These have proven to be the most vital in bringing positive sustainable tourism impacts to the communities where they are well established and managed. A local Ugandan in a village close to a national park may not directly benefit from the booming tourism activity in the same national park due to the high level of corruption and other numerous obstacles.
This is however different with a community oriented initiative which involve most members of the community right from the planning stages up to implementation level, and benefit sharing. Successful community tourism initiatives here include KAFRED with Bigodi Wetland sanctuary conservation, KATIC with the Lake Munyanyange conservation project. Our company together with Nzuguto Environmental Conservation Association have put concerted efforts to save a disappearing community wetland by introducing Eco-tourism in the area.
We the Value of Community Tourism and conservation of wildlife outside protected areas while preserving the cultures of the local people
When you participate in community tourism, you are guided by a member of the community, you buy directly the products of the locals, and you pay a considerable amount of money while getting the best value for every penny you spend. You will be encouraging conservation of species outside the protected areas, transforming the local people both socially and economically, as well as conserving local cultures. In Uganda, the body responsible for conserving nature outside the protected areas has not gone an extra mile to do such a thing! Come and support our Initiative
The New Uganda Luxury Safari Co. in collaboration with Nzuguto Environmental Conservation Association (NECA) - a non-governmental community based organisation located in Rubirizi District in western Uganda, just adjacent to Queen Elizabeth National Park, are working together to save or otherwise preserve the degraded Nzuguto Community Wetland.
There has been a lot of intense and unregulated human activity within and at the edge of the wetland; such as, brick laying, extraction of fuel wood, uncontrolled burning, hunting, eucalyptus growing, reclamation for agricultural purposes, harvesting grass for mulching, extracting craft materials like papyrus, poles for construction, etc
The wetland, which was once a home to the endangered Statunga antelope - now extinct, provides a breeding home to the national bird; Grey-crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum). The Black bee-eater, red-headed lovebird, marsh tchagra, blue-headed coucal, ross's turaco, Red-headed bluebill, great blue turaco, cape wagtail, etc are all present here! You cannot miss Ververt monkeys. Pangolins are believed to be present in the wetland.
This boardwalk merits a visit simply to appreciate nature and its sounds, plus a variety of birds. The activity has been supplemented by Canoeing activity on the nearby stunning Lake Kamweru - a crater lake whose shores house the famous Nyanzibiri Community Eco-camp. This crater lake has been found to be a mythical habitat for several species of Kingfishers, namely; Pied, Malachite, Pygmy, Shinning-blue, Giant and Woodland. The striated heron, common moorhen, little grebes, African fish eagle, grosbeak and yellow-backed weavers, hamerkop etc have localized the habitat here.
A tree nursery has been established to enable members access seedlings of indigenous trees and fruiting trees to be planted along the wetland edges.
Local women with skills in craft making have been identified and a craft shop was opened to enable members earn some income from the sale of crafts
There is also a well established group of cultural dancers that normally performs at functions and many other events + entertaining our guests upon request
We are training a few local youth to offer guiding and interpretive services to our local and international visitors. 10% of the proceeds from all the activities help to support other community initiatives.
Main Objectives of the Initiative
- Promoting the sustainable use of natural resources in and around our communities especially wetlands and crater lakes
- Advocating for the protection of wildlife outside protected areas
- Improving the socioeconomic livelihoods of the local people through creating employment opportunities and promoting talent among the youth, and providing alternatives for the local people to eliminate over dependency on the natural resources
- Improving on the image of the area though environmental conservation drive and community tourism promotion
Please come and enjoy our complete ecotourism circuit: Canoeing along the Kamweru crater and the transparent Lake Kamunzuku, caving at Nyanzibiri historical cave, forest walk / bird walk, village walk strolling through local farms, vegetable gardens and traditional fish ponds, wetlandboard walk for birding, cultural appreciation by visiting the local museum, plus an ultimate overnight stay at Nyanzibiri eco-camp served with delicious local dishes all from locally grown produce!
