En route to the renowned Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti lies a parcel of land with a bright future. The plan is to design and build a world class facility for researchers, scientists, school children and the visiting public to promote elephant conservation.
The idea, seeded by noted elephant expert Dr. Alfred Kikoti, founder of the World Elephant Centre [WEC], is being nurtured by a host of interested individuals including Kesho Trust Director Bruce Downie. The WEC and the Kesho Trust now have a formal partnership to pursue this ambitious project.
The location is ideal. A hilltop field with views towards Lake Manyara and the Great Rift Valley. A research station, conference facility and research centre will all be amalgamated into the property soon to be know by its’ original place name – Kilima Tembo [elephant hill].
The first task is to develop a conceptual plan and interpretive strategy. That’s where I fit into the picture. Trying to visualize a ‘world class facility’ from an open field takes a lot of imagination, but ‘build it and they will come’ is the guiding principle.
Fundraising for the project is critical and contributions from donor organizations, the corporate sector and individuals will turn this field of dreams into reality.
Help us in our mission of promoting elephant conservation through research and education. Stay in touch with our progress by bookmarking this page on our website [World Elephant Centre] and sign up or our newsletter in the right hand column of your current screen.
Brent Liddle
Kesho Trust Volunteer
Yukon, Canada
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
For some background on Brent, see – Brent’s profile.