Wildlife Management Association

            Today was long but still fun and eventful! We drove a long way to conduct an interview with the WMA (Wildlife Management Association) in Burunge – about 2 hours. It was interesting to hear about what they were doing to help the local communities regain control of their natural resources. Although I just took a class about community based resource management this past semester, it was really refreshing to hear and observe it happening in person. The wildlife incentive for the community is to bring in tourism. The more wildlife that sticks around, the more the tourist attractions in the community (lodges, tours, safaris, etc.) can benefit. With more tourism, there are much higher levels of income for the community and its members. What the WMA does is take the money that they gain from tourism and give it back to the communities so they can use it for whatever needs they may have – construction, food sources, water, etc.

            The committee we interviewed told us that out of the seven villages involved with the WMA, six of them are happy and still working well with the committee. The one village that declined to continue working with them did so because they wanted to try and collect tourism income for their own village instead of sharing the profits with the six other villages. But for the most part, the other villages are very pleased with the system. The WMA provides education opportunities about wildlife, relationship trust between the people and the committee, and most importantly, employment. All of the work that goes towards tourism in the villages is done by local community members. Whether it’s building roads, new hotels, or more buildings, community workers are the ones to construct them.

            After the interview, we headed to this small basket-weaving shop down the road where village women make baskets with reeds. It was a cute little place – the whole group probably bought half of what was in there! The elder women were also very nice. They let us take pictures of them weaving and proudly showed off their work – and enjoyed seeing themselves in the pictures, too!

            When everyone had bought their baskets, we went into Mto Wa Mbu again to relax a little before heading back to camp. We went to this place called Pizza Point, where they actually make really good pizzas! The owner was also so nice. He makes all the pizzas himself and does so in a tiny kitchen on display in the front where we ordered. For being away from pizza so long, it was delicious!

            The next few days are going to be a bit blog-less. We are handing in our last paper tonight and then the only work that remains is the final exam, which is on Sunday. We have a study period tomorrow and Saturday to prepare for it, so we’re not really able to leave the camp grounds or do much else other than study. But after we take the test, we’ll be heading to the Serengeti! So excited! Obviously, there’s no internet there. So I’ll write one more post after the exam and before we leave on Monday.

Hanging outside the office!

The view from the WMA area

Making friends :) 

Watching skilled hands basket weave