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After exploring South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia on several tours, I decided to book a safari trip to Tanzania. It was the season of the “great migration,” and I wanted to witness this spectacular event firsthand.
The travel agency organized a trip through several wildlife sanctuaries, culminating in a visit to Serengeti National Park.
My driver and wildlife guide, Silas, turned out to be a delightful travel companion. Despite our age difference, we quickly became good friends.
During the trip, Silas shared his big dream with me: to buy his own safari jeep to invest in the future of his family and his home village. His enthusiasm showed his genuine commitment.
I became interested and asked if we could make a stopover in his village, even though it was not on the itinerary. During my travels, I always seek contact with the locals, so this seemed like an ideal opportunity to experience the daily life of a Tanzanian villager.
The village of Sinai is set in a beautiful hilly landscape, next to Arusha National Park.
We started with a visit to Silas’ mother. The petite woman, in her 60s, lives in a small hut and works the surrounding land from morning to night. She has a few cows, goats, chickens, and two donkeys, which, along with the produce from the land, provide a basic income. The donkeys are indispensable for fetching water for the vegetables, animals, cooking, sanitation, and laundry from miles away, as the village has no water supply or electricity.
As he told me about his school years, I asked Silas if we could also visit the local school. I understood that the little school was in a deplorable state.
We were welcomed by the headmaster, who showed us around.
The renovation of the school really proved necessary. Unfinished walls, broken floors, windowless windows and inadequate plumbing. To my dismay, there is even a class with only a floor but no roof and walls. And the school furniture dates back to my time in primary school, totally worn out after all these years and intensive use. And there is, like in the whole village, no water or electricity.
I’ve always loved Africa and had been searching for a way to spend a few months each year on this magnificent continent. Finally, I found my reason.
Partnering with Silas, we decided to start a safari business. We bought a jeep and committed to using the income from our tourism activities to renovate the local school and village through the Luwai Sinai Project foundation.
Two months later, I returned. With the assistance of our local lawyer, we established the company, secured the necessary permits, and ordered our first jeep.
Luwai Tanzania Safaris was born and by September 2023, we were operative!
And our base line… it speaks for itself.
Jean-Pierre
From the majestic Serengeti to the stunning Ngorongoro Crater, experience the adventure of a lifetime.
