Mbunya Francis Nkemnyi's career as a conservationist began when he took a field trip to the Korup National Park, Cameroon. It was a class trip to do practical exercises on plant collection and identification. At that time (2006), he was in the last year of his bachelor's degree (botany). While in the field, he visited many camping stations, and had the opportunity to talk to many foreign researchers on their experience as conservationists. That moment was when he finally made up his mind and developed an interest in conservation sciences.

After his bachelor study, he immediately opted to volunteer for a local NGO, the Environment and Rural Development Foundation (ERuDeF), on their great apes conservation project in the Lebialem Highland in Cameroon. He was later integrated as full-time staff after volunteering for over six months

Cameroon, National geographic, Conservationist Conservation,