'Partnership' is the new keyword in donor-community circles, and multilateral organizations and national departments responsible for development cooperation both seem to have embraced the conccept... Show more'Partnership' is the new keyword in donor-community circles, and multilateral organizations and national departments responsible for development cooperation both seem to have embraced the conccept of 'public-private partneships'. This paper is the first in a series that examines partnerships in ecotourism initiatives in the Maasai region of Kenya, i.e. Kajiado, Narok and Trans Mara Districts. A discussion of the partnership concept is followed by a brief introduction to wildlife-based tourism in Kajiado District. Subsequently, two public-private partnerships - the Kimana and Selengei group ranches - are presented. A detailed analysis of the origins and development of these wildlife-based ecotourism projects tries to answer the main research question about the extent to which these partnerships are genuinely community-based and potentially successful alternatives for livestock-keeping communities. [Book abstract] Show less
In 1996 the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) embarked on a "Parks beyond Parks" programme, which aimed to bring some of the benefits of wildlife tourism to the local population. Under this programme,... Show moreIn 1996 the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) embarked on a "Parks beyond Parks" programme, which aimed to bring some of the benefits of wildlife tourism to the local population. Under this programme, local people were allowed to start tented camps and other tourist activities in areas bordering national parks. The present paper discusses the development of a new ecotourism initiative in the Selengei region, bordering Amboseli National Park, in Kajiado District. An overview of the history of wildlife conservation and tourism in Southern Kajiado District is followed by a detailed description of the Eselenkei Conservation Area initiative. The conclusion is that, although KWS presents the development of wildlife sanctuaries as a new form of "partnership" with the local Maasai population, the case of Selengei shows that in order to be truly community-based, certain conditions should be met. The benefits to be gained by the Selengei Maasai were still uncertain in 2000. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
