At Shompole in southern Kenya, the Shompole Wildlife Conservancy, the biodiversity of the land and the Maasai culture are great assets.
But these resources need to generate revenue so that the local Maasai community can continue to conserve the habitat for future generations, while improving their present quality of life. Community Based Tourism is one way of achieving these goals. At Mwitu na Watu we fully support Loisiijo Lodge which is 100% owned by the Shompole Community. This small lodge generates much needed revenue for the community, through direct income returns paid by Community Camps and collection of Conservancy and Community fees from tourists visiting the Shompole Area. The importance of the lodge as an employer is vital to the community. Mwitu na Watu is dedicated to supporting Loisiijo Lodge by raising funds & collecting donations to assist in maintaining the Wildlife Conservancy so this will remain an attraction to tourism.
More images… and check out the Shompole Group Ranch gallery
In 2015 for the third time Loisiijo Lodge was flooded and greatly damaged. The ever increasing reduction of forest coverage in the Mau Forest has created greater flood and level of water never experimented before. It was decided in conjunction with the local community that the area where Loisiijo was built is not suitable any more. This time Loisiijo was not repair and there was unfortunately not enough funds to rebuild it some where. It is a sad and dramatic loss to the local community as the lodge was providing employment and revenue through the Wildlife Conservancy fees.
