© the Map’s Edge ltd 2009
You cannot get much greener than this Flap-necked Chameleon, photographed on the
edge of Arusha National Park. One major challenge he faces is the daily threat of
being grabbed by a keen-eyed Lizard Buzzard. But in the wider scheme of things, his
brethren are also losing their natural habitat, as more and more bush and is lost
to chemical-saturated agriculture or the hunt for dwindling firewood.
Flappy is not in a position to do much to protect his own lot, but we are able to
make a difference, however small, to the place we live in and the country
Carbon Tanzania
There is a lot of hot air generated by the subject of carbon trading, and a lot of
controversy, but we have found a grass-roots project that we think does make a difference.
Carbon Tanzania uses the voluntary donations that we include on all our itineraries,
to fund two projects that are open to visitors. In tandem with a local village, they
have leased land surrounding a protected area in the Monduli hills and planted indigenous
trees, extending the eco-system, protecting the water-catchment area and providing
sustainable livelihoods for the community. In Yaeda, a new community project with
the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers is helping to reforest the area, protect the traditional
lands and run a team of local anti-poaching scouts to help the Hadza retain their
traditional life style in the face of modern encroachment.
For those of you who are
interested, we have
marked the properties that, we feel, make a real effort to be more sustainable and
responsible by adding a picture of Flappy to the accommodation reviews
The Kenyan Professional
safari Guides Association
Being a great guide is not just about knowing the pupation
period of mosquito larvae, it is also about understanding the
connections: the links in nature’s chain. A good guide is a teacher, encouraging
understanding and respect for the world we live in and the threats that these beautiful
creatures and plants, big and small, face. The KPSGA, though its accreditation scheme,
encourages and rewards excellence in guides and a promotes a strong sense of responsibility
towards the environment.
Richard Knocker is the first Gold-accredited guide in Tanzania and the 11th in East
Africa. Squack Evans and Jules Knocker are both Silver-accredited guides, with Squack
planning to take his Gold in the next year.
The Serengeti Lion Project is the longest serving research project in the Serengeti
and has been on-going for over 30 years, providing valuable insights into lion behaviour
and the Serengeti eco-system. Their most recent project, which Map’s Edge has sponsored,
is to place 200 motion sensor cameras around the park to see who walks by.
Click here for the facebook page Click here for facebook page.
How do you train to become a competitive cyclist and hold down a job bringing in
much needed cash when you come from a poor background? The ACC have come up with
an innovative scheme of Bicycle Messengers. These young enthusiasts deliver vouchers,
cheques and messages all around town much faster than a car could and with no carbon
footprint - all the while putting in much needed hours of practice. Emmanuel, our
first bike messenger, actually represented Tanzania at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
in Glasgow and Ali, our second messenger, now also competes nationally. Emmanuel
Mollel is our current recruit and is training hard, as well as working as an apprentice
at the local bike repair shop.
The Flying Doctors Society
The Flying Doctors
Society is a well-loved
institution for all those who
live and work in the bush. Through
fund-raising and the selling of medical evacuation insurance to tourists, they run
vital bush clinics and emergency evacuations for the rural people who cannot afford
proper medical care and for whom an emergency would always be life-threatening. They
also support programs to train mid-wives for rural areas as well as education programs
on local health care. We supply FDS medical evacuation insurance to all our clients
travelling with us. It will get you to proper medical care fast, in the very unlikely
situation that you need it, and if you do not, you are helping to support better
healthcare across rural East Africa.
https://www.flyingdoctorsafrica.org
Responsible Tourism Tanzania
RTTZ is the newest kid on the block and started operations in 2015. Set up to
provide a wealth of information
helping operators and
accommodations be more ‘green’,
It also is providing an
accreditation system
and auditing process for lodges
and tour operators within Tanzania. RTTZ is actively encouraging and promoting responsible
and sustainable practices in the Tourism scene in Tanzania.
