The Challenge
Wildlife and flora and traditional cultures are under threat as
never before in the face of shrinking land resources, population
growth, and external pressures. The Maasai have followed a traditional
lifestyle but in the process have been left behind mainstream Tanzanian
development. Exploitative rather than Eco-friendly development all
too often replace the sustainable traditional ways of life.
The casualties are the communities that have through their traditional
lifestyle and cultural taboo against harming wildlife secured for
mankind some of the best and most spectacular concentrations of
wildlife left on the planet. In addition Maasai rangelands offer
one of the few remaining relatively undisturbed dispersal areas
for wildlife and have great bio diversity.
Therefore population increases and the pressure to turn to alternative
land uses threaten Biodiversity, corridors and the dispersal zones
that are integral part of the survival of National parks.
The Maasai predicament
People in Maasailand are amongst the poorest in Africa with a per
capita income of less than $165.00. Cattle are the mainstay of the
area and their numbers have declined since the 1970's due to drought
and disease.
The human population is rising and per capita holdings of cattle
are now less than the minimum required to meet their subsistence
needs. Social services, schools, clinics, water etc. are insufficient.
These areas are particularly special ~ a unique blend of scenery,
culture and wilderness (and even game in selected areas) make for
a very unique and special experience. Take a look at the following
links to discover more about our efforts in partnership with Maasai
communities:
Where Kirurumu operates
There are currently a number of core areas where Kirurumu currently
works closely with Maasai communities. We have entered into Community
Based Tourism Agreements with a number of Maasai villages that are
becoming a means for them of escaping the poverty trap they have
been in and thereby helping to secure wildlife corridors and dispersal
areas. Each of these areas is scenically superb and exclusive core
areas which we like to call Private Wilderness Areas.
These areas are:
OTHER PROJECTS
Kirurumu has for the last 2 years supported the
development of a community based project near Machame which won
a 'highly commended' award from the responsible
tourism awards 2004, Kilimanjaro, see Kahawa
Shambas home page for more...
Exclusivity & Wilderness
In these areas the combination of exclusivity, wilderness, cultural
interaction and game is a unique and experience intensive. For the
first time visitor to Tanzania these can be a far richer experience
than a ‘normal’ safari, off the beaten track and so
on, and for the seasoned Africa visitor these areas can be an entire
safari in their own right.
Thereafter we are currently working in much the same way in the
rift valley area, whereby we have access to some core areas which
are forest reserves, and these are fit particularly well with more
‘regular’ safaris, such that a couple of days can be
spent hiking and fly camping away from the normal tourist routes,
being led by Maasai guides and seeing a unique perspective to Tanzania
(request fly camping from Kirurumu Tented Lodge for these options).
Two such areas are:
- Silela Forest Reserve
- Mt. Losimingori Forest Reserve
How do communities and wildlife benefit?
Our exclusive areas are exclusive because we pay a significant annual
fee to secure sole access to those areas. The annual fee is part
of a larger contract, and within these contracts are agreements
to work towards the protection of the local wildlife and environment
through protection of certain areas and restriction of certain types
of activity, such as agriculture. The communities then receive direct
benefits in terms of employment of local guides, scouts, guards,
as well as direct per guest per day fees, which all go towards the
local community. Hence, there is a positive and ongoing relationship
between non-consumptive tourism, conservation and community development.
Why should my clients visit these areas?
- To experience Pristine wilderness
- Cultural interaction with the people that live
in these lands
- Contribute to the ongoing sustenance of fragile
inter relationships between conservation and community development
- To have a unique and special safari experience
- To help preserve fragile migration corridors
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