Simon is driven by the notion that the local people of Tanzania should develop sustainable, locally owned and operated businesses that promote this beautiful country while being responsible for its well-being. Providing people with economic opportunity in tourism organizations that rely on the beauty and biodiversity of the land is the best way to protect that land for future generations. SENE aspires to achieve this in the following ways:
- SENE is a member of Leave No Trace, the Colorado-based environmental ethics organization. We strictly observe all its principles while on the mountain and on all our eco-adventures. Simon is spearheading an effort to have the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority require adherence to LNT principles of all companies climbing the mountain.
- Several times a year, Simon organizes a tree-planting initiative in a local village to combat habitat destruction. He invites SENE Moshi staff, international residents, and the local villagers to join him.
- On the annual Kilimanjaro Stage Run all participants are also involved in a tree-planting activity en route.
- We have eliminated single-use plastic bottles in our office and on our trips – offering only filtered drinking water to clients on all our adventures.
MBAHE FARM COTTAGES
- SENE’s Mbahe Village cottages are made with all local material and use local products in all the rooms. The accommodations were built with minimal environmental destruction, are set amongst the coffee and vegetable plots of the Mtuy family farm, and use footpath access only. All food served at Mbahe comes from the organic garden on the property or are purchased locally.
- The organic farm and garden plots, and the beehives that Simon maintains in Mbahe, offer models of sustainable farming techniques. Simon proselytizes this message of sustainable practices among the crew at Mbahe and throughout the community.
- We use only filtered and boiled water at Mbahe, avoiding the need for disposable water bottles and their excessive waste. This water is stored in re-usable containers.
CLIMBS
- On every climb, the SENE mountain crew set up at camp portable toilets with an eco-friendly biodegradable Cleanwaste® disposal system.
- We operate with a zero-waste approach, and therefore use reusable containers for food storage, cloth napkins instead of paper napkins, hand-made canvas trash bags at camp, and guests dine from reusable picnic containers.
- As a result of Simon’s tireless education, SENE guides and porters are widely known for picking up other companies’ trash while on the mountain.
- In an effort to reduce the environmental impact on the most heavily-used Kilimanjaro climb routes, SENE encourages our clients to follow less busy routes to lessen the amount of foot-traffic and destruction. We also promote alternative sustainable adventures, such as multi-day walks, runs, and bike rides on the quiet trails encircling the mountain outside the national park. These adventures, in areas where tourists rarely go, also provide a culturally immersive experience with authentic cross-cultural interactions.
SAFARIS
- We have a water purification system in all our safari vehicles, abrogating the need for single-use plastic water bottles. We ask that all guests bring their own reusable water bottle to refill from our system.
- Lodges and tented camps are providing clean safe drinking water for all guests.
