Owls change fortunes of Kikambala residents

Local tourist at the site. Photo/Charles

Tourists at the African Barn Owl caves in Kika

                                                       Thursday, August 15, 2013 - 00:00 -- 

BY CHARLES MGHENYI

WHENEVER the word Kikambala is mentioned, many think about the beautiful hotels and sandy beaches in the region.
Google search of the word 'Kikambala' shows over 619,000 results which are all related to tourism, from the beautiful sandy beaches, the hotels and the fast growing real estate properties on the prime land which has attracted scores of investors.
Kikambala is located 27km north of Mombasa town and just a few kilometers from yet another famous town - Mtwapa.
Many recall the 2002 bomb attack of Paradise Hotel in Kikambala, an Israeli-owned establishment.
The blast occurred just after 60 visitors had checked into the hotel, all of them from Israel.
Some 13 people were killed and 80 injured. Ten Kenyans died in the attack and three Israelis, two of them children.
Nine of the victims were dancers who had been employed to welcome guests.
The dancers, many of them from the neighbouring communities in the area, have an inborn sense of hospitality.
They are known for using their cultural dance skills to entertain tourists.
The community has moved on from those sad moments. A visit to Ngoloko village in Kikambala is testimony to a community which has decided to transform its livelihood using natural resources. Apart from tourism, the locals have been fishing for many years. However, a new initiative is set to revolutionise their livelihoods.
The African Barn Owl initiative is an environmental and cultural conservation group based in Kikambala which recently opened its doors. It aims to use eco-tourism as an alternative to land use.
The project seeks to remove the popular belief in many African communities that owls are a bad omen.
Goodluck Mbaga, one the people behind the initiative, said they opted for the project after fishing became non-profitable and unsustainable.
“We are building a social enterprise that promotes environmental conservation beyond the protected area,” he said.
The caves, which first opened to the public in 2000, are situated near Sun N' Sand Beach Resort.
They serve as the breeding grounds for the owls which were previously being killed by the locals.
The villagers entertain visitors who visit the site and teach them about the rich Mijikenda history that dates back to the pre-colonial and slave trade period.
Mbaga explains that they intend to establish a bigger tourist destination centre which will accommodate many visitors.
“We are also planning to establish an indigenous Coastal tree nursery in order to conserve some of the most threatened species,” he says.
Mbaga says the centre is growing gradually and the community is benefiting from the projects, either directly or indirectly.
Ten community members are directly employed at the centre with over 40 others being invited to sell their traditional products to the visitors. There are over 30 dancers who entertain guests for a fee at the centre.
The centre has an outdoor education experience for schools and other institutions. Within the vicinity you can find the world famous Sun N’ Sand Beach Resort, Kikambala’s white sandy beaches, the African Barn Owl Caves and the village communities.
This unique outdoor educational experience involves open lectures and guided tours of all these sites. It promises a mix of learning and fun. In addition there are lots of opportunities to take memorable photos.
The students and teachers are guaranteed to learn a lot from the experienced tutors and guides who will deliver their services in a relaxed yet intense manner.
“This will give a lasting impression and contribute immensely to the general, scientific and nature knowledge of the students,” Mbaga says.
Educational lectures vary from tourism environment, geography-caves, coconut trees, marine, birds and peace keeping while the field excursions include African Barn Owl Caves, community villages and the white sandy beach.
At the centre, visitors are assured of sea excursion to the Indian Ocean with experienced local fishermen on their glass boats. This entails boat rides to the reef, marine life education (fish, crustaceans, corals/coral reefs) and swimming if the tides are low.
The centre charges Sh1,000 for foreigners and Sh300 for citizens while students part with only Sh100 whenever they visit the site.
A percentage of the money collected goes to environmental conservation and supporting the local community-based initiatives, according Mbaga.
Owls mights have be seen as bad omen but their caves in Kikambala are removing residents from abject poverty.
Read More.....http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-132163/owls-change-fortunes-kikambala-residents