The popularity of the Udzungwa Mountains National Park is closely entwined with the fortunes of the local Tanzanians living and working in and around the Park’s borders. At Udzungwa Forest Tented Camp we have been committed to cooperation with the local community from the start. Our goal is to raise international awareness of the Udzungwa Mountains and bring in more visitors, whilst providing training and employment for the local community.
Keeping these goals in mind, Hondo Hondo was constructed by an entirely local workforce, headed and encouraged by the village chief and other village elders, and is providing the opportunity for training to several of the area’s young people. The buildings and foundations on the site were built with materials sourced locally and gathered and delivered to the site by the surrounding farmers and villagers. Staff are recruited from the local village and given training and support to develop their skills.
Hondo Hondo has been working alongside its sister company Wild Thing Safaris UK based African Space trust and the Boy Scouts, among others, to support the building of a hospital in the town of Itete. Lying in a remote part of the Kiombero valley, Itete had very poor access to medical services, despite high incidence of malaria, TB and other serious problems. The group of supporters, organised by African Space, have fund-raised and provided helpand support for several years, with the happy result that on 18th September 2012 the hospital was opened to great fanfare! Fundraising still continues to maintain the hospital and construct a doctors wing, and Hondo Hondo is proud to be supporting this venture.
Hondo Hondo supports several local community groups and promotes the work and produce of cooperatives and initiatives. Notable amongst these is the Ifakara Women Weavers Association, based in the market town of Ifakara 60k south of the Udzungwa Mountains National Park.
We are working on our Schools Projects with the local primary school in nearby Mangula village, helping provide books and other essential items, contributing towards improvements of the school buildings, and setting up arts and crafts group to produce products to sell.
We operate according to a simple eco-policy – to download this document for viewing please click here.
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