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We at ZARA and Tanzania Wildcamps are aware that tourism and society in Tanzania have to develop in a sustainable way. Our environment, culture, and heritage are valuable assets that need to be preserved for the upcoming generations.
We are also aware about the ethical aspects of doing business. Everyone at ZARA can count on decent working conditions, respect as a human and fair payment. ZARA also supports several local and international charities.
Our initiatives and programs include:
* Porter's rights
In 2004 ZARA founded the Kilimanjaro Porter Society which helps and protects all porters on Mount Kilimanjaro and other hiking areas in Tanzania. For their modest subscription to the society they have access to various benefits that include an equipment and clothing store, language classes, training in environmentally sustainable tourism, family support, guidelines on how to carry out their work and to know their rights, healthcare, year-round employment possibilities and training in providing customer services.
The ZARA porter care includes:
* Ensuring they are dressed appropriately for the trek and have warm clothing and waterproofs.
* Ensuring the porters are adequately fed. They generally do not, of their own choice, eat food served to clients preferring local foods often based on ugali (maize meal).
* Porter loads are limited to 15 kgs (and no more).
* There are adequate porter client ratios (2 porters per client on the Marangu Route, 3 on others and 3 or 4 on the Lemosho Route.
http://www.kilimanjaroporters.com/
* Contribution to local Maasai communities at all campsites we use in Maasai country.
* Involvement of local communities into our camps. Our camps and hotels offer employment to many locals of remote areas and we offer fair payment.
* Active involvement in conservation and development issues of the Kilimanjaro National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Our support for local and international charities includes:
* St. Eugene's Hostel and the Montessori Usambara School
Run by the St. Eugene Sisters, the Montessori School and Teacher Training Centre near Lushoto has as its main aim the training of young teachers in Tanzania in the Montessori educational system. There is a small primary school attached to the college which takes in fee-paying students from 3 to 6 years of age. Some local children are also accepted whose parents are unable to pay the fees. Further funding schemes include small workshops where local women make clothes, batiks, postcards etc. which are sold in the college shop. Finally the recently built St. Eugene's Hostel is aimed at tourists visiting the Usambara area.
We book accommodation at the hostel and walks in the Usambara area offered by the St. Eugene Sisters without any profit or handling fees.
* Karatu Orphanage
There are about 30 children being looked after at the Karatu Orphanage - most have lost their parents through aids and some are HIV positive themselves. We contribute a dollar of every hotel bed night towards the running of the orphanage in Karatu. Visitors to Highview are also welcomed to visit the small Karatu Orphanage.
* Mandela Primary School
We support the school with books, building restoration, and new building construction.
* Amani Children's Home for Street Children
We support orphans with food and supplies. We encourage clients to visit street children, sponsor them and donate supplies.
http://www.amanikids.org/
* We are premium partner of Sustainable Travel International,
an international non-for-profit organisation dedicated to promote
sustainable travel development and provide programs that help
travellers and travel-related companies protect the places they visit.
* You as a traveller in Tanzania can help us to successfully implement our eco guidelines.
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