5 DAYS, 4 NIGHTS TOUR
5 Days & 4 Nights
Conservation Through Tourism
Mkomazi National Park, Rhino Project
3 Nights Great Migration Camps - Tembo Camp. Full Board 1 Night Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat. Full Board
Welcome to our community and conservation work near Mkomazi National Park! You’re about to step into a conservation effort unlike anything you’ve seen before, one that protects not just the magnificent elephants but also the communities that share this land.
Human Elephant Conflict (HEC) presents a significant challenge to wildlife conservation and human livelihoods, particularly in Tanzania. HEC observed in elephant range regions & countries arises primarily due to the competition for space and resources between humans and elephants, exacerbated by habitat expansion, agricultural expansion, and population growth.
Numerous management strategies have been devised and implemented at various levels to address and reduce HEC. However, HEC remains pervasive as most existing prevention strategies are driven by site-specific factors that only offer short-term solutions. This conflict negatively impacts local communities and the elephant population. Managing competition between people and elephants for space and resources is a critical conservation issue.
Conservation Through Tourism makes use of rapid response units, integrated with UAV technology, in Human Elephant Conflict areas, surrounding Mkomazi National Park. Here, at the intersection of wildlife and people, your conservation journey begins.
A scenic 5-hour drive from Arusha, through the beautiful landscapes, you will arrive at our camp, nestled SW of Mkomazi National Park, near the town of Same. The views will take your breath away, but the experience is just beginning. This afternoon, wander down to the lake shore for an afternoon stroll and to cool down in the heat of the day.
As the sun sets, we’ll gather around for your introduction to the heart of our work: protecting elephants. You’ll learn how these giants, who need to drink water daily, often leave the safety of the park in search of water, entering areas where human conflict can arise. Through rapid response teams equipped with drones, dogs, and community scouts, we work tirelessly to keep both elephants and people safe. It’s a delicate balance, but it’s a mission that makes a real difference. We have early dinners, and early nights as most of the work is at night.
Tonight, if you’re up for it, we’ll head out on a night surveillance patrol (don’t worry, you’ll be perfectly safe).
Today we head out on foot with our community game scouts. Walking through the elephant corridors, you’ll learn how to read the signs of these majestic creatures—from their footprints & tracks to broken branches. This is an intimate look into their world, where every track tells a story. Your guides, who have grown up in these lands, will show you how they monitor the elephants to ensure they don’t wander too close to farms and villages.
On your trek tracking elephants, you’ll walk through a landscape teeming with life. The area, nestled southwest of Mkomazi National Park, is dotted with small hills that act as natural boundaries to the park, and close to the towering Usambara Mountains. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for other wildlife, baboons, and antelope, and the occasional gazelle or zebra weaving through the scattered acacia trees that line the elephant corridors. The diverse vegetation not only provides food for the elephants but creates a wild backdrop for your adventure.
After a morning of adventure, we return to camp for lunch and a chance to rest during the heat of the day. Later, you can stroll down to the elephant observation deck by the lake, where a cool breeze sweeps across the water. It’s the perfect spot to relax, soak in the serene landscape, and watch the afternoon activities.
Later, as the day cools, we prepare for another night observation patrol, In your vehicle, you’ll witness how our team uses cutting-edge thermal drone technology to spot elephants moving toward local villages and guide them back to safety. You’ll observe how conservation meets technology—an unforgettable, eye-opening experience. This is an opportunity to see firsthand the challenges and triumphs of conservation in real-time.
Today is all about making a difference. You’ll get hands-on experience with one of our current community projects that help protect both the wildlife and the people who share this land. Whether you’re helping to clean and maintain water wells in critical elephant corridors or preparing seed bombs to reforest areas damaged by human activity, your efforts will leave a lasting impact.
Cleaning and maintaining the wells, pipes and water sources is vital work, ensuring elephants have reliable access to fresh water during the dry season, which in turn reduces conflict with local communities.
Seed bombing, on the other hand, is a fun and innovative conservation method where you’ll create biodegradable pods filled with seeds that, when scattered, help replant forests and restore natural habitats that have been damaged over time. Both activities play a crucial role in protecting wildlife while promoting sustainable coexistence between humans and elephants.
In the afternoon, we might visit or have a football Match at the school. Kalamawe Secondary school, enjoys visitors and we work closely with them and the villagers to educate on elephant conservation methods.
An early departure from Tembo Camp as the adventure continues with a special visit to Mkomazi National Park’s Rhino sanctuary, home to one of the most important rhino breeding programs in Africa. With fewer than 600 mature Eastern Black Rhinos left in the world, this is a rare opportunity to see firsthand the incredible lengths we go to protect them.
As we bid farewell to Mkomazi, we’ll reflect on the crucial work you’ve witnessed and contributed to. The battle to protect elephants and rhinos doesn’t just happen inside the parks—it happens in the surrounding communities, where your presence has helped to strengthen the balance between humans and wildlife.
Overnight: Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat: Full Board
Positioned above Mkomazi National Park’s main watering hole with Mount Kilimanjaro on the horizon. Mkomazi Wilderness Retreat consists of seven luxury tents, nestled on Dindera Hill. Right from camp, you can watch large herds congregate around the Park’s main watering hole.
As we bid farewell to Mkomazi, we’ll reflect on the crucial work you’ve witnessed and contributed to. The battle to protect elephants and rhinos doesn’t just happen inside the parks—it happens in the surrounding communities, where your presence has helped to strengthen the balance between humans and wildlife. We’ll then make our way back to Arusha, ready for the next leg of your journey—armed with the knowledge that you’ve made a tangible difference in one of the most important conservation efforts in the world.
Full Board Rate: $1,200 per person
Game Package Rate in Safari Vehicle: $2,700 per person (min 2 pax)
3-Night Full Board Rate incl Day Trip to Mkomazi Rhino Project: $750 per person
Game Package Rate in Safari Vehicle: $1,700 per person (min 2 pax)
This is a working camp and subject to HEC callouts. Daily activities can involve elephant surveillance, community engagement or activities of daily living – market day, water collection etc.
Your physical presence makes a difference – support our project and protect wildlife
You are helping to conserve endangered species, their ecosystem, training professionals in the field and you are betting on the sustainable development of local communities that live with nature.
Capacity Building: Thermal drone pilots (that understand elephants), data administrators, computer development, game scouts, operational upscaling.
Business Developments: Business-centred approaches for sustainable income generation need to be included into the planning along with financial measures and management
HEC management & community development work- liaison with managing authorities on local mitigation, broader governance issues, and community education and development.
Our goal is to stimulate tourism in remote places that need protection. We do this by filming the experiences and distributing the content globally.
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