The Chyulu Hills, KenyaAmong the green hills of Africa eulogised by Hemingway lies Campi ya Kanzi, a joint venture between Luca and Antonella Belpietro and local Maasai on a tribal Group Ranch. The game-rich Chyulu Hills, in south-east Kenya, border Tsavo West and Amboseli NPs.
The camp is centred around Tembo House, overlooking Kilimanjaro and constructed (without clearing trees) from local lava rock and thatch. Italian and Maasai themes are expressed in the decor and cuisine (prepared on a special eco-charcoal burner). Kitchen waste provides the compost for an organic vegetable garden. Guests luxuriate on Italian linen in six tented cottages or a suite, set on wooden platforms under thatch. The en suite bathrooms have eco-friendly flush toilets. Electricity and hot water are solar-generated. Guests enjoy game drives, walks and village visits. Nearby, another Group Ranch project has received international acclaim. Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge, operated by Richard Bonham Safaris, was highly commended in the 2001 British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. Money raised through wildlife-based tourism funds projects that create employment and raise living standards. Tourists can choose how their donation is spent; over US$81,000 has been generated for the community.
The 18-bed lodge was constructed from local materials and has solar-powered electricity and hot water. Shower water is re-circulated to flush toilets, and supplies are sourced locally. Both the Camp and the Lodge have established trusts to preserve local cultural and natural heritage. Projects include improving education and healthcare, reimbursing Maasai who have lost cattle to wildlife, funding women’s craft groups, reforestation and anti-poaching measures. Tumani Tenda, GhanaVisitors to gambia are finally heading inland beyond beaches lined with foreign-owned all-inclusive hotels. At the forefront of this shift are the 300 villagers of Tumani Tenda who have built guesthouses for up to 30 visitors, with help from Gambia Tourism Concern.
The simple huts are clean and comfortable, with grass mattresses. Guests pay for well-water (a valuable resource) according to the amount consumed. Activities include fishing trips, tending the village’s tree plantation, oyster picking, herb gathering in the forest or helping cultivate peppers and papayas in the communal garden. Guests can try anything, from grinding palm kernels or batik-making, to energetic tribal dancing. Meals such as domoda (rice and fish in peanut sauce) are served on large communal plates.
Under the scheme 15 villagers work full-time, without personal payment, hosting visitors and translating. Revenue accrues in a development fund and buys school equipment; future goals include a clinic and a generator. Given the Jola people’s powerful sense of community, there is every reason for optimism. |
