Community-Run Conservancies You Can Visit in Tanzania

Community-Run Conservancies You Can Visit in Tanzania

Tanzania is a leader in community-based conservation, particularly through its Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). These are areas of land set aside by local communities (often groups of villages) for wildlife conservation, allowing them to benefit directly from tourism revenue and play a vital role in protecting their natural resources. This model is gaining significant traction and is crucial for the long-term sustainability of Tanzania’s wildlife, as much of the country’s biodiversity lies outside of strictly protected national parks.

Visiting a community-run conservancy in Tanzania offers a more authentic, impactful, and often less crowded safari experience. Here are some notable community-run conservancies and WMAs you can visit:

Key Community-Run Conservancies/WMAs in Tanzania:

1. Ikona Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
   • Location: Western Serengeti ecosystem, bordering the Serengeti National Park.
   • Why Visit: Ikona WMA is strategically located as a crucial dispersal and migratory corridor for wildlife, especially during the Great Wildebeest Migration’s western corridor phase (May-June). It boasts excellent wildlife viewing, including the Big Five. By staying here, you get a significant wildlife experience with fewer vehicles than within the national park itself, and your tourism fees directly benefit the local communities.
   • Activities: Game drives, walking safaris, cultural visits to local villages, and sometimes night drives (which are usually not allowed in national parks).
   • Accommodation: Several camps operate within or adjacent to Ikona WMA, often in partnership with the community, such as Ikona Wild Camp, Grumeti Migration Camp – Eco Lodge, and Grumeti Hill.
2. Burunge Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
   • Location: Adjacent to Tarangire National Park in northern Tanzania.
   • Why Visit: Burunge WMA is a vital migratory corridor for elephants and other wildlife moving in and out of Tarangire National Park, especially during the dry season when they seek water along the Tarangire River. It’s known for its significant elephant population and diverse birdlife. Visiting helps maintain this crucial connectivity.
   • Activities: Game drives, walking safaris, cultural interactions with the Maasai and other local communities.
   • Accommodation: Several lodges and tented camps are located within or bordering Burunge WMA, such as Maramboi Tented Camp and Burunge Tented Lodge (though some might be considered mid-range to upscale, they directly support the WMA).
3. Randilen Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
   • Location: Also bordering Tarangire National Park, often visited in conjunction with Burunge WMA.
   • Why Visit: Similar to Burunge, Randilen plays a critical role in the Tarangire ecosystem’s migratory routes. It offers a more exclusive safari experience with fewer vehicles than the main park.
   • Activities: Game drives, walking safaris (a highlight here), cultural tours, and opportunities for night drives.
   • Accommodation: Properties like Chem Chem Safari Lodge (luxury) are situated in this area, directly supporting the WMA. While luxury, their operations are integral to the WMA’s funding.
4. Mto wa Mbu Cultural Tourism Programme
   • Location: Near Lake Manyara National Park, a bustling cultural hub.
   • Why Visit: While not a WMA in the traditional sense, Mto wa Mbu is an excellent example of a community-driven tourism initiative. It’s a melting pot of over 120 ethnic groups. Your visit directly supports local livelihoods.
   • Activities: Guided walking or cycling tours through banana and rice plantations, visits to local markets, traditional craft workshops (Makonde wood carving, Tingatinga painting), home visits to local families, and tasting local foods like banana beer. This is more of a cultural immersion than a wildlife safari, but often combined with safaris to nearby parks.
5. Lake Eyasi Cultural Experience (Hadzabe & Datoga)
   • Location: Near Lake Eyasi, south of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
   • Why Visit: This offers a unique opportunity to interact with the Hadzabe (one of Africa’s last true hunter-gatherer tribes) and the Datoga (pastoralists and skilled blacksmiths). This is a deep cultural immersion.
   • Activities: Going on a “hunting” expedition with the Hadzabe (learning about their traditional bows and arrows, foraging techniques), visiting Datoga homesteads to observe their blacksmithing and learn about their culture.
   • Accommodation: Basic tented camps or lodges exist around Lake Eyasi to facilitate these visits.
6. Various Maasai Villages (Near Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire)
   • Location: Throughout northern Tanzania, particularly in areas bordering the major national parks.
   • Why Visit: Many Maasai communities have established cultural bomas (homesteads) or community-run campsites that visitors can visit. While some can feel commercialized, many are genuine efforts to share their culture and earn income.
   • Activities: Witnessing traditional dances (including the Adumu jumping dance), learning about their pastoral lifestyle, cattle herding, beadwork, fire-starting techniques, and visiting local schools or dispensaries funded by tourism. Look for tours that emphasize direct community benefit and genuine interaction.

Why Choose a Community-Run Conservancy?

• Direct Impact: A significant portion of your tourism fees directly benefits the local communities who manage and protect these areas. This creates a strong incentive for conservation.
• Authenticity: You often get a more authentic and less commercialized experience, with opportunities for deeper cultural immersion.
• Reduced Crowds: WMAs generally see fewer vehicles than national parks, leading to more exclusive wildlife sightings.
• Additional Activities: Many WMAs allow activities like walking safaris and night drives that are often restricted or prohibited in national parks.
• Critical Wildlife Corridors: Visiting WMAs helps protect crucial dispersal areas and migratory routes that connect national parks, ensuring the long-term viability of wildlife populations across larger landscapes.
• Human-Wildlife Coexistence: You witness firsthand how communities are working to live alongside wildlife, often mitigating human-wildlife conflict.

When planning your safari, ask your tour operator about options to include stays or activities in these community-run conservancies. It’s a powerful way to contribute to sustainable tourism and make your safari truly meaningful.