Aby
Hello
There doesnt seem to be too much interest in this post, however I thought it was a good one.
Maybe people arent interested in staying at realCBET
projects
Anyway why not do a summary country by country then people can add to it if and when they come across one.

I have no problem with CBETs or this thread but I do have a problem when the thread starts out by indicating that non-CBETS make "Rich (Neo-Colonialists in many cases) even richer" with no mention of the benefits the communities often enjoy. Here is a clear example of the benefits of a private lodge to the commmunity: http://allafrica.com/stories/200702051171.html

Let's see how much the community will benefit when a CBET tries to take over. Tune-in in 10 years.

By the way, I am very pro-community but I am also practical and at this point I believe that in many cases what is best for the environment and the community at this point in history is a good private lodge-community relationship not a CBET. Some CBETs are very good and a thread about them is fine, but don't make it a propoganda vehicle.

The relationship between community and tourists is not just a transaction "on the day" and can be, but not necessarily "only" best served by CBET -others have made excellent points here.

The article about the reaction of the local community to the recent violent death of lodge owner, historian and white community member David Rattray posted by tuckeg clearly shows the inter-dependence and relationships between lodge owners/operators and the communities - schools, tribal leaders et al in which they live.

These stats are from 2002 but do give an eye opener:-
It is about the South Luangwa National Park.
About 30,000 people live in the immediate vicinity
About 800 are employed by safari companies
a further 100 - 300 indirectly by tourism (eg. curio makers, marker gardeners etc)
Each wage earner supports on av. 15-20 family members (extended family).
That means as many as 23,000 in the local community (75%) rely on tourism for their income.
(source Travel Africa Autumn 2002 Edition 21 pp3)

As the CBET market isn't huge in Zambia (yet) the contribution made by various individuals and family run operations is immense - Have recently read how Jo Pope at Robin Pope safari's works with local community - Shenton's is another family run safari co in SL - the conservation work they do is fantastic by all accounts. Wilderness Safaris - whilst a big operator (and some say too big) move into conscessions and forego hunting - making the concessions safer for the wildlife the torist goes to see - involve the community and provide education for locals to become top notch guides, leaders and other roles in hosptiality within their operations.

Maybe each contribute in their own way -we contribute by going there, with sensitivity and respect and supporting companies that do the same within their communities.

Certainly it is wothwile investing, encouraging, providing quality education for current and future local people to be professional tourism operators.guides/hospitality workers and that they may choose to form CBET - and have the experience, skills and knowledge to do so - in the meantime the mostly responsible, community minded lodge operators contribute hugely to their communities.

Tourism is always open to our scrutiny as consumers - we are responsible for making sure the choices we make are ethical, support community, provide education opprtunities for young people in the area, are ecologically sensitive and sustainable.

I am a fifth generation Australian - I am appalled by the way our white colonialist forefathers conducted themselves in this land at the expense of the indigenous people here. Yet - I am here and I would think that those born in Southern Africa would consider themselves African in the same way I consider myself Australian.

Glad this thread perked up again -- never would have found it otherwise.

There is an interesting tourism route that was set up in Cape Town for an international conference on sustainable development (ICLI) two years ago, called the Cape Care Route (aka "Trail of Two Cities"). It includes 25 sustainable development projects, many community-based.

Check out the list of projects on it at http://www.tourismcapetown.co.za/xxl...083/index.html

There is also a Fair Trade in Tourism designation, which goes farther than just eco-tourism, to issues of sustainability, employment equity, fair wages, etc. It isn't always community-based either. The list of 22 FTTSA designated places ("holidays") across SA is on their website at http://www.fairtourismsa.org.za/holiday/index.html

Namibia's community-based tourism organisation is NACOBTA, online at http://www.nacobta.com.na

There are some interesting projects also under development with Conservation International and local communities with national government funding and private sector partnerships happening in SA. One in particular is in Kamiesberg in Namaqualand (Northern Cape Province) but it's more than a year away from being finished. Others are in the pipeline too.

CBET is an important part of tourism for travellers who are conscience-driven when they make their travel choices. I think SA is starting to recognise this and is putting some money behind it at last.

Kurt

http://afrikatourism.blogspot.com/

good thread.

Try visiting the Retosa website for community based accommodation throughout Southern & part of East Africa http://geosavvydev.com/retosa/index.php and also visit the North South Tourism Route http://www.south-north.co.za/. I did the Crayfish Trail last year and loved it.

Here are two in the Okavango Delta which are both of interest for fly-in travellers and have a website:

Santawani Lodge in NG33, run by Sankuyo Tshwaragano Management Trust,
www.santawanilodge.com

Gudigwa Lodge in NG12, run by Bukakhwe Cultural Community Trust,
www.gudigwa.com

(Gudigwa has been re-opened for last year's season, but apparently some "expert" Botswana agents are still not aware of this.)

Hi Nyama-
Do you know if Gudigwa is still being run by WS or is it now being run by the community (the website isn't working)? Would you know anything about Santawani? I'm looking for off the beaten track, preferably community run places in Bots for a trip in Sept.

Thanks

I have just published the interview with Luca Belpietro who both runs The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust and Campi ya Kanzi, an eco lodge managed with the Maasai in Southern Kenya. Whilst I cannot make any recommendation regarding the lodge itself it is clear from the interview what he and the Maasai together are trying to achieve.

One can read the full interview here:

<b>http://safaritalk.net/index.php?showtopic=257</b>

Matt

cruisinred, WS dropped Gudigwa two years ago. Management/marketing is now done by a Botswanan operator, Bigfoot Safaris (www.bigfootsafaris.co.bw).
(The website is working, must be problems with your ISP.)

cruisinred, there's another community-based operation in the Delta:

Makwena Lodge (or Makwena Camp) in NG24, run by Okavango Jakotsha Community Trust. That's the same concession where WS once had one of their first camps, Jedibe Island Camp. The Jakotsha people offer mokoro trails and island bush camping. I don't have contact details of this camp. Maybe you ask a local operator in Maun.

There's also Mbiroba Camp near Seronga, run by Okavango Polers Trust (www.okavangodelta.co.bw).

I forgot one that also needs support, Mapula Lodge in NG12 (www.mapulalodge.com). It's not community-based but run by a local operator, Swampland Safari Trails.

Aby,

You asked for “projects” so I think Maasai Manyattas are Econtoursim enterprises worth highlighting. Cultural manyattas (mock bomas) were formed to channel tourist-generated funds directly to the Maasai community and are established in, or near national parks. Within, Maasai dress in traditional garb, perform song &amp; dance, share traditions and sell handmade souvenirs to tourist.

To me this commoditizing of their culture is an extremely complicated issue. Is it exploitation? Unauthentic? Once can debate, but bottom line is they do generate money to people who need it badly and the Maasai benefit directly through tour guide fees and goods sold. Work in manyattas is not mandatory, but it is a way for the Maasai to benefit financially and join the conservation process.

I have been blessed to visit both; the manyattas are similar (and different) to true Maasai bomas. Onemajor difference in true bomas is they incorporate livestock (therefore dung and more flies), do not stage performances and there is more evidence of modernization. I consider the manyattas a ‘necessary evil’ in the face of financial need, declining land, and destructive wildlife. I support cultural manyattas. What say others?

To quote Edward Berger, “In tourism, authenticity is made, not discovered.”

Here's something for self-drivers in Kenya who want to visit Samburu:

Umoja Campsite, east of Samburu NR near Archer's Post, run by Umoja Uaso Women's Group,
www.umojawomen.org

here are some alternatives to canned hunting.

Update: Gudigwa has now its own website, www.gudigwa.com

ttt

for whoever bumps into this thread:

you may be interested in the following
<font color="blue">Does anyone still travel ECO-style? </font>
started by <b>pixelpower </b>
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...72&amp;start=0

IMHO one of the most important threads on this Forum

aby