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Sababu Safaris’ partnerships with Solar Sister and Wine to Water have enabled the tour operator to support local communities in Tanzania through their guided safari tours.
The partnerships were started to bring solar lights and water filters to local village communities in Tanzania that are living off the grid and outside of commercialized tourist areas. These supplies are delivered first hand by visitors who book safari tours through Sababu Safaris, which gives them the chance to get an authentic insight into local life outside the tourist destinations, while making a positive impact at the same time.
Sababu Safaris’ Co-Founder Denise Brown says this is a way to give back to the community while educating people from around the world about the challenges that many Tanzanian people face on a daily basis, especially those living in remote areas of the country.
Solar Sister is an organization devoted to empowering women across Sub-Saharan Africa by creating opportunities for women to start, grow and sustain successful clean energy businesses, so they can build a brighter future for themselves, their families, and the world.
“Sababu Safaris’ partnership with Solar Sister primarily benefits the Maasai families we work with in Tanzania. Every year, Sababu purchases solar lights from Solar Sister for donation to the Maasai communities, with a transformative impact on families without access to electricity,” says Robert Tamiro, Co-Founder of Sababu Safaris, “These lamps facilitate children’s night-time studies, assist with evening chores, and minimize harmful smoke and fire hazards from traditional, expensive kerosene lamps.”
“Sababu’s sustained support shines a light on Tanzania’s rural challenges, bolstering Solar Sister’s mission to empower business women with clean, affordable energy solutions. This advances gender equity, clean energy, and climate justice,” says Fatma Muzo, Country Director of Solar Sister Tanzania. “Reducing reliance on traditional, pollutant energy sources lowers carbon emissions, contributing to a global drive for a more sustainable future.”
The water filters provided by Wine to Water remove 99.9% of harmful bacteria and are built to benefit these communities for over five years. Water borne diseases are a major contributor to child mortality in Tanzania, and have dire effects on education with school children losing as many as 33 million school days per annum.
In addition to partnering with Solar Sister and Wine to Water, Sababu Safaris has joined forces with Pack for a Purpose to encourage safari guests to bring additional supplies, such as school supplies, clothing and recreational amenities. During the duration of their safari, the travelers are able to distribute these items themselves, allowing them to meet the communities they are supporting at eye level.
The mission of these partnerships is not aimed at trying to modernize the local villages or to change their culture, but simply to ease some of the challenges they are facing. Brown has found taking water filters and solar lights to the villages has become one of the highlights for their guests, as they can directly witness the impact they are making. She says it’s a win-win situation because the guests get to enjoy an authentic experience with the local population while the Tanzanians in the villages greatly benefit from the supplies they are receiving. “We want to make sure that there is always an exchange to facilitate a better understanding on both sides.”
