Gifts for locals during your Kenya safari : When our clients inquire about how they might participate and bring gifts on their safari, we are overjoyed. Gifts are always popular, especially among children, whether they be school supplies or a favorite sports team’s shirt. We’ve detailed the finest gifts to bring for the natives you encounter on Kenya wildlife safaris Tours, as well as a few crucial considerations:
Clients will occasionally arrange a Kenya safari and then specify that they would like to bring something for the locals. They recognize that Kenyans sometimes face adversity and feel compelled to assist in alleviating their plight. The dilemma then becomes, what should they bring for them?
Let’s start by making it obvious that Kenyans frequently experience difficult living conditions. Life can be difficult in this equatorial nation due to poverty, a lack of power, decent drinking water, adequate health care, and good schools. Naturally, these are not simple problems to resolve. The best you can aspire for as a safari visitor is to make a small difference in a few people’s daily lives. Right? But you don’t want to bring items that you might be able to get locally on an aircraft. Alternatively, there are numerous small organizations that support people effectively. After all, they are more likely to be aware of the requirements than people who are visiting for the first time.
TWO QUESTIONS
When arriving with a suitcase full of gifts, we typically advise clients to consider two questions. To start, do you like to interact with locals or would a donation to a reputable organization in the area be more appropriate? If you decide to give out your own gifts, would you rather bring them from home or would you prefer to purchase them in Kenya?
There are numerous possible responses to the questions above, and none of them are appropriate. Some of the people on our team are emphatic that you should only give to reputable organizations. These organizations are aware of what the public truly requires and how to effectively meet those needs. Nevertheless, as other people explains, there are additional advantages to bringing gifts and distributing them. “Especially when you hand those out in communities near the national parks, it fosters good will with the local people,” Living close to a reserve gives individuals the opportunity to personally experience the effects of tourism.
Because it’s a sad fact that Kenya safari automobiles frequently just pass by at high speeds. They mainly transport white passengers, dressed formally and equipped with pricey equipment, who never give the neighbors who live nearby a glance. If you’re that person, living in a mud hut, not knowing what to give your kids for dinner that night, it’s easy to feel resentful. Yet it becomes much harder to despise these visitors if individuals take the time to stop, share their gifts, and truly speak to people who live here. Which, of course, benefits the tourism sector, which ultimately aids in the preservation of the wildlife in the national parks.
LOCAL INITIATIVES
Yet there are lots of tiny, neighborhood organizations that deal with problems you might be interested in. You can choose from a list of these trustworthy NGOs that we have included below. Many of these actually succeed in changing things for the better on the ground, supporting things like neighborhood schools, local hospitals, or private school tuition. But, making a donation to an organization cannot feel the same as really bringing a donation to distribute. Giving away gifts enables you to engage with the community and learn about Kenyan culture.
Many customers then consider whether it would be better to buy products once they are in the country and support the local economy. However, keep in mind that “Gifts from Europe or America are typically more varied or of higher quality.” Those who receive such gifts feel incredibly honored. Bringing your gifts also saves you the time it would take to buy them locally in Kenya.
The Pack with a Purpose initiative, which links visitors to Kenya with local organizations and hotels, can help you plan what to pack. On their website, you may find a list of Kenyan organizations and hotels, along with a description of the causes they support and the unmet needs. You may be traveling through some of these hotels, making it easy for you to donate to their worthy cause. You can also find a selection of presents below that we believe are always appreciated:
School supplies
In general, schools lack supplies for their students. Sharpeners, rulers, rubbers, pencils, and notebooks are all in high demand and easily misplaced. In addition, some children barely ever see crayons, clay, or paint, let alone colored pencils or coloring books. They wouldn’t be used in schools, but they might help community centers or tiny non-profit organizations that aid children.
Toys
Toys are always in demand and convenient to carry. There is always a need for balls. Footballs for boys and/or larger children, as well as smaller tennis balls for the game reddis, which is highly liked by girls. Along with the previously stated papers, colors, and crayons, jumping ropes are also very popular in villages. We don’t advise using balloons since they leave behind plastic garbage that animals could ingest, especially in areas close to national parks.
Practical gifts
Consider solar-powered Bluetooth radios or speakers, solar-powered (smart or basic) phones, and solar-powered lighting. These are much-needed and useful gifts, but because everyone wants them, they can be challenging to distribute. Before distributing these, make sure to speak with your guide so that he can ensure that they are given fairly and reach the hands of those who need them most.
Clothes
In general, second- or, rather, tenth-hand clothing is extremely easy to find in Kenya, and it rarely lasts very long. The garments quickly deteriorate due to dust, sand, contaminated water, and a lack of soap and water. Most children rarely, if ever, wear clean, unwrinkled clothing. These couldn’t possibly be kept clean. Only on exceptional occasions do individuals don their expensive gowns, which they typically purchase in sets of one every year, and make an effort to appear nice. This is something to consider when packing clothes. People will always be happy when they wear these, but they might only do so on exceptional occasions. Or, in a matter of weeks, wear them out. In light of this, black school shoes and backpacks are constantly in demand.
CONCLUSION
All in all, we prefer that people donate to modest, neighborhood NGOs like those that are listed below. They actually do a terrific job of improving the daily lives of those who require it. Not simply by providing them with things but also by developing their abilities. Gifts, on the other hand, go a long way in fostering good will and adding delight to daily life. Hence, if you do decide to bring something, please first check to see if one of your hotels is listed on the Pack for a Reason website. Also, if you decide to distribute them yourself, be sure to correctly convey your intentions to your guide and confirm your allowance with customs. Our guides typically have a good network and are aware of the places where presents are required and welcomed. They are also always happy to assist!
Oh, and one more thing. Even if you decide against packing anything, you may find that you really want to share something with the locals. Then go ahead and purchase some fruit! Fruits are usually liked and are readily available everywhere.
KENYA SMALL NGOS TO SUPPORT:
- Volunteers Foundation: they are in use of school items as listed above, but also clothes and school uniforms.
- The Smiley Hand Foundation
