Ride a camel and discover Tanzania

Istituto Oikos is supporting sustainable tourism programs in developing countries to increase the value of the cultural and environmental heritage of rural communities and to help them in starting small income generating activities, with the additional goal to protect at the same time environment and biodiversity.

Since 2003 Istituto Oikos supports Mkuru Camel Safari, a cultural tourism program, sponsored by the Tanzania Tourist Board and directly managed by the Mkuru Maasai community. Several walking and camel itineraries are available in the Mount Meru area, in North Tanzania, where visitors have the chance to discover in a unique way the land’s cultural and environmental richness.

Istituto Oikos has realized training and capacity building programs for the Maasai tourist guides and it has donated them part of the equipment, as it believes that responsible cultural tourism is a concrete tool for biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation.

The Camel Safari represents for the tourists an opportunity to get in touch with the Maasai community and to watch closely the African savannah wildlife. 100% of the money earned thanks to the tourism stays in the Maasai community to allow them to cover the logistical costs and the local guides’ salaries. Moreover, the price includes the so-called development fee, a small tax that merges into the village savings to finance the construction of infrastructures and to enforce essential services such as schools and dispensaries.

Mentions and merits

− Mkuru Camel Safari was the second best cultural tourism program in Tanzania in 2008 award.

− Mkuru Camel Safari is on the IUCN “Tourism as Conservation Tool” guide.

To make a reservation for a camel safari or for more information you can visit the program web site www.mkurucamelsafari.com or email, write or call us at:

Mkuru Camel group

c/o Oikos East Africa

P.O Box 8342 Arusha

Tel. +255 (0)748 724498

info@mkrurucamelsafari.com