Women-Based Tourism & Wildlife Conservation Development Centre.

In the vibrant Rwenzori sub-region of western Uganda, Violet Komuhendo, founder of Afrika Panthera Safaris, has launched the Women-Based Tourism & Wildlife Conservation Development Centre, which is creating a new path forward for the community of Kyabakwerere.

 Located on the edge of biodiverse Kibale National Park, this grassroots initiative empowers local women through community-based tourism, fostering leadership, economic independence, and sustainable livelihoods. Here, conservation and community development come together to create lasting change.

For families living near Kibale National Park, daily life is often a struggle. Many depend on subsistence agriculture, yet crops are frequently destroyed by elephants, baboons, and other wildlife, leading to food insecurity and significant economic loss. Local women also face limited educational and employment opportunities.

To help break this cycle, the Center is developing community-based tourism as a regenerative alternative to traditional farming. Guided village walks, cultural storytelling, conservation education, and culinary experiences will create new income streams while helping residents see wildlife not only as a threat, but as a valuable resource worth protecting. Training in hospitality, guiding, and entrepreneurship will ensure local women are prepared to lead these experiences.

Essential start-up funding from Crooked Trails is helping the Center build a strong, community-owned, women-led foundation. Support is funding community consultations, strategic planning, eco-friendly facilities rooted in permaculture principles, and intensive capacity building as the Center

prepares to launch its first pilot tourism experiences. By investing in local leadership from the beginning, Crooked Trails is helping create a future where women can build resilient livelihoods while protecting their community, culture, and environment.