African Wildlife Foundation Hands over Manyara Ranch to Local Trust. Investor moves in with 32 billion/-

Manyara Ranch, standing between Tarangire and Lake Manyara National Parks, is now bracing to embark on new form of tourism with the establishment of four luxury tented camps and one five-star lodge in the conservancy.

The development comes shortly after the African Wildlife Foundation officially handed over the Open Wildlife Ranch to the Manyara Ranch Management Trust after two decades of transformative conservation and community development efforts in the area.

An official statement from AWF says the milestone marks a significant step forward in ensuring the sustainable coexistence of wildlife and local communities in northern Tanzania.

The ranch essentially lies within the Oltukai and Silalei villages of Makuyuni in Monduli District of Arusha.

Manyara Ranch Management Trust has inked signed a tourism development and operation agreement worth USD 11 million with Sea & Bush Limited.

The Managing Director of Sea & Bush, Akram Aziz says the firm will construct four 4-Star Luxury Tented camps and one Five-Star lodges in the conservancy.

His company also intends to conduct game viewing motoring adventures, bush walking escapades and photographic safaris in the area.

It will also introduce eco-tourism and cultural tourism to Tanzanians and foreign tourists alike, and all other non-consumptive leisure activities within the tourism zone.

Some of the expected benefits from this investment include a projected 65 percent increase in local community employment opportunities and a 70 percent increase in tourism and livestock revenue that will be channeled through MRMT.

“Since taking over direct management of Manyara Ranch in 2013, the African Wildlife Foundation has worked tirelessly to restore the critical wildlife corridor,” says the dispatch from the AWF.

Mapped within the Tarangire – Manyara ecosystem, the Manyara Ranch is a thriving habitat for wildlife, including giraffes, lions, elephants, and numerous other species in addition to running a sustainable livestock rearing venture.

The conservancy which was previously transformed from a degraded cattle ranch is part of the Kwakuchinja Wildlife corridor, a natural connectivity route which links the Tarangire and Lake Manyara National parks.

Manyara Ranch is billed as an outstanding example of how conservation and community development can go hand in hand.

Manyara Ranch now serves as a vital link for migrating wildlife, helping to maintain the ecological balance of the Maasai Steppe. One significant achievement includes zero elephant poaching in the ranch since 2015.

Speaking on behalf of other villagers, the Oltukai Village Chairman, Rudda Kilusi lauded the new development saying they were ready to cooperate with the new investors as long as their grazing rights continue to be respected.

The Manyara Ranch Management Trust praised the Africa Wildlife Foundation (AWF)’s unique conservation model, which integrates sustainable livestock management with wildlife protection, to have been phenomenally successful in maintaining the pristine environment of the conservancy.

“In addition to conservation efforts, AWF has made significant investments in community development. The relocation and renovation of the Manyara Ranch primary school, which was handed over to the Monduli District Council in 2023, is a testament to AWF’s commitment to education and community engagement,” they said.

The school now provides a safe and improved learning environment for over 1,000 students, incorporating environmental stewardship into its curriculum.

Happiness Laizer, Executive Director of the Monduli District Council and Board Chair, expressed his gratitude, saying, “This ranch serves as evidence that when provided with opportunities, local communities can effectively conserve wildlife while also deriving benefits from their presence on their lands. 

AWF envisioned and invested in this journey, and we are thrilled to advance it to the next level.”

The AWF’s Tanzania Country Coordinator, Pastor Magingi described the vision for Manyara Ranch to have always been introducing the management expertise to local stakeholders and creating inclusive decision-making processes.

“Our partnership with the Monduli District Council and local communities has demonstrated that sustainable solutions are possible when we work together. The handover of Manyara Ranch marks a new chapter for African conservation and cements the successes of African-owned conservation,” added Magingi.

He explained that the project’s success was a result of the strong partnerships that AWF built over the years.

Chairperson of the Monduli District Council, Isaac Joseph Copriano, welcomed the move by AWF to transfer the management of the ranch to the local trust and support them in securing an investor.

“This is a bold move by the local community, and we hope this first-ever model can be replicated in other general land or community-owned spaces across Tanzania. 

This means putting conservation in the hands of local communities and ensuring they benefit from this natural resource.”

Founded in 1961 the African Wildlife Foundation is the primary advocate for the protection of wildlife and their habitats as an essential part of a modern and prosperous Africa.

AWF complements the African independence movement to build people’s capacity to steward their natural resources and articulates a uniquely African vision, bridging science, education, public policy, and field programs to demonstrate the benefits of conservation.