I am a Ranger in the southern sector station of Rumangabo.I was born in Kanombe in 1958, in the territory of Rutchuru. I am married to Nzekirabazi Remera with whom I have five children: a girl and four boys. I started working for the park in 1997. Before that I worked in Jomba and Rugare.

It so happened that the Italy Zaire Tourism company had constructed building at Bikenge and they needed somebody to work in the kitchen and receive visitors. Some friends of mine suggested that I take the job and I didn’t hesitate. After a while the situation worsened and the company went bust. Mr. Karpers suggested that I join the Rangers while I waited to see if the tourist industry picked up –and that’s how it happened. Joining the Rangers had been the making of me: I try to make the best of everything; despite the many challenges. This job is not without danger.

I remember one day I was helping with the habituation of the Humba family. It was six o’clock in the morning. I and my two trackers left the patrol post and made a perimeter circle of about two hundred meters. I moved with a tracker in front of me and another behind me. Suddenly the tracker behind me shouted and ran. Seeing this I turned to see what had happened and saw a charging buffalo. I turned, ran and hid behind a tree. After some time the buffalo turned and charged away. I stayed behind the tree throughout ad when I came out I couldn’t find my weapon, which I had dropped in the bushes.