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 Pro-poor
tourism development in kenya is still in its initial stages
but kenya can boast of a few community projects that have
been able to demostarate the potentils of tourism in empower
hundreds of poor communities. With the incentives the
locals have been able to diversify their economic base,some
of these projects have been elaborated below.
Lewa
Downs Wildlife Conservancy
Lewa Downs, located north of Mount Kenya, was primarily
established as a rhino sanctuary in 1984. With financial
aid from donors the whole of Lewa and the surrounding
Ngare Ngare forest has been fenced giving a protected
area of 213 sq.km with a 30 metre gap on the northern
side acting as a migratory route. Now the sanctuary has
over 20 black rhino and a similar amount of white rhino,
over half of which have been born there.
Lewa Downs, located north of Mount Kenya, was primarily
established as a rhino sanctuary in 1984. With financial
aid from donors the whole of Lewa and the surrounding
Ngare Ngare forest has been fenced giving a protected
area of 213 sq.km with a 30 metre gap on the northern
side acting as a migratory route. Now the sanctuary has
over 20 black rhino and a similar amount of white rhino,
over half of which have been born there.
The Kimana Community
The Kimana Community Wildlife Sanctuary is one of such
projects. It became for Kenya in 1996, the country's first
park beyond parks'. This was followed by the Ngwesi Group
Ranch tourism project in Laikipia, situated in Kenya's
semi-arid north. The community there is often severely
affected by the migration of elephant and smaller plain
animals.
In recognition of the success of Kimana, Care for the
Wild International is supporting a pioneering new project
called Porini. This will fund a project manager to work
with Maasai communities to help them establish conservation
areas on communally owned land in the hope that small
scale sustainable tourism will generate income for the
community
Authorities hope that wild animals that spend most of
their time outside the protected areas will have a future
and that Kenya's unparalleled national wildlife heritage
will be secure if such the projects do work.Amboseli,
a period when 95% of the Amboseli rhino fell to poachers.
Eventually the Kimana Maasai approached the KWS to suggest
the sanctuary and ask for assistance in setting it up.
Whilst the Maasai were autonomous in their decision making
the KWS provided consultancy, a road network and trained
Game Scouts.
The sanctuary charges considerably less than the Amboseli
and each group ranch member receives an annual dividend
whilst some money is retained for joint community projects.
The Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, in Kenya's coastal
region, set up to protect some 6,000 acres of a traditional
elephant migration route is another example of these projects.
Several local Duruma small-scale farmers had to move elsewhere
to permit development, and money from a luxury-tented
camp replaces lost income.In recognition of the success
of Kimana, Care for the Wild International is supporting
a pioneering new project called Porini. This will fund
a project manager to work with Maasai communities to help
them establish conservation areas on communally owned
land in the hope that small scale sustainable tourism
will generate income for the community.
The Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary
The Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary, in Kenya's coastal
region, set up to protect some 6,000 acres of a traditional
elephant migration route is another example of these projects.
Several local Duruma small-scale farmers had to move elsewhere
to permit development, and money from a luxury-tented
camp replaces lost income.Authorities hope that wild animals
that spend most of their time outside the protected areas
will have a future and that Kenya's unparalleled national
wildlife heritage will be secure if such the projects
do work.Amboseli, a period when 95% of the Amboseli rhino
fell to poachers. Eventually the Kimana Maasai approached
the KWS to suggest the sanctuary and ask for assistance
in setting it up. Whilst the Maasai were autonomous in
their decision making the KWS provided consultancy, a
road network and trained Game Scouts. The sanctuary charges
considerably less than the Amboseli and each group ranch
member receives an annual dividend whilst some money is
retained for joint community projects.
This sanctuary has been set up to create a corridor for
the movement of elephants fromShimba Hills National Reserveto
a nearby forest area. The sanctuary protects 6,000 acres
of the traditional migration route and ranges from sea
level stands of boabab trees to moist deciduous forests
on the hills and vestigial rain forest along the watercourses.
A fee is payable to the local community for every visitor
to the reserve. A fence has been erected to protect man
from elephant and vice versa and after initial scepticism
from the community the benefits of the sanctuary are now
being appreciated by all.
Kuku Field Studies Centre
The Kuku Field Studies Centre is located 225 km south
of Nairobi midway between Amboseli and Tsavo National
Parks and neighbours the Kimana Wildlife Sanctuary. It
was established to offer cultural and environmental education
opportunities to students of all ages and nationalities.
All revenues generated through the centre are used for
educational purposes and for community projects which
benefit the Maasai members of the Kuku Group Ranch. The
centre acts as a model for financially self-sustainable
environmental education in Africa and as an example of
the potential existing for communities in Africa to derive
benefit from their natural and cultural resources.
Programmes are conducted by local Maasai and include guided
walks to learn about the flora and fauna of the region,
visits to Maasai villages, and visits to Amboseli and
Tsavo National Parks. The programmes aim to weave together
ecological content, community interaction and cross cultural
activities.
Ngomongo Villages
Located just outside Mombasa, Ngomongo Villages aims to
provide an insight into ten different and diverse Kenyan
tribes. Set in a dead quarry which has been reclaimed
and turned into a lush forest, the village gives the opportunity
to actively participate in a variety of crafts from pounding
grain to harpoon fishing and experience a diverse range
of cultures.
Kiamaina Farm
Situated in Kikuyu country on the slopes of Mount Kenya
the farm shows traditional organic farming in practice.
In addition to coffee husbandry there is also bee-keeping,
poultry, dairy and horticulture and examples of mixed
crop management. Nearby is the second largest open air
market in Africa at Karatina.
Shanzu Traditional Workshop
Located just north of Mombasa, Shanzu is a sheltered workshop
for disabled young women where they learn skills which
enable them to become productive and confident members
of the community. Trainees graduate after 2 years having
received vocational training, learnt production skills
and gained business experience. The workshop is open to
vistors to see how the girls live and work and there is
a shop selling their products.
Masai Mara Forestry Project
Friends of Conservation have secured land next to the
Talek Gate of the Masai Mara National Reserve for a forestry
project. The project aims to teach local people how to
plant enough trees for firewood, fodder and construction
needs. Free formal training in tree nursery and woodlot
maintenance is provided and also training for employment
in local lodges and camps.
Il Ngwesi Group Ranch
This community, in Laikipia in Kenya's semi-arid north,
is often severely affected by the migration of elephant
and smaller plains animals. The community has constructed
bandas and an airstrip to generate income from local and
overseas tourism and hopefully the revenue will offset
the seasonal disadvantages caused by the seasonal passages
of large numbers of animals.
Elsamere Conservation Centre
Set in acacia forest on the banks of Lake Naivasha, Elsamere
is a haven for nature lovers.The former home of Joy Adamson,
Elsamere is now a conservation centre offering the chance
to visit local conservation projects and runs research
programmes to monitor lake ecology.
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