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Empower a Community, Protect the Wilderness: Help build a Unique Community Lodge!
Help us raise €50,000 to construct this vital Community Lodge right next to Uganda's breathtaking Kidepo Valley National Park. Namoni Lodge isn't just a set of buildings; it's an investment in a self-sustaining future for the community of Karenga and the wild landscapes they call home. Your support will fund an essential water facility and a vibrant community hub at the lodge, unlocking a powerful, long-term model for conservation.
Imagine a place of raw beauty, with endless savanna and wildlife against a backdrop of rugged mountains. This is Kidepo. Here, Kara-Tunga is honoured to partner with the Karenga Community Wildlife Association (KCWA) to bring their dream to life: a lodge that generates sustainable funding for community conservation.
Photo 1: A gamedrive within Kidepo Valley National Park.
About the community
See how Kara-Tunga's Kidepo Valley community partners embrace tourism to improve livelihoods, protect nature, and preserve heritage. Your donation directly empowers their dreams.
The journey of Namoni started in 2023, with laying the groundwork, developing community relations and signing required agreements. Since then Kara-Tunga and KCWA have managed to raise some initial investment to construct the main lodge infrastructure, but two essential pillars are still missing to kick-start a successful community lodge. That’s why we invite you, to help us in realizing the water source and community conservation hub that will transform the Namoni vision into a thriving reality.
Photo 2: Signing of Concession Agreement with Community Leaders, Local Government and Partners
Our Goal: €50,000 for Two Key Structures
Your donation will fund two critical elements in the Community Lodge:
- A Sustainable Water Source (€30,000): Currently, the nearest water source is 3 kilometers away from the lodge site. Your contribution will help us engineer and construct a water facility that will provide clean and reliable water for the lodge.
- A Community Conservation Hub (€20,000): Namoni Lodge aims to be a welcoming entry point to the Kidepo landscape. For this, an inviting reception and information hub is required. In this hub the Karenga community can showcase their cultural heritage and promote unique arts, crafts, and activities. The hub will be a direct source of income for local families, fostering economic empowerment and preserving traditional skills.
Photo 3: A Wildlife Scout chasing wildlife from homes and gardens around the National Park.
Why Your Support Matters
Namoni Lodge is designed to be a powerful, self-sustaining driver of community conservation. The concrete, long-term impact that the finished lodge will have includes:
A) Direct Revenue for KCWA: The lodge will remit annual concession fees and 10% from every single guest's stay directly to the Karenga Community Wildlife Association. An additional 10% from all tourism activities and products also goes to the association.
B) Fuelling Frontline Protectors: This revenues have a direct purpose. Among others they will provide fuel for the motorbikes of wildlife scouts, enabling them to patrol the community wildlife area to protect local families and their gardens, and respond quickly to human-wildlife conflict.
C) Support for Community Development: The lodge acts as a home for a number of impactful conservation initiatives:
- Kara-Tunga Honey: Community members are supported to engage in beekeeping in the community wildlife area. The beehives act as a natural deterrent, protecting gardens from elephants, while Kara-Tunga buys the honey, creating a sweet income stream for local families.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Members of the Karenga community are trained in modern vegetable farming and connected to nearby markets—including the lodge's own kitchen. This improves food security and household incomes in the community wildlife area.
- Skills & Employment: Namoni Lodge trains and employs community members in all aspects of its operation, from management to guiding and hospitality, creating dignified jobs directly linked to conservation.
Your one-time donation to realize a water source and build the community conservation hub will unlock a sustainable revenue and opportunities, that are managed by and benefit the Karenga community directly.
Join us in realizing this vision: Every single contribution moves us closer to providing a sustainable foundation for community-led conservation in Kidepo Valley.
Organizer
Theo Vos
Organizer