| East African expert Daniel Njaga shares his | | | | How popular are these tours and what is the |
| vast knowledge with Norm Goldman, Editor of | | | | average age group of the participants? |
| | | | |
| Today, Norm Goldman Editor of is pleased to | | | | Daniel: |
| have as our guest, Daniel Njaga, Director and | | | | |
| Travel Consultant, Menengai Holidays Ltd | | | | Study tours are the norm so top speak. They |
| located in Nairobi, Kenya. | | | | are becoming even more popular with Western |
| | | | institutions that have come to appreciate the |
| Daniel conducts holiday and travel programs | | | | need for practical exposure of undergraduate |
| throughout East Africa and he is a trained | | | | and graduate students in tropical ecology |
| wildlife biologist with a masters degree in | | | | especially. Also the fact that Africa offers |
| ecology. Daniel has a vast experience in | | | | very unique ecosystems and other natural |
| wildlife, conservation and tourism in East | | | | resources that are very useful in learning. |
| Africa. | | | | |
| | | | Majority of the people we handle are |
| | | | university students. We have also had local |
| | | | high cost secondary schools but we have not |
| Good day Daniel and thanks for participating | | | | handled secondary schools outside Africa. |
| in our interview. | | | | From this year we shall be having Youth Camps |
| | | | in Lake Nakuru National Park and Mt Elgon |
| Norm: | | | | which will last for two weeks and will be |
| | | | open to secondary school youth from any part |
| | | | of the world. It will be a very exciting |
| | | | opportunity for youth to interact with youth |
| Daniel, please tell us how and why you became | | | | from different cultures and backgrounds in an |
| interested in the travel and tourism business | | | | atmosphere full of ambience, ecological |
| in Africa? | | | | peace, environmental education, social |
| | | | serenity etc. |
| Daniel: | | | | |
| | | | Norm: |
| The key motivation behind this was the need | | | | |
| to add value and knowledge to traveling and | | | | What is the average cost of these tours and |
| tourism, having realized that tourism is a | | | | when is the best time to participate in one |
| crucial ingredient of modern civilization and | | | | of these tours? |
| socio-economic discourse. You realize that | | | | |
| tourism in Africa is mainly the mainstay of | | | | Daniel: |
| the wealthy who are not necessarily well | | | | |
| endowed intellectually and therefore | | | | Costs vary according to group size, specific |
| incapable of giving it the stimulus and | | | | needs and places being visited (eg national |
| dynamism needed to drive tourism into the | | | | parks charge fees while areas outside may not |
| 21st Century. | | | | also camping may be cheaper than lodging |
| | | | etc). But on average we can a guiding cost is |
| From my experience in the field of wildlife | | | | 300 dollars per participants. Actual cost |
| research and national park management, I | | | | would be lower or higher depending on |
| realized there was a yawning demand for | | | | aforementioned factors. |
| informed tourism services where visitors not | | | | |
| only see the wildlife, landscape, etc but | | | | Africa being a weather independent region, |
| also appreciate these and their overall | | | | any time would be good. But again it also |
| interaction with people and their | | | | depends on what is the interest driving what |
| aspirations. It is the need to fill this | | | | group. For instance, the migration of |
| vacuum that I derived my motivation and | | | | wildebeests from Tanzania to Maasai Mara in |
| interest and it is very intellectually | | | | Kenya takes place between July and October |
| stimulating to see visitors enjoying informed | | | | November. Hence if this would be one of the |
| tour packaging and better knowledge about | | | | needs of the group, it would be restricted to |
| wildlife, ecosystems and socioeconomic life | | | | that time. |
| of the people in Africa. | | | | |
| | | | Also we count birds in Rift Valley Lakes in |
| Norm: | | | | the months of January and July. Anyone or |
| | | | group interested in such activities would |
| I understand you specialize in study tours | | | | have to book such periods. For mountain |
| concept or academic tourism. Could you give | | | | climbing in Mt Kenya, June/July are usually |
| our readers some idea as to the kind of tours | | | | very cold and we tend to discourage those |
| you organize in East Africa? Where do these | | | | periods etc |
| tours take place? How many days do these | | | | |
| tours cover? | | | | Norm: |
| | | | |
| Daniel: | | | | Would you recommend these tours as a romantic |
| | | | destination and which would you choose as |
| The academic tours target the Western | | | | being the most unique and romantic in Nairobi |
| institutions and scholars who have special | | | | and elsewhere? |
| needs in Africa like taking brief courses in | | | | |
| tropical ecology or just academic | | | | |
| expeditions. We usually study the specific | | | | |
| needs of these student groups including their | | | | Daniel: |
| academic biases so that we ably draw up study | | | | |
| programs. For instance, if they are | | | | Well, we have special packages for |
| interested in studies on conflict between | | | | romantically inclined. This is because large |
| human development and conservation or just | | | | groups hardly conduce romance! We have |
| human wildlife conflicts, we choose their | | | | special packages to exclusive lodges and |
| itineraries in areas where such problems are | | | | tented camps around the Rift Valley, within |
| recorded with more severity than others. We | | | | Game parks and around the Coast. You realize |
| choose the best accommodation facilities and | | | | we have some of the most romantic beaches and |
| other allied areas of attractions and book | | | | wilderness areas in the part of the world. |
| lecturers in their specific areas of | | | | |
| specialization depending on the needs of the | | | | Norm:How safe are these tours? |
| study tour group. | | | | |
| | | | Daniel: |
| Ideally we receive such groups and offer them | | | | |
| transport to different study centre areas and | | | | The first thing we consider in all our |
| have them make practical reviews of the real | | | | operations is safety. This is something we |
| situation and receive lectures from us and | | | | never compromise even if it means denying our |
| invited lectures. So the tours cover select | | | | customers the chance to do what they would |
| national parks like Lake Nakuru National Park | | | | prefer or visit where they would prefer if we |
| and Meru National Park both with totally | | | | are not convinced of 100% safety. In the last |
| different conservation challenges and | | | | 4 years we have been in operation, we have |
| histories. The accommodation is arranged in | | | | never had an incident that could be directly |
| hostels and they last and average of 1 week | | | | linked to poor planning or insecurity in our |
| in a given area. Most study tours average 1 | | | | country or national parks. The worst incident |
| month in the whole country or East African | | | | we recorded last year was a baboon grabbing a |
| region. The most popular theme we have | | | | camera from one of our clients, mistaking it |
| include human-wildlife conflict politics and | | | | for a piece of food. But the person was not |
| conservation poverty and conservation | | | | injured at all. |
| pollution of national parks from human | | | | |
| activity etc. | | | | Once again, safety is our number concern and |
| | | | its not something we can ever compromise. |
| Last but not least, we keep a data base of | | | | |
| activities taking place regarding wildlife ad | | | | Norm: |
| conservation activities. We organize clients | | | | |
| on study tours to participate such activities | | | | Could you tell our readers something about |
| like counting of birds, census of mammals etc | | | | the climbing tours your organize and how |
| which are routinely carried out in select | | | | experienced must one be before attempting |
| parks. We also have very popular activities | | | | these tours? |
| like translocation of animals like rhinos and | | | | |
| elephants and organize to have people | | | | |
| participate by way of going there where the | | | | |
| action is as it were and witnessing first | | | | Daniel: |
| hand how it is done and appreciating all. | | | | |
| | | | Climbing expeditions are extremely exciting. |
| Norm: | | | | These can range from habitual climbing for |
| | | | fun sake in small hills like Menengai Crater |
| Could you describe a typical day on one of | | | | in Nakuru or in Amboseli National Park. For |
| these tours and what can one expect by way of | | | | such, no experience is needed. Just some |
| lodging and meals? | | | | enthusiasm and energy. |
| | | | |
| Daniel: | | | | We however have others that take several |
| | | | hours like Mt Longonot and Mt Elgon. You once |
| Most student groups ideally seek out for | | | | again don't need experience but just some |
| budget accommodation. We usually seek group | | | | normal fitness and enough energy. In one of |
| accommodation in safe and ideally located | | | | the pictures you can see a family group which |
| hostels or camping sites often inside the | | | | climbed Mt Elgon with us in December 2005 at |
| national parks. Meals are also prepared by | | | | a platform called Endebbess Bluff. It took us |
| people grounded in such services and picnics | | | | 3 hours to reach there and even a young girl |
| are well arranged depending on a day's | | | | of 8 yrs managed to reach the top. |
| program. | | | | |
| | | | The most challenging of all is Mt Kenya |
| We are always keen to have visitors | | | | because it's cold (snow on top) and very |
| experience African cuisine and drinks and our | | | | high. Climbing here needs some few weeks |
| meal times are always very exciting and | | | | exercise and ability to withstand high |
| fabulous!! | | | | attitudes. We have very experience climbers |
| | | | who assist non professional climbers. We also |
| Norm: | | | | arrange for mock climbing of Mt Kenya to some |
| | | | few kilometers which can take just one day. |
| Where do these tours originate and how does | | | | |
| one reach this area from North America or | | | | Norm: |
| Europe? | | | | |
| | | | Is there anything else you wish to add that |
| Daniel: | | | | we have not covered? |
| | | | |
| Ideally we prefer adequate interaction with | | | | Daniel: |
| potential participants, mostly their | | | | |
| lecturers who organize it for them. Nairobi | | | | Yes, wildlife viewing is a popular activity |
| is the economic hub of East and Central | | | | in our portfolio. We have very well trained |
| Africa and most airlines land here. From here | | | | guides and we offer deeper insight into |
| there can be transfers to the countryside | | | | wildlife ecology than can be found among the |
| depending on the theme of each visit or the | | | | conventional operators. In east Africa we |
| agreed itinerary. | | | | have some of the most unique national parks |
| | | | and wildlife and it's a great pleasure taking |
| Nairobi is quite accessible from any part of | | | | our clients to any of these wildlife safaris. |
| US or UK we also book air tickets for | | | | |
| customers from any part of the world. | | | | Thanks once again. |
| | | | |
| Norm: | | | | It was much honored to participate in this |
| | | | interview, thanks. |