“Filled with large iconic umbrella acacia trees in a stunning arid environment, among the rich red African soil, Samburu Reserve evokes the traditional vision of “I Dream of Africa.” As the wind blows through the stunning doom palms, one instantly knows they are in a magical place. Roaming through this primal land and unique to this reserve are the mane-less lions, rare and exotic Gravy’s Zebras, red soil–stained red elephants, reticulated giraffes, Oryx and Somali ostrich. In the stillness of what seems like an empty land, one might hear the rustle of brush as a cheetah or leopard makes himself or herself known. In stark contrast to this dry, neutral landscape, wanders the vivid, semi-nomadic colorful Samburu tribe.
SAMBURU is unique in its wildlife and tribes and is why we chose this area for the second Generosity Project Africa Campaign during COVID
Most people do not realize the tribes are ranchers and why their wealth is associated with their livestock. Businessmen from the city come out to the local tribal markets and purchase their cattle and goats, just like what is done on the great ranches in Texas, Wyoming, and the V6 Ranch in California. With the boarders of Nairobi closed for almost 3 months, local and livestock markets closed, and no tourism, the situation in Samburu was desperate. The tribes do not have any income to purchase food, mask, soap, or have COVID training.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
GENEROSITY PARTNERS FOR THIS PROJECT
As with the GPA Ambosili, I am editing a video of the project, but we also wanted to share the journey and stories from the field.
A huge thank you to our partners, Sunworld Safaris and Community Wildlife Fund, who sponsored the team with a large truck and added logistical support! During the first GPA to Amboseli the team took only the Land Rover. They filled it with supplies before heading out, but would need to deliver the supplies, drive to an open market, refill the supplies, deliver to the villages, and repeat. This time, with your amazing generosity and help of our partners we were able to purchase all the supplies in Nairobi, which is less expensive and drive the big truck full of supplies to Samburu, and maximize your donations!
PACKING THE TRUCK
A GREETINGS FROM THE GPA TEAM AS THEY DEPART NAIROBI
GREETINGS FROM JAMES
It was wonderful to wake up to this greeting from James Ledadda. James is a Samburu and one of the main guides at Elephant Bedroom Camp in Samburu National Reserve. He was our community representative for the villages in this area. James always has a smile on his face, as most of the Kenyan’s I know, and is why I fell in love with the country.
FOOD, MASK, WATER BUCKET DISTRIBUTION AND COVID TRAINING
Samburu is just north of the equator and is a dry, hot, and air environment. The team worked very hard, over several days, delivering food, mask, soap, washing buckets, and giving COVID training.
- * $5,000.00 in staple foods and supplies were delivered
- * 350 families and 15 rangers received food care packages
- * You put 2 guides and 2 crew to work for 5 days
- * You provided COVID Training to thousands of Samburu
- * You Provided work to my fine art printer – a small business
A VERY SPECIAL SURPRISE AND MESSAGE FROM THE SAMBURU!
When the team pulled up to one of the villages they were surprised to find their colleague!!! When people received the news that Kenya and Nairobi was going to close it’s boarder for lockdown, many people chose to go back to their villages and sit it out with their families. This included Janine who works in the Sunworld office who went back to her families village in Samburu. I love this video; the samburu ladies share how COVID has affected their lives in Samburu.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY
Thank you all so much for your generosity resulting in the huge success of this second project supporting the villages in Samburu! We hope you will continue to share support our projects during COVID!