Diary 3 - 10 Aug 2007

LEWA LOGISTICS
With its key objective of ensuring smooth operations of other departments within and beyond Lewa boundaries, the logistics department is in top spirit to facilitate the upgrade of the already existing safety measures within the conservancy. In that regard, the department in conjunction with Tojan fire specialists is installing modern fire fighting equipments and ensuring the staff are able to use them. This is in respect to the fact that the safety of clients and staff is paramount to the success of conservation efforts. As a result, these equipments and training is being done at the Lewa HQ and all the Lewa lodges.

LEWA EDUCATION TRUST
Schools are just about to break for holidays. The trust has established a desk to handle Lewa supported schools and students’ end of term reports. These reports are compiled and sent to donors who have continued to give immeasurable support to these schools and students.
The desk has been receiving numerous applications for sponsorships from needy pupils and schools within communities bordering Lewa.

LEWA COMMUNITY
After the introduction of micro credit facility to the eight women groups within the communities around Lewa, the impact was phenomenal; with their enduring spirit of entrepreneurship these women are now able to put something on the table for their families as they diligently repay the loans. With zero default rates, this indicates just how much the women creditworthiness has continued to be the driving force behind numerous small scale enterprises.
As part of its key roles, the office has been monitoring the implementation of development projects supported by Lewa and its partners. The Rugusu Springs water project to the Eastern side of Lewa is a key example where evaluation of its impact and implementation is ongoing.

LEWA SECURITY & WILDLIFE
With permission from relevant government authorities, the Lewa security team in conjunction with NRT is undertaking a basic training exercise for representatives of different communities in Garissa district. The training is aimed at inculcating the benefit and monitoring skills of wildlife within the community areas and enhances sustainable utilization of the natural resources.

LEWA RESEARCH
With predation still being a major limiting factor in the growth of the endangered grey zebra population within Lewa, the department has been monitoring the big cats’ behavior. This involves trucking their movements and examining their scat to establish their meals. Such invaluable data helps to establish sustainable methods of management and control.

NORTH RANGELAND TRUST
The trust is a conservation initiative of 16 conservancies whose partnership is geared towards sustainable utilization of the local resources to benefit the indigenous communities.
Its supreme body (council of elders) has just held a meeting in Isiolo to amend some of the trust by-laws that govern its operations.
The trust has just successful facilitated the sale of livestock from the Ilngewsi community to Olpejeta Ranch at competitive prices.

HOLIDAY @ LEWA
Lewa has continued to offer its clients unmatched experience in this unscarred African wilderness. Your stay is highly appreciated since it contributes towards sustainable conservation of wildlife and the improvement of livelihood of the communities around.

Diary 4 - 11 May 2007

Karibu Lewa!

LEWA LOGISTICS

With its critical role of ensuring smooth running of operations, the department has lived to its potential by ensuring all Lewa departments continue to offer the much needed efforts to ensure the Lewa mission of sustainable conservation is achieved.
The department is currently implementing fuel usage mechanism to ensure that customers either pay a deposit in advance or make payments as they draw the fuel. This is aimed at ensuring proper control of cash flows to facilitate timely payments to suppliers.
With three classrooms complete in Subuiga school and the senior staff houses nearing completion, the department is shifting gears to preparations of the seventh Lewa Safaricom Marathon which will be held on the 23rd June 2007.

LEWA SAFARICOM MARATHON

In its seventh consecutive year, the marathon has earned praise to be among the world’s most challenging race and the only of its kind ran in wildlife reserve. It offers memorable experience for the runners and spectators. The race has helped raise funds to offer medical, security, education, water projects to communities around Lewa. Dust your running boots and don’t be left out to beat the registration deadline on the 25th May 2007 and have a chance participate in this world class event and rub shoulders with renown marathon record holders – Paul Tergat and Catherine Ndereba.(For more infor. about the race, visit – www.lewa.org)

LEWA SECURITY & WILDLIFE

Charged with the responsibility of ensuring tranquility and monitoring of wildlife in the conservancy, the department’s service has grown beyond Lewa’s boundaries. Their quick responses have helped thwart and reduce insecurity cases around Lewa. To boost its effectiveness, its scouts continue to receive training in relevant lines of conservation. It has organized to reshuffle its gates scouts to ensure efficiency and understanding of different boundaries of Lewa.

LEWA COMMUNITY

The office has organized starting next week to collect loan repayments from Women Micro-credit groups. Women have always shown entrepreneurial abilities and with proper financing their efforts can be turned into productive ventures hence empowering the whole communities around Lewa.
The office is also facilitating meetings with stakeholders to facilitate the construction of the Isiolo- Leparua road. This will help improve access to markets and other essential services by the Leparua community.

NORTHERN RANGELAND TRUST

The trust is a conservation initiative of 14 conservancies whose partnership is geared towards sustainable utilization of the local resources to benefit the indigenous communities.
Melako conservancy
The conservancy situated to the North of Lewa in Marsabit district is currently drafting its strategic plan to facilitate its operations and sustainability.
Livestock Department
The department has successfully facilitated the sale of livestock by the il ngwesi community to the Ol pejeta conservancy at competitive prices after the quarantine on Lewa.

(Have a wonderful stay}

Diary 22-24 March 2007

Karibu Lewa!

LOGISTICS DPT

With the Lewa Safaricom marathon just three months away, the Logistics department has already embarked on plans to ensure this world class event becomes once again a big success. In that regard, the department has already started repairs at the accommodation site.

NORTHERN RANGELAND TRUST

The trust is a conservation initiative of 14 conservancies whose partnership is geared towards sustainable utilization of the local resources to benefit the indigenous communities.
Women Micro-Credit
The trust is empowering the women in the West Gate area (North of Lewa) on ways of improving access to credit and value addition for their products. With the women playing an important role in the lives of many in the society, the trust has taken ardent considerable in ensuring that they are well trained in order to empower the whole community.

Livestock Department
The department is finalizing plans to bring in P1 branded cattle in Lewa from the Ilngwesi community on Monday for quarantine and grazing. The mobile bomas in which cattle will stay overnight are being set up this weekend. An agreement between the parties involved in the marketing project has been developed.

LEWA COMMUNITY OFFICE

The office has organized meetings with Women Micro-credit groups in the Eastern side of Lewa to facilitate the access to credit by these groups.
The office has toured the Rugusu springs project with the Lewa engineer to evaluate the impact of the recent rains and establish possible measures to prevent future damage to the project.

LEWA EDUCATION TRUST

In order to improve on the education standards in the area, the trust has organized internal mocks for schools neighboring Lewa, where pupils battle it out for prices. This has continued to have positive impact on the education standards in the area. The trust has been buying these prices today. Adult literacy classes at Leparua (North of Lewa) will be conducted tomorrow to continuously teach the locals some basic reading and writing skills

LEWA CLINIC

As of Monday this week the clinic saw increase in the number of patients thanks to Dr. Damazo from the USA who are around to offer free dental checkups for the Lewa community.

LEWA RESEARCH

After three challenging game counts, the research department in conjunction with the security department obtained objective data on the current numbers of wildlife in Lewa. Despite the recent drought and predation, the grevy zebra (one of the world endangered species) grew by 8% to stand at 430 up from 399 last year. The 430 represent 21% of the world population.
Other species recorded significant increase in numbers thanks to diligent monitoring.

(Have a wonderful stay}

Diary 15 -17 March 2007

WILDLIFE & SECURITY

The security department in conjunction with the Lewa research team is planning to conduct aerial game count next week to establish the current population of the wildlife at Lewa. This exercise is being repeated after a successful such exercise was conducted a week ago. It is being repeated in order to increase the degree of confidence on the results to be obtained. This exercise is done to ensure that the conservancy’s carrying capacity is not exceeded and establish the impact of the recent drought.
With the serenity in the conservancy, the wildlife numbers especially the endangered species like the black rhino, grevy zebra and the sitatunga have continued to increase hence providing the much needed wildlife for the depleted areas far beyond Lewa borders.

COMMUNITY

Lewa Education Trust
The trust is hosting Upper Canada College students who have raised funds for the construction of a class room in Subuiga School (S. East of Lewa) and are around to help in the construction of the class and to teach computer skills to schools that have benefited from computer donations.
Community Office
The Lewa community office has organized a tour of Manyangalo community (South of Lewa) with the Provincial commissioner to inspect development projects in the area. This is aimed at cementing the gains already made in respect to development projects in the area.
The office had a meeting with the district forest officer in Meru to come up with strategic measures to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of the Ngare Ndare forest. This forest that borders Lewa to the southern side is the source of many rivers and hence forms the lifeline of many people in the communities and wildlife around.

NORTHERN RANGELAND TRUST

The trust is a conservation initiative of 14 conservancies whose partnership is geared towards sustainable utilization of the local resources to benefit the indigenous communities.
Livestock department
The department has just been facilitating the testing and branding of the cattle from the Il Ngwesi community. This is aimed at establishing the health status of these cattle and to facilitate treatment before the cattle are allowed into Lewa for fattening. These cattle are then sold to Ol pejeta at competitive prices.
With the Purdue Veterinary student in Il Ngwesi area, the community has benefited from the research being conducted by these students. This has provided information on the key diseases affecting the livestock in the area.

LOGISTICS DEPT.

With the swamp’s insatiable swelling caused by the recent rains, its down stream river has expanded hence damaging the road and the bridge. The department has been murraming these roads in order to make your stay at Lewa memorable.

(Have a magnificent stay}

Diary 8 -10 March 2007

WILDLIFE & SECURITY

The security department in conjunction with the Lewa research team has just concluded a successful aerial game count to establish the current population of the wildlife at Lewa. This exercise is done to ensure that the conservancy’s carrying capacity is not exceeded and establish the impact of the recent drought.
With the serenity in the conservancy, the wildlife numbers especially the endangered species like the black rhino, grevy zebra and the sitatunga have continued to increase hence providing the much needed wildlife for the depleted areas far beyond Lewa borders.

COMMUNITY

Lewa Education Trust
The trust is facilitating the development of an Ilngwesi Education program. In that regard the trust has just conducted a tour of the schools to the N. West of Lewa (Naikishomi, Lokusero, & Nandungoru) to collect information to be used in the program. This program is aimed at enhancing education development in these schools.
The trust in conjunction with the Logistics department is inspecting development programs that have just been complete. These donor funded programs have continued to put roofs over the heads of many children in the communities around. School feeding and literacy programs have been established to empower the local communities with knowledge.

Community Office
The Lewa community office has organized a meeting with the women micro credit groups. This meeting involved chair ladies of these groups and is aimed at cementing the gains that the women groups have brought to the local communities through access to credit for their development initiatives.

NORTHERN RANGELAND TRUST

The trust is a conservation initiative of 14 conservancies whose partnership is geared towards sustainable utilization of the local resources to benefit the indigenous communities.

Livestock department
Veterinary student made first trip to collect blood and faucal samples from cattle in the highland and lowland areas of Il Ngwesi. This is to establish parasite and disease burden in cattle from Il Ngwesi for comparison with cattle raised in Ol Pejeta ranch.
The department is in the process of making bylaws to govern the project on linking livestock market to wildlife conservation.
Also, currently coming up is a database that will have all information on Il Ngwesi membership, livestock and the marketing. This will easily help track information on cattle and people involved with the project. In order to determine optimal stocking levels, the department is currently collecting historical rainfall data and grass production of Il Ngwesi area and its similar habitats. {Have a magnificent stay}

Diary 1-3rd March 2007

NORTHERN RANGELAND TRUST

The trust is a conservation initiative of 14 conservancies whose partnership is geared towards sustainable utilization of the local resources to benefit the indigenous communities. In order to get endorsement from the local communities the trust has continuously involved them in the implementation of any strategic plans that is likely to directly or indirectly affect them.
In that regard the trust has just concluded a strategic planning meeting with the West Gate conservancy. This one week workshop involved representatives (women, elders and the youth) neighboring the conservancy to get them understand the benefits that accrue from conservation.
The trust has also been facilitating the sale and purchase of beaded ornaments and beads from the local communities. The competitiveness of these products has been enhanced through education (through documentaries) of the communities on ways to improve them. This initiative has continued to provide income to the women in the region.
The continuity of this trust has been made possible by support from different donors who continued to support its operations.

LEWA SAFARI CAMP

Richard Buthe and Sharon Devitt are the new managers of the camp. They have just joined a dedicated team of mostly locals from the neighboring communities to make our clients have a spectacular time at Lewa. With their enormous experience in the hospitality industry we belief our clients will make repeat visits to Lewa.

LEWA SAFARICOM MARATHON

This week saw the launch of the 8th Lewa Safaricom Marathon. This event will be held on the 23rd June 2007 at Lewa. Its only marathon ran in a game reserve and among the toughest race on earth. The race attracts world record holders like Paul Tergat, Catherine Ndereba, and other international runners. Corporate bodies have also sent their teams to the race. With its uniqueness all accommodations places have already been booked, but a luxury campsite will be erected.
It’s a noble race since its proceeds go towards offering health services, security, education, and infrastructure development in the communities around Lewa.

LOGISTICS

With the ever increasing demand for the logistic department’s services within and outside Lewa, the department has just recruited a civil and structural Engineer -Kennedy Gitonga. He will ensure that the construction standards will be adhered to.
In order to reduce the pressure on the fragile environment, the department is fixing immersion heaters at different camps to reduce the dependence on the firewood to heat water for the staff.
The Ol-pejeta conservancy’s (West of Lewa) bull dozer is back to dig the much needed trenches to facilitate proper drainage during rainy seasons. {Have a wonderful stay!}

Diary 22-24th Feb 2007

22-24th Feb 2007

 

 

NORTHERN RANGELAND TRUST

It's a conservation initiative involving the local communities to champion environmental conservation in order to benefit from it.

Livestock program

The trust through its livestock program has been able to establish grazing committees to facilitate the grazing program by the local communities to the North of Lewa. The large numbers of domestic animals in the local communities has put pressure on the fragile land hence reduced output from these animals. The program aims at providing the locals the opportunity to graze their livestock on Lewa (as a fattening ground) and have access to markets – Ol Pejeta will purchase the animals.

With the Il Ngwesi group ranch members' register in place, a database will be established and will assist to identify the members to include in the scheme.

The trust has partnered with local and international Universities' vetnary students for study purposes.  The program has planned to sensitize the local community elders on the viability of this program.

LOGISTICS

In order to provide adequate natural thatching materials, the Logistics department has began the cutting of the thatch grass at the swamp.

The logistics department and Lewa as whole has lost a reliable and outstanding supplier (PITHIA) through a tragic road accident. He provided transport support for building materials as Lewa continue to spread its conservation efforts. May

God rest his soul in peace.

LEWA EDUCATION TRUST

The trust visited Lukusero School (N. Eastern of Lewa) where the community had invited them in order to get some technical advice on the school plan and use of the donor funds that the school has received.

The sponsored students are on mid term and some of them are streaming in LET office for advice and other school needs. Most of the marathon school projects are in progress.

COMMUNITY

The community office met the local legislator on Thursday to discuss on the possibility of tapping government support in development programs in the local area. In the same regard the office has organized to inspect the Mutunyi irrigation scheme to continue evaluate the agricultural development in the area.

RESEARCH

The department in conjunction with NRT has planned to carry out gravel zebra collaring in order to facilitate proper monitoring of these endangered species.

 

{Have a breathtaking stay!}