Introduction:
 The
Jola village, near Kafuta, operate a conservation
project area, part of which is cultivated, and the project is
centred round the Tumani
Tenda Camp.
Concept:
This is a community that is working together to make best use
of all its resources - natural and human. Over the past 10 years,
the villagers of Tumani Tenda have established one village enterprise
after another. Their first was a community forest and that maturing
plantation is now a sure supply of construction timber and firewood.
And, densely planted to discourage grassy undergrowth, it is also
a fire break, which protects their houses and 89 hectares of valuable
mature trees from the sudden dry season bush fires that can sweep
in from the interior, destroying everything.
 Later
the villagers established a community vegetable garden. Covering
more than three hectares it is divided into three parts. One third
is planted with cassava, which is worked by the whole village.
Another third grows banana; plots are owned individually but ten
per cent of any sales are given to the village garden fund. The
remaining third of the garden is a mosaic of colourful and carefully-nurtured
vegetables.
The area's other resource is the river: the creek is a steady
source of small fish as well as oysters, which cling to the roots
of the mangroves along the banks. Buoyed up by their success with
trees and vegetables, the community now has its own small trawler,
which recruits a volunteer crew to venture further downstream
fishing deeper waters.
The villagers
give visitors the chance to experience their local cuisine, traditional
Jola dances, sacred rituals and sometimes invite guests into their
compounds.
The villagers give you the chance to experience the rich complexity,
self-sufficiency and tempo of village life. Opportunities are
available to visit women's projects, the school, the poultry,
the horticultural garden and community forest. Visitors are encouraged
to absorb themselves in the atmosphere of the village through
asking questions and participating in certain activities in order
to gain understanding of life in a rural Jolla Community. In essence
visitors can experience a unique blend of education, vacation,
recreation, relaxation, adventure and learning. Opportunities
are available to buy products made by the people of Tumani Tenda
which visitors may take home as distinctive souvenirs of their
experience, such as soap, baskets, batiks and tie and dye material.
Day trippers to Tumani
Tenda will be able to experience the special relationship
that the villagers have with the natural environment and witness
the many examples where the villagers conserve and preserve the
environment from which their living depend on.
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Attractions
Nature
Reserves
Resorts
Abuko Nature Reserve
Ballabu Conservation
Bama Kuno Forest
Bao Bolong Wetland
Bijilo
Forest Park
Bolong Fenyo
Kiang West
Kunkilling Forest Park
Makasutu Cultural Forest
Niumi National Park
Pirang Forest
River Gambia Park
Tanbi Wetlands
Tanji Bird Reserve
Tumani
Tenda
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