31mm, 1/250s, f/8, ISO250
My conservation and travel photography don’t always mix quite so readily as at Akagera National Park. Miha had asked me to spend some time here when the Gorilla Highlands region expanded to include all of Rwanda, and African Parks — the NGO in charge of the park — wondered if I could help them get some photos of their rangers.
Canine units like this one are perhaps the best tool we have against illegal wildlife trade after positive relationships with nearby communities. Dogs can follow tracks at a much faster pace than people, and that’s what they’re there for: tracking and apprehending suspected poachers. As a result of these ranger units and very close collaboration with the people who live near the park, human-wildlife conflict is exceptionally low around Akagera. It’s Rwanda’s only savanna park, with plenty of plains game like lions, zebras, buffaloes and elephants, and well worth a visit.
🖋️📸 written & photographed by:
Marcus Westberg is a multiple award-winning photographer and writer from Sweden whose work — covering conservation, wildlife and travel — appears regularly in several global publications. He has made several trips to our region specifically to volunteer for Gorilla Highlands Experts. When not globetrotting, Marcus lives with his wife and daughter close to Lisbon, Portugal. Click for our interview with Marcus. [bio updated: 2026-03-05]
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One response to “Four-Legged Guardians”
Love this!