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Ensuring Respectful Interactions with Local Communities: A Guide by Timon Safaris

At Timon Safaris, we recognize the invaluable role that local communities play in preserving the unique cultures, traditions, and environments that our guests come to experience. Here’s how we ensure these interactions are rooted in respect and understanding:

1. Cultural Sensitivity Training:

  • Our guides and staff undergo regular training on cultural sensitivity, ensuring they sincerely appreciate local customs, beliefs, and traditions. They act as bridges between visitors and communities, providing accurate information and guidance during interactions.

2. Community Engagement:

  • We collaborate closely with local communities when designing our itineraries. This ensures that visits are welcome and do not disrupt daily life or sacred rituals.
  • A portion of our revenue goes back to these communities, directly or through community-driven projects, recognizing their crucial role in tourism.

3. Pre-Trip Briefings:

  • Before any community visit, guests are briefed on appropriate behaviour, dress codes, and other local customs they should know.
  • We advise on simple gestures that make interactions more genuine, such as learning a few local phrases.

4. Request Permission for Photography:

  • Guests are advised to always seek permission before taking photos. It’s respectful and promotes genuine engagement beyond the camera lens.

5. Ethical Shopping:

  • We encourage guests to purchase local crafts or goods directly from artisans or community-owned shops, ensuring fair prices and supporting the local economy.
  • We discourage bartering too aggressively, which might undermine the value of handcrafted goods and local labour.

6. Respect Sacred Sites:

  • We ensure guests are informed about and adhere to guidelines when visiting sacred sites or during special cultural events. This might include removing shoes, dressing modestly, or avoiding certain areas altogether.

7. Support Community Initiatives:

  • Many communities have initiatives like tree planting, clean-up drives, or cultural preservation events. We actively support and sometimes involve our guests in these, fostering a deeper connection.

8. Limit Environmental Impact:

  • Beyond cultural respect, we also emphasize environmental stewardship. We inform guests about waste disposal, water usage, and minimizing their carbon footprint, all in alignment with community guidelines.

9. Feedback Mechanism:

  • We maintain an open communication channel with local communities, getting feedback on guest visits and refining our guidelines based on their inputs.

10. Continuous Improvement:

  • The world and its cultures are ever-evolving. As such, our commitment is ongoing. We consistently review our policies, get feedback from guests, and work closely with communities to ensure our interactions remain respectful and enriching for all parties involved.

Timon Safaris is deeply committed to promoting tourism that enlightens our guests and uplifts and respects the local communities that host us. We believe in crafting experiences that create lasting memories while honouring the traditions and values of those we visit.

Mrimba Palm Hotel

Mrimba Palm Hotel boasts a beautiful setting, offering a refreshingly serene environment from the hustle and bustle of the busy Arusha City Center. Boasting a calming silence that offers total relaxation from the busy day after a long trip to Arusha or just a peaceful time to reflect on all the marvelous experiences of the day. Our restaurant encompasses a classic catchy decor, a masterclass display of beauty with pine roofing on the inside, and beautiful tabletops and chairs from the rare and affluent Mahogany hardwood. The Mrimba Palm Restaurant offers you an amazing experience during meals; dinner, lunch, snacking, and lunch with a wide range of drinks on order.

+255 683 085 572
P.O. Box 16949 | Arusha | Tanzania
info@timonsafaris.com

Planet Lodge Arusha

Featuring an outdoor pool and restaurant, Planet Lodge is located in Arusha. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi in public areas. The African-style chalets have a private bathroom, air conditioning, and mosquito net. Extras include a telephone, towels, and linen. The Planet Lodge restaurant serves international and local cuisine. The bar offers a selection of drinks. Guests can relax by the poolside and in the lush garden while enjoying Mount Meru’s views. The lodge is a 1-hour drive from the Arusha National Park and within 48 km from the Kilimanjaro Airport. Free private parking is available on-site.

+255 683 085 572
P.O. Box 16949 | Arusha | Tanzania
info@timonsafaris.com

Karama Lodge

With pool views, Karama Lodge is situated in Arusha and has a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk, a bar, a garden, and a year-round outdoor pool. Both WiFi and private parking are accessible at the lodge free of charge. There is a private bathroom with a shower in all units, along with a hairdryer and free toiletries. Guests at Karama Lodge can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Old German Boma is 5 km from the accommodation, while Njiro Complex is 6 km from the property. The lodge is a 1-hour drive from the Arusha National Park and within 48 km from the Kilimanjaro Airport. Free private parking is available on-site.

+255 683 085 572
P.O. Box 16949 | Arusha | Tanzania
info@timonsafaris.com

Gran Melia Arusha

Located in Arusha, 2.6 km from Old German Boma, Gran Melia Arusha provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, an outdoor swimming pool, and a fitness center. Among the facilities at this property are a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Guests can make use of a bar. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a kettle, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV, a balcony, and a private bathroom with a shower. Every room is equipped with a coffee machine, while selected rooms have a kitchen with a fridge. All units in Gran Melia Arusha are equipped with bathrobes and an iPod docking station. A continental breakfast is available daily at the accommodation. Gran Melia Arusha offers 5-star accommodation with a sauna and terrace. Arusha Central Market is 3.1 km from the hotel, while the Uhuru monument is 3.1 km away.

+255 683 085 572
P.O. Box 16949 | Arusha | Tanzania
info@timonsafaris.com

Marera Valley Lodge

Marera Valley Lodge, located on the outskirts of Karatu town about midway between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, is close to the village of Rhotia. Convenient to the main road, this elegant lodge has stunning views over the valley to the hills beyond. We look forward to your visit when we can offer you true Tanzanian hospitality and a warm welcome. Our large main building has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating areas with views of the pool and the beautiful nearby hills. Enjoy a drink or an alfresco lunch on the spacious verandah overlooking the pool. Relax in the bar and lounge area with a cozy fire in the cooler months and take your meals in the large dining room. You’ll find the welcoming reception area and gift shop here as well. The Rosemary Spa is located in a quiet corner of the garden and offers massage and other treatments for your relaxation. The cottages are set in lush tropical gardens and a walking path circumnavigates the extensive organic vegetable garden.

+255 683 085 572
P.O. Box 16949 | Arusha | Tanzania
info@timonsafaris.com