A sustainable journey through the authentic and wild Africa
We traveled to Tanzania to work and get to know two projects that are focused in nature and sustainability: nomad tanzania and Chumbe Island. Both are examples and world leaders in conservation and community empowerment , as they generate employment and education for the locals, while preserving the natural resources within their reach.
In recent years I have dedicated myself to develop environmental preservation projects . This work, which is above all a passion, has taken me on adventures around the planet in which I have lived with isolated communities in the Amazon, I have protected orangutans in the jungles of Borneo and I have participated in research against illegal trafficking of species and poaching in Africa . Thanks to this, I was able witness the true state of deterioration in which the main ecosystems of the planet are found.
Tanzania, a sustainable journey through wild Africa
WHY IS CONSERVATION TOURISM IMPORTANT IN AFRICA?
The importance of sustainable and nature tourism in conservation is vital, not only for the preservation of natural resources but also for support thousands of families who depend on it . Indeed, all over the world, but especially in Africa , where conservation projects are subject to the sustainable tourism.
To put you in the context of the continent, it is important to recognize that Africa, throughout history, has suffered the exploitation of its natural resources by international companies that do not leave profits to the local populations or take care of the territory. The classic has prevailed in the continent colonialist model , in which foreigners, hand in hand with corrupt politicians share the looting of resources such as diamonds, oil and coltan , and do not return anything to the population but, on the contrary, leave behind environmental disasters.
A sustainable journey through the authentic and wild Africa
Biologists have decreed that we are facing the Sixth Great Extinction , a critical time for the world's fauna and flora. As an act of resistance, nature tourism has become the salvation for Africa , since, through it, local communities can participate in the projects while preserving their natural resources. The projects that carry out this model contribute to generating wealth and long-term sustainability.
Currently, in addition, we are experiencing difficult times of pandemic. Every day we witness thousands of deaths around the world, the economy is devastated and our freedom of movement has been limited . For this reason, one of the most affected sectors has been tourism. More precisely, conservation and nature tourism.
In continents like Africa, and in areas like the Amazon, which depend directly on activities around their wild landscapes and the preservation of their natural resources, the impact has been devastating. Conservation requires many years to show its effects, so if there are periods of interruption the impact on flora and fauna may be irremediable . Recovering the achievements achieved takes a lot of work and time. Thus, it is very important to keep the preserved areas active. After all, these areas are vital to everyone on planet Earth..
In the specific case of United Republic of Tanzania , located in the eastern center of Africa, there are projects that are committed to conservation by practicing the responsible tourism with the community and nature . This is called sustainable and nature tourism , as it represents the meeting point between tourism that cares for the environment from its operation and infrastructure, and tourism that encompasses a range of activities related to the natural and human environment.
let's start the adventure for one of the most sustainable safaris in the world, nomad africa , to continue through one of the best preserved coral reef sanctuaries in the world, Chumbe Island , in remote Zanzibar.
NOMAD TANZANIA: THE ULTIMATE SUSTAINABLE SAFARI
Nomad Tanzania is one of the Africa's pioneering safari and sustainability companies . On the way, we visit Tarangire, Ngorongoro and Serengeti . In any of these places you can stay in camps with facilities equipped with great detail, which will make you feel like a real Livingstone.
Tarangire National Park, Tanzania
The project is fascinating, as its founders have been concerned with investing in local communities and have provided opportunities for both staff and the community, guided by the premise of generating the greatest positive impact on the environment.
Kuro Tarangire It is located in the middle of a grove of trees on the banks of the Tarangire River. This park occupies second place, after the Serengeti, in wildlife conservation . A place that tuned me in with the harmony and rhythms of nature. In it we could see herds of buffalo, lazy lions in the shade of the bushes of the plain, and we saw different amazing birds (there are more than 550 species). In addition, this park is especially famous for its concentration of elephants, which highlights the importance of protecting this type of space. that show the power of self-recovery that nature has if it does not suffer alterations.
Among the projects developed by Nomad Tanzania in the area, the arusha orphanage that offers the opportunity to children in vulnerable conditions to have quality of life.
The great beauty of Tarangire
We continue on our way to Ngorongoro, the largest non-active volcanic crater on the planet , where we will travel by ancestral maasai culture . Here we had the opportunity to learn about their warrior tradition in the middle of an amazing landscape . It is difficult to express with precise words the sensation that one feels when being there; the image of a culture of yesteryear and still alive, is something indescribable that no photo could do it justice.
Furthermore, in Ngorongoro, Nomad supports a very interesting project for the preservation of lions , so that you can witness, live and direct, the life of these mysterious cats.
Finally, the tour ends in the Serengeti, on a safari designed to view the wildebeest migration that covers thousands of kilometers from the site . The place is preserved just as it began so the adventure into the wilderness feels more awe-inspiring. Here the importance of healthy natural balance is recognized. For example, wildebeests are food for populations of lions, and as they are in constant movement, their excrement fertilizes, which helps to regulate the vegetation.
Ngorongoro, the crater where (wild) life was born
DIVING AMONG CORALS IN THE CRYSTAL CLEAR WATERS OF ZANZIBAR
The journey continues until Chumbe Island, a private area of coral nature reserve located on the island of Zanzibar, off the east coast of Tanzania . 25 years ago, its founder had the idea of protecting this space that was completely desolate. Today, after a rigorous work focused on conservation and sustainable management , this area is the only one that has survived the environmental impact. Even the fishermen of the area have to carry out their activities in the reserve in a controlled manner, since there are no longer fish outside of space beware.
The Chumbe Reef Sanctuary is registered as a marine protected area by the World Conservation Monitoring Center (established by UNEP, WWF and IUCN) in Cambridge, and is one of the world's leading marine conservation benchmarks. The project works under a park management model in which the ecotourism supports conservation, research and environmental education programs for local schools.
corals, which are plant-animal-rock, equivalent to the jungle of the sea . Corals are 30% of marine life, they are the cities of fish and its preservation is urgent for the ecosystem and the sustainability of the fishermen.
In addition to being a essential space for the local community and for the ecosystem , impacts the operation of its infrastructure from an environmental perspective. The accommodation is one hundred percent sustainable, since it has everything from rainwater showers to compost toilets, solar energy, traditional cuisine, among others. It is located between the jungle and the beach.
Chumbe Island, Tanzania
With both examples, it is shown that only one sustainable nature tourism it can form a virtuous circle with the conservation of biodiversity, both of species and their ecosystems. The more tourism of this type a country receives, with more resources it will have to promote its biological diversity and the wealth of its population.
It is important to promote these tourism minimums in a controlled manner, so that the activity of sustainability and nature tourism does not cease and the situation improves little by little, just in these moments of pandemic.