On the road in … Robanda, Tanzania
Aug 17th, 2009 by wwftravel
Courtesy Thomson Safaris
While exploring the remote western edge of Serengeti National Park on our Tanzania tour in February 2010, you’ll stop in the village of Robanda, just outside the park’s western gates. Fewer than 3,000 people live in the poor but vibrant village, where hawkers sell fresh fruits at stalls and children run through the dusty streets.
While many in the region are able to be involved in tourism as a way of bringing in an income and protecting the region, these women brainstormed an alternate income. They launched a business weaving and selling baskets, mats and other objects as a way of helping to support their families. Using locally sourced natural colors, they hand-dye grasses and then intricately weave them into decorative crafts.
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Hi: I am looking for information on the proposed road through the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. I heard about it on two news sites on t.v. It concerns the “rare earth metals” that China wants from the region. It said that the road would probably destroy 50% of the animals there. I was upset and appalled. Please email me with any updates on what wwf is doing to help the animals there. Thanks, Jonell
hello,
many thanks for sharing your experiences in the serengeti.
i’d like to join mr. nelson in his question:
- what is the story about the road?
- when will it be built?
- who builds it (china)?
- from what i understand the road would put an end to the serengeti’s famous migration of wildebeest, zebra, gazelle etc. correct?
- can WWF help to stop this disturbing project (considering that there is a debate about an alternative southern route around serengeti which would benefit five times as many people as the road cutting through serengeti, i.e. be economically much more reasonable)?
looking forward to your response.
many thanks, gerhard