economy, thanks to short supply chains and both food and souvenirs coming directly from locals. It also works with parks, reserves and local authorities to protect regional biodiversity. DJ (Photos: Domain Bini)
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Uganda
Kibale National Park
Located in the green heart of Kibale National Park, Café Kibale is a vibrant community initiative set up by the Great Lakes Foundation.
Since its launch in July 2022, Café Kibale has trained 45 young people so far, over half of whom are now employed in the local lodges. DJ (Photos: Cafe Kibale)
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Madagascar
Kivalo
With an enviable 200,000 species of plant and animal life, of which as much as 90% are endemic, Madagascar is a big draw for nature enthusiasts.
However, large-scale deforestation poses a massive threat to its biodiversity, with reports suggesting that illegal logging and habitat destruction has led to the loss of 25% of its forests in the last 20 years.
In Kivalo, on the western coast, villagers have embraced conservation and eco-tourism as a way of restoring the region’s mangroves and sharing them with travellers.
On the Kivalo Soa Honko tour, local guides can teach visitors about the wildlife here, including resident mouse lemurs. The trip also affords opportunities to meet local people, see activities such as organic honey production and stop for lunch at a restaurant managed by the women of the village. This approach keeps the income received in local hands and incentivises the community to keep the ecosystem intact. DJ (Photos: Office National du Tourisme de Madagascar / Shutterstock)
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Reteti Elephant Sanctuary
Although the proportion of wild elephants illegally killed in Northern Kenya may have halved over the last decade, many juveniles are still orphaned as a result of poaching, man-made wells, drought, human-wildlife conflict and natural mortality.
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Ngare Ndare
Ngare Ndare is a lush, dense forest in the northern foothills of Mount Kenya. It is also a vital wildlife corridor between the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Mount Kenya Forest Reserve.
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Lilongwe Wildlife Centre
Situated in the centre of the capital Lilongwe is one of the last remaining stands of acacia-combretum forests in the Central Region, home to vervet monkeys, duikers, bushpigs and jackals.
Key to its conservation and wildlife rehabilitation work is the centre’s internationally recognised sanctuary for animals that have been injured, orphaned or rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Although this isn’t open to the public, you can learn about the work being undertaken as well as contribute via park fees and by visiting the solar-powered vegan and vegetarian café. DJ (Photos: Shutterstock)
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