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Cultural tourism, if done properly, may bring benefits to the poorest communities in Tanzania.
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breaks the silence of a north- Camel Safari Camp. Built near its namesake The Maasai settlement of Mkuru is located
ern Tanzania rangeland. Soloists, in village, the camp appears to be a cultural tour- on the north side of Mount Meru in northern
traditional Maasai regalia and dark ism success story. Tanzania. Camels, which aren’t traditional
sunglasses, belt out lyrics with high-pitched “We are independent; we run the camp Maasai livestock, were introduced to the vil-
cries while the chorus utters its throaty replies. and safari by ourselves, with just a bit of sup- lage in the 1990s by an organization called
I crouch in the sand, close enough to feel the port by the Oikos Institute in terms of human Heifer International. The safari project was
heat of a dozen dancers as they jump into the resources,” explains Issaya Shakweti, Mkuru’s relaunched when the Oikos Institute, an Italian
crowd, trying to outdo each other. Their fiery programme co-coordinator. NGO, provided an ecotourism expert. Now
red clothing punctuates a sun-parched land- “Every visitor coming to the camp pays a the Mkuru project is one of over 20 destina-
scape of weathered acacia trees, sleep huts and village development fee that goes straight to tions marketed by the Tanzania Tourist Board’s
rolling pastures on this humid March day, at the community to improve schools and health cultural tourism programme, which also pro-
the dawn of the rainy season. services. Mkuru Camel Safaris employs only vides training in business management and
The performance, which follows a tree- people from the community—all the cooks, tour guiding.
planting ceremony and a lavish buffet, marks security guards, cleaners and tour guides are Mary Lwoga, the Tourist Board’s cultural
the beginning of another season at the Mkuru from Mkuru village.” tourism coordinator, says the programme
10 : verge winter 2010
v.null i.2
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