Camp Miti Mirefu

Swahili for “Tall Trees” ( named after the local Maasai Village)

 

 

 

 

 

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Accommodation Style
Food & Drink
Communications
Projects
Massai Culture
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Overview         

 

Camps International’s newest location ‘Camp Miti Mirefu’  is based on Ndarakwai Ranch on the slopes of West Kilimanjaro and within the heart of The Kilimanjaro Conservancy. The Wildlife Conservancy was established in 2001and is devoted to the conservation of nature and the reduction of human-wildlife conflict in the West Kilimanjaro eco-system, one of the most biologically diverse habitats in Tanzania.

 

This is the first and currently the only conservation project of its type in Tanzania, dedicated to wildlife and habitat rehabilitation, as well as initiating a private anti-poaching project. Ndarakwai is a ten thousand acre former British Colonial cattle ranch. The land covers a variety of habitat types, including high grass plains; open Acacia - Commiphora woodland, riparian woodland, and volcanic vents. In 1995, the land was over-grazed and depleted of its wildlife and old growth acacias.

 

Ndarakwai now serves as a refuge and safe passage for wildlife migrating between Amboseli and Arusha National Parks. The central location of the ranch in the greater West Kilimanjaro eco-system, the diverse patterning of habitat, and availability of permanent water (through open furrows and a water hole) make the ranch an important dispersal area for local wildlife.

 

Today, elephant, zebra, cheetah, wart hog, lesser kudu, and the occasional lion and buffalo, wander freely on Ndarakwai. Visitors to the ranch include local school children, who are able to see their first elephant at the ranch. The sanctuary is now a bird sanctuary for grey heron, egrets, Egyptian and Spur wing geese, long crested eagle, and hammer kop.

 

Camps International are proud to be associated and working with The Kilimanjaro Conservancy and Ndarakwai Ranch is now the base for our Tanzanian wildlife camp and wildlife conservation program.

 

“ There is nothing quite like the West Kilimanjaro eco-system, covering as it does the huge range of habitats from snows to deserts. It is one of the most impressive gradients of diversity anywhere on earth…..”

-Dr. David Western, TKC Board of Directors & Scientific advisor.

 

Accommodation Style

 

Camp Miti Mirefu is set amongst immense fig, and yellow-barked acacias in the dry savannah rangeland of West Kilimanjaro. The camp is located on the Ndarakwai ranch, which ensures security, infrastructure as well providing an operational base for all our projects and safaris undertaken in the area.

 

The tented camp accommodates 20 people and operates on lanterns and electric power from a generator that operates 4 hours in the night and 2 hours in the morning. Most Camp Tanzanian volunteers experience a seven day program at Ndarakwai Ranch, this includes games drives, walking and 4x4 big game safaris, guided Maasai village and market visits with hands - on Maasai handicraft skills, as well as all the project activities listed here.

 

This is a working safari location and as such presents the very real challenges of what it is like to live and work in the African bush. There is no getting away from the fact that it is often (mostly..) hot, dusty and dirty. Water for the camp is pumped from the small stream nearby which itself is fed from Kilimanjaros glacier. This amazing camp provides minimal creature comforts for volunteers BUT a very special location indeed to truly get involved with real wildlife conservation work.

 

 

Food & Drink

 

There is a small but well-equipped kitchen in camp, manned by our head chef who, with his team supplies a daily menu of fresh, local produce. Our camp kitchen crews generally live in or around each camp, and are responsible for providing three healthy, well balanced and very tasty meals a day. The food is absolutely delicious and all diets are catered for.
 
Local cooking techniques are also taught and utilized. As in all our camps unlimited drinking water is supplied as standard: the water is purified through European standard filters and chemical purification, which reduces risk of waterborne diseases. Soft drinks and beer can be provided at your expense.

 

 

Communications

 

There is a reasonable mobile phone reception on most areas of the ranch and all Directors, key management and drivers carry mobile phones. If you have 'international roaming' activated on your phone you will be able to make and receive calls. We suggest you purchase a Tanzanian SIM card if you intend to use your phone in order to avoid the horribly high roaming bills… Trust us!

 

 

 

Projects

 

Our projects in this area are run entirely in line with the on-going cooperation and initiatives provided by The Kilimanjaro Conservancy (TKC). TKC was established by Peter & Margot Jones in 2001 as a registered non profit organization devoted to the conservation of nature and the reduction of human wildlife conflict in the West Kilimanjaro eco-system, one of the most biologically diverse habitats in Tanzania. Camp Tanzania’s input into the conservation program is generated from visiting volunteer’s conservation fees as well as their physical contribution in the field. (yes you have to work..)

 

Poaching Prevention Many people assume that concern over poaching is exclusive to high profile species such as elephant and rhinoceros. Less visible, though equally important, is the loss of smaller animals like impala, giraffe, and lesser kudu to commercial bush-meat poaching. Sadly, the oryx and hartebeest have already become locally extinct. The large, trusting and slow-moving giraffe (Tanzania’s national symbol) are also easy targets for bush - meat poachers. One of the aims of TKC and Camp Tanzania is to focus on protecting these “smaller” species without which the whole eco-system would suffer.

 

Tree cutting – mostly old growth acacia trees - for charcoal has led to loss of habitat for much of the area’s wildlife. The ranches rangers patrol not only for poaching, but also look out for charcoal / tree cutting, which is illegal in many parts of Tanzania.

 

As a volunteer on this project you are very likely to be involved with indigenous tree planting and forest regeneration. Tree planting initiatives are very common throughout Camps International locations worldwide. In addition to the enormous direct benefits for local communities, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure minimal carbon emissions for all clients who travel with us.

 

Human-Wildlife Conflict – Seventy percent of Tanzania’s wildlife lives outside the parks and human-wildlife conflict is an inevitable and growing problem. The TKC and Camp Tanzania are dedicated to helping communities reduce crop damage and other human-wildlife conflict. This will help change local attitudes towards wildlife as well as increase community income.

 

Thanks to the ivory ban, elephant are no longer endangered in East Africa. Nonetheless, they’re still being killed, not so much for their ivory, but in retaliation for crop damage parks while they migrate between parks and other bush areas. In their search for food and water, elephants trample ground, snap apart trees, and eat almost any kind of vegetation. They are particularly fond of eating sweet maize, which is planted as a staple crop for local people.

 

A recent study in the nearby village of Miti Mirefu (Swahili for “Tall Trees”) found that ninety percent of farmers suffered crop loss to elephants. A few reported total destruction of their fields. The estimated revenue loss for the community came to $3500, a significant amount in a country where average annual income is estimated to be $250. Fencing is a simple way to eliminate the impact elephants have on local populations.

 

Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre – Local wildlife authorities regularly intercept animals, reptiles, and birds being smuggled out of Tanzania. Veterinary facilities for wildlife are nearly non-existent in Tanzania and without them there is no place to care for these displaced and often wounded animals. For many animals, like cheetah, every individual is critical to the survival of the species. If a car breaks a cheetah’s leg, it will likely die. TKC has future plans to create a Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, a place for captured animals to recover and rehabilitate before re-introducing into the wild.

 

A veterinarian based at Ndarakwai Ranch could work with injured, captured, and problem animals, including those smuggled animals the seized by the government agents & customs. Right now there is no holding facility for such wildlife. Several zoo-based veterinarians have expressed interest, but we’ll need facilities and instruments for their work. TKC and Camps International would like to raise funds to help create The Rafiki Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. When this initiative gets underway Camp Tanzania volunteers will provide valuable funding (through their participation) as well as physical input to develop the centre.

 

Education/Research Centre – The Maasai in this region depend on livestock. TKC and Camp Tanzania are working on innovative ways that would make the interaction between wildlife and livestock profitable under commercial livestock production, using a system of seasonal rotation that maximizes yield and supports grass banks (stored grass) to cope with droughts.

 

More research is needed to understand the relationships between wildlife, vegetation, and the needs of local communities. One of the aims of TKC and now Camp Tanzania is to establish an Education/Research Centre. We’d like to develop a curriculum for local and foreign students/volunteers to learn environmental stewardship and gain greater appreciation, understanding & respect for the delicate balance between humans and nature.

 

In addition the above, volunteer’s can also expect to be involved with the below projects:

 

• Teaching at the local school and initiation of a small school farm.
• Establishment of wild life club to enhance environmental awareness of local communities and visitors
• Mapping
• Game counts, census & species identification
• Establishment of a ranch clean up program
• De-snaring patrols
• Removal from the Conservancy of non-indigenous crops such as the Mexican Poppy

 

 

Massai Culture

 

The Maasai are undoubtedly one of the most famous traditional cultures on earth. Camp Miti Mirefu is based in the middle of their impressive land and offers excellent possibilities for volunteers to both interact and learn about these unique peoples.

 

The Maasai are indeed a truly independent and proud people with a culture more complex and interesting than popular imagination would suggest. The Maasai have ancestral ties to the Samburu and the Njemps with whom they share a language Maa, from which the name Maasai comes.

 

The Maasai are in a very traditional sense nomadic herders, and it is only very recently that any move towards agriculture has become evident.Maasai villages, or Manyattas are usually a circular encampment of long, low, rounded houses, created by daubing cattle dung over a framework of sticks.

 

Visiting a manyatta (you will..) is a good way to learn more about Maasai culture and everyday life. The best way to experience and learn about the Maasai life is to take a foot safari or organized trek with an experienced Maasai guide (you will..). This is a good chance to get to know the area and to spend time among Maasai communities. It is also a great way to experience the bush and the wildlife from a completely different perspective to your own.

 

The Maasai community & the Camp Tanzania crew look forward to meeting YOU.

 

Karibuni Tanzania

 

Acknowledgements:
Peter Jones, Kilimanjaro Conservancy & Camp Ndarakwai for elements of text.

 

 

 

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