Ndarakwai Ranch
Ndarakwai is an 11,000 acre ranch just west of Mt. Kilimanjaro and about 75 minutes from Kilimanjaro International Airport. Privately owned, the ranch is a conservancy through which a wide variety of game routinely passes. Owner Peter Jones and his team of rangers pride themselves in the extensive work they have done in habitat and environmental restoration over the last 17 years, as well as in cooperating with the local community to stem the tide of poaching that poses a grave threat to the native wildlife.
Set among local Maasai, Bantu and other villages, Ndarakwai is also has a deep history of involvement with and support of local schools. At Olmolog Vety primary school, the ranch provides lunch every day for the 330+ pupils and has assisted on a range of building and rehabilitation projects over the last 6 years. The school, which serves a mixed local population, has actually experienced dramatic improvements in student learning and performance in the years since Ndarakwai has partnered with the community to improve and enhance the still rustic school’s capabilities. More recently, Ndarakwai has begun to partner as well with the newly established Tinga Tinga community secondary school, including assisting with its overall development plan (beginning with building a kitchen) and much more. It is at these two schools that TNE participants will work during their visit.
Ndarakwai is also a small, specialized tourist destination. Its 15 permanent tents serve a variety of international travelers desiring both a realistic, somewhat rustic “bush experience” as well as quality food and home comforts such as hot water showers. The ranch has also begun expanding its “voluntourism” activities and has hosted, at substantially reduced costs, small groups of graduate and other students doing research and/or supporting the ranch’s work.
Set among local Maasai, Bantu and other villages, Ndarakwai is also has a deep history of involvement with and support of local schools. At Olmolog Vety primary school, the ranch provides lunch every day for the 330+ pupils and has assisted on a range of building and rehabilitation projects over the last 6 years. The school, which serves a mixed local population, has actually experienced dramatic improvements in student learning and performance in the years since Ndarakwai has partnered with the community to improve and enhance the still rustic school’s capabilities. More recently, Ndarakwai has begun to partner as well with the newly established Tinga Tinga community secondary school, including assisting with its overall development plan (beginning with building a kitchen) and much more. It is at these two schools that TNE participants will work during their visit.
Ndarakwai is also a small, specialized tourist destination. Its 15 permanent tents serve a variety of international travelers desiring both a realistic, somewhat rustic “bush experience” as well as quality food and home comforts such as hot water showers. The ranch has also begun expanding its “voluntourism” activities and has hosted, at substantially reduced costs, small groups of graduate and other students doing research and/or supporting the ranch’s work.
