Singita Grumeti Reserve joins efforts on wildlife conservation in Tanzania

TANZANIA (eTN) - Recognizing the integral role of wildlife conservation for the development of tourism in Tanzania, the Singita Grumeti Reserves, a privately-owned wildlife reserve, has joined conservation programs through logistical and financial support.

Located in North Western Tanzania, on the borders of the Serengeti National Park, Singita Grumeti Reserves is an American owned private concession of 140,000 hectares (350,000 acres) on the famous Serengeti migration route of nearly two million wildebeest.

The concession covers Grumeti and Ikorongo in Serengeti ecosystem which in 1953 were declared by the British government as Game Controlled Areas and established as buffer zone to the Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania’s tourist circuit.

In 1995 Grumeti and Ikorongo areas were declared by Tanzania government as Game Reserves, a status they hold to this day.

In 2002 the Grumeti Community and Wildlife Conservation Fund began assisting the Tanzania Wildlife Authorities with the management of the concession and eventually in 2003 Grumeti Reserves concessions were first leased.

The diverse habitats within the concessions include the forested thickets along the Grumeti River and other smaller river systems, woodlands and short grass open plains. There are approximately 400 bird species, about 75 mammals and wide variety of tree and plant species.

When the Grumeti Reserves concessions were leased in the year 2003, the game population was seriously depleted, largely as a result of inadequate wildlife management practice, the Reserves custodians said.

The Singita Grumeti Fund, a nonprofit, conservation development driven division of Singita Grumeti Reserves, was founded and has since achieved much in wildlife conservation.

Singita Grumeti Fund has a special unit of anti-poaching rangers who work in collaboration with government game scouts from Tanzania Wildlife Department to protect the wild game from poachers.

According to data provided by both Singita Grumeti Reserves and Serengeti National Park’s management, the number of different wildlife species had increased through funding to anti-poaching units provided by the Reserves.

Wildlife census that was conducted from 2003 to 2008 showed a remarkable increase of some wildlife species as a result of conservation initiatives carried out by the Reserves since acquisition of the concessions.

The number of buffaloes increased from 600 heads in 2003 to 3,815 in the year 2008, while eland increased from 250 heads to 1996 the same period. Elephants, the most endangered species than the rest, have increased from 355 animals to 900 heads in 2006.

Giraffes which have been hunted as bush meat had also increased from 351 to 890 heads in 2008, impala almost doubled from 7,147 to 11,942 heads in 2011, topi which are hunted for bush meat also tripled from 5,705 to 16,477 animals in 2011, while the beautiful Thomson Gazelles increased from 3,480 to 22,606 in 2008.

Cokes hartebeest increased from 189 in 2003 to 507 in 2008, warthogs had increased from 400 heads to 2,607 in 2009 as ostriches increased from 250 in 2003 up to 2607 in 2009.

Waterbucks shot up from 200 in 2003 to 823 in 2011, Grant’s gazelles had increased from 200 in 2003 to 344 heads in 2010. Other animal species which had been counted to have increased are reedbucks which increased from 1,005 to 1,690 in 2008. From the data supplied by Singita Grumeti Reserves conservation of animals in areas neighboring the Grumeti Reserves lodges had proved to be successful.

Partly an American luxury resorts, Singita Grumeti Reserves is where Africa’s thrilling wildebeest migration takes place, and is an exemplary model for the new philanthropic direction that Safari Travel in Africa is taking.

The Serengeti National Park is home to the biggest large mammal population on earth, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in since 1981.

Frequented mostly by affluent, intrepid travelers seeking a quintessential “Out of Africa” experience, Singita Grumeti Reserves provide a workable model for eco-tourism, thanks to the American investor, Paul Tudor Jones.

Jones and other investors who are managing Singita Grumeti Reserves are acting as custodians to the natural resources of Africa, conserving large, viable tracts of African wilderness and its wildlife, while creating micro conservation-based economies, which provide employment and business opportunities for local communities.

With that comes as an interest in preserving the land beyond its capacity to support human interests, and the creation of a truly symbiotic partnership between man and beast, is the land that nourishes both.

Paul Tudor Jones is a Wall Street Fund Manager and has made a significant commitment to the regeneration of this precious wildlife area.

Recognizing that authentic, unpolluted wilderness was becoming increasingly harder to find, Tudor Jones purchased the rights to this Grumeti Reserves that was nothing more than a dismal hunting ground where wildlife poaching was rife and which had resulted in the severe degeneration of wildlife in the Serengeti national Park.

Local communities neighboring Singita are currently benefiting through several community projects under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.

Singita’s long-term plan is to assist broadly community development objectives in view of local communities neighboring this property, says Mr. Brian Harris, Singita Grumeti Fund Managing Director.

Singita Grumeti Fund had recently supported the local communities with water projects worth over US$ 70,000 for clean water projects. It is as well, supporting them (local communities) to achieve economic and social development for the better of their families.

Educational projects including provision of teaching facilities to support the local pre-primary and primary schools have touched US$ 28,000 per annum, which translates into US $ 3,000 per school each year. These funds are contributed through Singita Grumeti Fund initiatives to assist local communities, according to Brian Harris.

On an annual basis, Teach with Africa, a USA-based organization, sends a team of experienced teachers to work closely with these schools, in support of the overall Growing to Read Program.

During the five-weeks with the schools, teachers provide educational services to the existing cluster of pre-schools in surrounding local villages.

According to Mr. Harris, Singita Grumeti Reserves has a policy that requires them to recruit from local communities living around the Reserve. Due to the lack of required skills, the Reserve has decided to sponsor students who have finished secondary school to university level.