Filmmaker Update (February 2009)
Maasai men at Il Ngwesi Lodge Photo: David E. Simpson 
Kenyan Schoolgirl Photo: Jason Longo 
James Ole Kinyaga Photo: Jason Longo 
Kaparo with Omni Photo: Jeannie Magill 
Ian Craig (right) with community member. Photo: David E. Simpson
Samburu elders at Ngutuk Ongiron Group Ranch Photo: David E. Simpson 
Community game guards and Oryx,
Marienfluss Conservancy Photo: Jason Longo 
John Kasaona Photo: Jason Longo 
Komungandjera Tjambiru Photo: Jason Longo 
Himba woman at Otapi Village
Photo: Jason Longo |
Il Ngwesi Lodge (Kenya)
In December 2007, a disputed national election and ensuing tribal violence decimated tourism across Kenya. The Il Ngwesi Lodge sent home two-thirds of its staff. During the unrest, the Il Ngwesi game rangers stepped up security patrols minimizing violence and poaching in the area. Fifteen months post-election, tourism at the lodge has yet to return to normal, and the global economic downturn has residents worried about the coming peak season. James Ole Kinyaga says that Maasai familiarity with drought has given the community patience and perspective to know that the current economic crisis will pass.
Recent Il Ngwesi community projects fueled by conservation income include:
Projects include an HIV/ Aids project that has employed 17 people from the community, a training project to improve the quality and market-access for women’s handicrafts, upgrades to roads and the landing strip, an elephant fence around the school, renovation of teachers’ housing, a mobile bank and water pipeline repairs.
James Ole Kinyaga, Il Ngwesi (Kenya)
James Ole Kinyaga is still the host and head guide at the Il Ngwesi Lodge. His grandfather, Kerukora Kinyaga, is over 100 years old and doing well.
Kaparo and Omni the Black Rhino (Kenya)
Omni the black rhino is now fully grown. For the past four years, Il Ngwesi has been trying to get him a mate. A recent survey of the habitat’s sufficiency to support more rhinos has been forwarded to the government, which controls translocations of endangered black rhinos. Other wildlife at Il Ngwesi are doing extremely well. The population of endangered Grevy’s zebras is increasing. A recent Kenya Wildlife Service census counted 1,200 elephants in Il Ngwesi and Lekurruki group ranches. The upswings are attributable to the community’s program of managed grazing.
Ian Craig, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (Kenya)
Ian Craig’s Lewa Wildlife Conservancy now has 107 rhinos, with 15 births last year alone. Lewa continues to play a key role in deterring poaching in the region (with a recent surge in the price of ivory, game guards have widened their security patrols). The Northern Rangelands Trust, also founded by Craig, now provides logistical and technical support to over 15 community conservancies. Thanks largely to Lewa and NRT’s work, the concept of community-based conservation has been endorsed at the highest levels of Kenya’s government—as is reflected in Ian Craig’s recent appointment to the board of the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Samburu Community and Bedouin Camp (Kenya)
The Samburu community at Ngutuk Ongiron Group Ranch, which declined to renew Bedouin Camp’s lease, has entered into a joint venture to run the Sasaab Lodge on the banks of the Uaso Nyiro River. The agreement includes a buy-out clause allowing the community to wholly own the facility in the future. There are now five community lodges in the region.
Marienfluss Conservancy (Namibia)
Marienfluss Conservancy received good rains last year. Many of the people who had flocked to the new waterhole have returned to outlying pasture. A lion came to Marienfluss Valley in 2008. Locals were monitoring it and kept their cool, but when it wandered outside the conservancy, it was shot by a farmer near Etanda. The community has upgraded its campground. Between private lodge fees, the campground and a license sold to a professional trophy hunter, the Conservancy made more than $80,000 U.S. in 2008.
John Kasaona, IRDNC (Namibia)
John Kasaona has now worked with Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC) for over 15 years. In addition to heading IRDNC’s tourism and enterprise development team, John’s promotion to assistant director has him spending more time as a liaison with national partners, and he says he regrets being out in the field less. JKK (as he is known to colleagues) remains deeply committed to the development of communities through their conservancies.
Komungandjera Tjambiru (Namibia)
Komungandjera still collects gum from commiphora plants, which is sold to perfume companies in Europe. She has had another baby. The commiphora project has expanded to four conservancies in the region. Last year 319 harvesters collected five tons of resin. The top earner made $600 U.S.—serious money for villages with minimal cash economy. Initially, only women collected gum. When men saw their profits, a few asked to join in. The women agreed, but in some conservancies they insist that the harvested bags be marked “female” or “male,” since they don’t want to be held responsible for poor-quality resin.
Otapi Village (Namibia)
The Himba women at Otapi village are still welcoming tourists from Sera Cafema tourist camp. The women are displaying their wares for sale at the beginning of each tourist visit. Grandma is doing well.
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