On the 3rd of July this year, Nisimulie Africa had an unprecedented opportunity to address an audience of more than 30 on an independently organised event hosted by TEDx Majengo!
The audience had the unique opportunity to relive the birth of Nisimulie Africa – incepted right in the midst of the COVID-19 turmoil in a pace setting quest for eco-conscious and responsible tourism.
It was an honour for us at Nisimulie Africa being in the presence of other like-minded idealists that aim to put a twist on the trajectory of our society’s points of view on various aspects !
A brief ‘throwback’ onto how it all began. In the wake of 2020, as the world was receding into hiding with lockdowns being imposed on the masses all over the world, tourism came to a stand still. Just as the majority of the population, most of us, especially those employed in the tourism sector, were adversely affected with some losing their jobs. In spite of the dark times bestowed upon us with a very vague future to look up to, it was quite a blessing that no curfews and lockdowns were enforced in Tanzania. This gave us liberation in gathering, at least once in a while, as family and friends and we would get to chat and exchange ideas on how to navigate these murky waters of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was in one of these engaging times that we started noticing something different happening all around the world…something very peculiar. As the tables were turned and humanity went into hiding, the rest of nature was blossoming. Wildlife was taking over the empty spaces that were previously so populated by people. Wild goats, playing in the streets of Wales, Nubian ibexes strolling along the promenade of Eliat – Israel, wild pumas in the streets of Chile, wild coyotes roaming the streets of San Francisco, civet cats in the streets of Kerala – India, deers in the open streets of Nara – Japan, wild swans and dolphins taking over the canals of Venice – Rome and so many other stories of these rare sightings. The absence of human interference provided an opportunity for wildlife, even though for a limited time, to reclaims what was once rightfully their home. A considerable cut down on carbon emissions from decreased travel and industrial production also left the air a bit purer. All these were telltale signs of how much of a pandemic the human race has been to the world much far worse than what the COVID-19 pandemic has been to the human race.
It was in this epiphany that the core values of Nisimulie Africa were realized and engraved in each and every member of the team – that we would re-establish tourism that actually does take into consideration the adverse effects of its actions on the environment – the land, the wildlife and the people.