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No! There are not a thousand eco lodges in Tanzania!
At least not with a footprint like this…
There are quite a few though and practically all of them are in the luxury lodge market, a market which is too expensive for most middle class tourists.
Basically, that means that there are extremely few middle and budget market eco lodges in Tanzania. This is for the obvious reason that the owners of non-luxury eco lodges in Tanzania can usually not afford the huge expense to turn their lodge into a full eco lodge. Some, however, see the benefit of heading in the direction of sustainability and are attempting to make their lodge more green as time goes on, bit by bit.
The owner of Nyerere Green Lodge in Mloka, Tanzania, just outside the gates of Nyerere National Park, has only just built his lodge. He was therefore able to plan a sustainable eco lodge in Tanzania from day one. However, like most of his competitors in the middle & budget market, he is not a wealthy person and must work long and hard as a safari guide in order to finance his aim to build one of the middle market eco lodges in Tanzania – and, above all, to ensure his four children get a good education.
So, whilst building his lodge, the concept of sustainability for an eco lodge was always on his mind and is being implemented step by step.
How to build one of the best eco lodges in Tanzania on a small budget?
It is easier, if you are able to build from scratch. If you have owned a middle/budget safari lodge for many years and have kept your head just above water then it is far more difficult to finance an upgrade to become one of the eco lodges in Tanzania.
Kanuth Tarimo, owner and planner, of the Nyerere Green Lodge, founded a small safari guide business in 2014 (see some reviews here), which became successful enough to look after his family and to save enough money to build a small lodge near Nyerere National Park. The pandemic put a stop to tourism and made it extremely difficult but Kanuth struggled through with his family as first priority and his new project, the lodge, as a second priority. It was a hard time and recovery of the safari business has been slow, so the implementation of components for the eco lodge have been rescheduled to allow more time to increase his savings.
So, to build one of the new middle/budget market eco lodges in Tanzania, Kanuth had to revise plans and to work double hard!
What is his plan to build one of the eco lodges in Tanzania?
A major attribute of an eco lodge is its footprint. It should not be too big in order to keep the environment around it as it was and natural. Massive buildings and infrastructure will destroy much of the natural habitat around the huge building site. This, fortunately, for a project with a small budget, is easy to do. Kanuth planned, right from the start an eco lodge with no more than 10 rooms.
He planned also a sloping, tiled roof that will not only accommodate solar (P.V) panels to generate electricity but to also collect rain water that will be re-used on site. Plans are also on hand to re-use all grey water, from the showers and sinks, to water the garden in which he will only grow indigenous plants and vegetables. All of this work is ongoing.
Even before the lodge has opened he employs a nightwatchman (there will be expensive equipment on site before it is installed) and two cleaning ladies. More local staff will follow, thus his lodge already meets this criteria to be one of the eco lodges in Tanzania: to support and employ local people. Plans are also in place to have “no-hassle” tradespeople on site selling arts and crafts etc.
How will he know when Nyerere Green Lodge can claim to be one of the few middle/budget market eco lodges in Tanzania?
The most significant part of his plan is to achieve full eco lodge accreditation from an organisation such as the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) for Hotels and Accommodations.
The GSTC have this information on their website (Quote)…
“How to become certified as a Sustainable Hotel
To become certified, travel and tourism companies and touristic destinations must:
1 – Choose a Certification Body (CB) from the list below — these are organizations that have been accredited based on the quality of their certification process
2 – After working with a CB towards achieving full GSTC requirements compliance, your operation will receive its Certification by an Accredited CB.
The Certification Bodies listed below have gained Accreditation to certify hotels as sustainable. As such, these Certification Bodies and their certificate-holders are authorized to display the designated GSTC Logo (upon completion of a licensing agreement with the GSTC).
To be clear: GSTC does NOT certify anything. GSTC provides accreditation to Certification Bodies. Certification and accreditation are different things: see here for more information about these terms.”
Below that information the GSTC display a list of certification bodies, which you can see here.
Do you own a middle/budget market lodge in Tanzania?
And do you want to make it one of the eco lodges in Tanzania? Then check out the GTSC website.
It may take you a long time but heading in that direction is the only way to go. It requires advice, planning and, of course, a continuing budget to make and keep your place one of the true eco lodges in Tanzania.
In addition to the above information you can find, here, what we have already done and what we are currently planning in terms of certifying with the GTSC to make Nyerere Green Lodge one of the best middle/budget eco lodges in Tanzania.
Imagine our path to be one of the best eco lodges in Tanzania…
- We are already situated in a beautiful, natural location, just a few kilometers from the gate into Nyerere National Park!
- Our Rainwater Collection System should be installed by 1.11.2024, ready for the next rainy season!
- We hope to install our P.V. Solar System by the end of 2024!
- Our sewage flows into a cess pit. It is regularly emptied and taken to a sewage plant.
- Our grey water re-usage will be implemented soon after we open and accommodate our first guests
- Local merchants, complying to a “no hassle” sales method, will be allowed on site from day one.
- We will employ only local people, training them all not only on their necessary skills but also on hotel hygiene and on their understanding of how to treat guests, with respect, patience and friendliness. Kanuth has done this very successfully at the lodge near Lake Manyara, that he previously managed. Which is just another reason why we will be one of the best middle/budget market eco lodges in Tanzania.
- Kanuth is well trained in safari guiding, including the flora and fauna of East Africa, Tanzanian culture and tourism management. Any safari guided that he sub-contracts will have similar backgrounds (maybe not the management side).
- Nyerere Green Lodge is built with locally produced bricks and tiles. We have planted indigenous trees and plants in the grounds and will have a small vegetable garden.
Are we doing any more to become one of the best eco lodges in Tanzania?
Of course, and many of these things are not expensive, but are just the right thing to do…
- If our own vegetable garden cannot supply the exact daily requirements we purchase them in the local market, which sells only local produce, supporting local trades-persons.
- We have a comfortable chill-out area with a “lending” bookshelf with of books about East African flora and fauna and local cultures etc. Another bookshelf is used as a Leave & Take Library.
- bicycle rides, with a local guide, visiting places of local interest: visits to local sisal, banana or coffee plantations, a local church, a school or orphanage etc. Or a local bike safari.
- Recycling (paper, plastic, metal/aluminum, and organic waste are collected and disposed properly). Long term we hope to encourage local people to use some separated waste to make things for sale.
- On safari our warm food is transported in non-plastic thermo pots, non plastic plates and cutlery are also used.
- We intend to be a chemical-free operation (in areas like cleaning, washing, gardening)
And after all that?
We must be, then, one of the best eco lodges in Tanzania at prices way, way below the luxury market, with both hygiene and service levels equal to the best expensive lodges.
We will endeavour to continue to strive towards a greener footprint and would be very grateful to hear from our guests if they have any suggestions in improving our eco awareness. They, too, can help make us one of the best eco lodges in Tanzania within the middle/budget market.