Back in Rwanda. 20 Years later, in the Kingdom of Mountain Gorillas

The author had regular contacts with Dian Fossey up until the brutal murder of the famous American primatologist. While acknowledging the outstanding contribution of the extraordinary woman to the conservation of the mountain gorilla in the Virunga, he reveals other, less known aspects of her strong personality. Bernard De WETTER gives never-published – and surprising – information about events that took place short before and after the murder of the famous American, and which put the facts within a different context. He gives us his personal – and rather unexpected – view of the tragic event…
Bernard De WETTER was indeed in charge of anti-poaching operations in world-famous Volcanoes National Park during several years from 1984. From 2009 to 2011, he lived again in the Volcanoes area of Rwanda, this time as the manager of a high-end mountain lodge.
In a live and pleasant style, the author shares with us his encounters with mountain gorillas and other wildlife in the Virunga forest. He invites us into the "new" Rwanda he discovered upon his return, at a time when the aftermath of the civil war and genocide were still present in all memories. He takes us with him during his long patrols across the national park, in order to make us discover all aspects of the fight against poachers as it was taking place in the 1980’s…
A book not to be missed by all those who are interested in mountain gorillas!

Contents
- Notes
- The Author
- Luxury and Restraint
- A New Rwanda?
- Elephants, Buffaloes and Others
- Patrols
- Rangers and Poachers
- First Encounter
- The "Forest of Hope"
- Akagera: a sacrificed Jewel
- Nyungwe: a safeguarded Treasure
- Gorillas and People
- “P.P.” & Intelligence Service
- Nyiramacibili kufa!
- The Birth of a Myth
- An Accident looking like a Murder
- The End of an Era
- Epilogue

The Author
A long-time nature conservation professional in various areas of the world, Bernard De Wetter worked in several countries of Central and East Africa (among others in Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya), and widely travelled around Africa within the framework of numerous missions. He was in charge of anti-poaching operations in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park for the Mountain Gorilla Project during the second half of the 1980’s.
He later specialized in nature- and wildlife-related tourism, and developed several activities and structures of sustainable and respectful tourism aimed at benefitting directly the conservation of wildlife species and/or wild places.
He went back to Rwanda in 2009 to act as manager at one of the most prestigious wildlife lodges in Africa (Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge) located at the edge of renowned Volcanoes National Park. While currently living part of the year in Africa, he continues to develop ecotourism projects in other parts of the world.
Bernard De Wetter is also the author of many books related to nature conservation, wildlife and/or travel. He was awarded in 2010 the prestigious First Prize by the French Academy (Académie française) in the category “Animals & Nature” for his book devoted to the comeback of the Eurasian Lynx in Western Europe.