DesertRose
Safari Chick & Supporting Sponsor
Jambo everyone from Nairobi, Kenya! sorry if this is rushed, we're about to lose our electricity and thus internet.
I arrived one week ago, it's been a crazy time of mostly meetings - though I did get out to the bush, in Tanzania, for 2 days (more on that below).
I have many purposes for this trip, the foremost being scoping out some exciting opportunities for supporting a new South Rift Tourism Circuit that will benefit the Maasai communities 100% - an important conservation step. To do this I'll be picking up a Toyota HiLux later this week (the rental of which was made possible by a donation from an esteemed member of this group - thanks Ed!) - outfitted with a roof tent, Engel fridge, full camping kit - then I'm off on some project visits taking me from the Maasai Mara to Amboseli and then up to the Laikipia Plateau.
My biggest challenge is to convince my African colleagues that I can drive! (Women don't drive much here . . . let alone in the bush!)
I have just gotten back from a visit to a project we support in Tanzania, where I have just delivered a number of BoGo lights (see thread in Making a Difference) to a poor Maasai community. This community is very marginalized and poor - one of the poorest Maasai communities I've ever seen. Their homeland was taken away when Tarangire National Park was created during British protectorate times. Over the years they have been squeezed on all sides by encroachment of white and black farmers, and finally they are marooned in a small plot bordering Tarangire, where they try to eke out a living - not too successfully. They turn to poaching firewood as well as animals from the park, creating a bad situation for all.
The project we support is a small ecotourism camp owned by a Tanzanian, a Maasai - his name is Hagai Kissila. His small camp, Whistling Thorn Camp, has brought much needed funds to this little community. In just 2 years I've noticed marked improvements in health and ability to send children to school. Poaching is diminishing, and interest in preserving wildlife is improving as they see direct benefit from wildlife in the form of cash.
The kids were thrilled with the lights. Here are some photos - this is L'Engai and his sister and her kids. (You'll note that she has an enormous goiter; after our visit we took her to Arusha, where Hagai is paying for an operation for her).
The last shot is really fun - anywhere you go in Africa, walking on paths, you get a little train of kids following you and laughing. I took that shot over my shoulder!
Thanks to everyone for the donations - we'll be distributing more throughout the trip!
Roseann
I arrived one week ago, it's been a crazy time of mostly meetings - though I did get out to the bush, in Tanzania, for 2 days (more on that below).
I have many purposes for this trip, the foremost being scoping out some exciting opportunities for supporting a new South Rift Tourism Circuit that will benefit the Maasai communities 100% - an important conservation step. To do this I'll be picking up a Toyota HiLux later this week (the rental of which was made possible by a donation from an esteemed member of this group - thanks Ed!) - outfitted with a roof tent, Engel fridge, full camping kit - then I'm off on some project visits taking me from the Maasai Mara to Amboseli and then up to the Laikipia Plateau.
My biggest challenge is to convince my African colleagues that I can drive! (Women don't drive much here . . . let alone in the bush!)
I have just gotten back from a visit to a project we support in Tanzania, where I have just delivered a number of BoGo lights (see thread in Making a Difference) to a poor Maasai community. This community is very marginalized and poor - one of the poorest Maasai communities I've ever seen. Their homeland was taken away when Tarangire National Park was created during British protectorate times. Over the years they have been squeezed on all sides by encroachment of white and black farmers, and finally they are marooned in a small plot bordering Tarangire, where they try to eke out a living - not too successfully. They turn to poaching firewood as well as animals from the park, creating a bad situation for all.
The project we support is a small ecotourism camp owned by a Tanzanian, a Maasai - his name is Hagai Kissila. His small camp, Whistling Thorn Camp, has brought much needed funds to this little community. In just 2 years I've noticed marked improvements in health and ability to send children to school. Poaching is diminishing, and interest in preserving wildlife is improving as they see direct benefit from wildlife in the form of cash.
The kids were thrilled with the lights. Here are some photos - this is L'Engai and his sister and her kids. (You'll note that she has an enormous goiter; after our visit we took her to Arusha, where Hagai is paying for an operation for her).
The last shot is really fun - anywhere you go in Africa, walking on paths, you get a little train of kids following you and laughing. I took that shot over my shoulder!
Thanks to everyone for the donations - we'll be distributing more throughout the trip!
Roseann
