Our main focus in Kenya is the Maasai Mara, with two key aims: helping Maasai villagers earn a fair income from tourism, and improving wildlife protection through safari guide training.
Maasai Village Tours
In partnership with Tribal Voice Communications (TVC) this project works with Maasai villagers in the Maasai Mara to develop sustainable village tourism experiences. The reach of the project is vast:
- Ticketing system which has increased income for the Maasai by 800%.
- Establishment of the Mara Triangle Maasai Villages Association and the Maasai Mara Cultural Villages Tourism Association.
- Information for visitors which has significantly improved satisfaction levels.
- Ground-breaking formal supply agreements with the lodges and tour operators.
- Improvement of village infrastructure and facilities – including schooling, healthcare, basic sanitation and running water.
- Expansion of best practice to other areas of the Maasai Mara with a launch of the fair ticketing system in 27 more manyattas on the Narok side of the Mara in March 2009.
Responisble Safari Guiding
In Kenya, we’ve been working since 2007 with Tribal Voice Communications, helping to improve safari guiding standards. The work is essential in reducing the negative effect of poor driver behaviour on habitats, wildlife and local communities, in a country where 80% of the visitors take safari drives. Over 100 guides were trained during 2008 and a new award scheme for the Most Responsible Safari guide was announced. The award has been a real motivation towards significantly better standards and the Kenyan authorities now plan to make the safari guiding qualification compulsory.
Cow Dung Briquettes
We are supporting an innovative project by Tribal Voice Communications in Kenya which helps reduce deforestation. By helping villages in the Maasai Mara to switch to cow-dung briquettes for heating and cooking, the project is helping to reduce reliance on firewood. Dung is mixed with waste paper and water and then fashioned into briquettes which are sundried for use.
Image © Georgina Cranston
Natanna
Nataana is going to school, because visitors are taking a new sustainable excursion to Enkerari village in the Maasai Mara. Income is being used for education, as well as basic sanitation and running water. It’s making an amazing difference to their lives ... and giving visitors an experience of a lifetime!
