USING DONKEYS IN TOURISM

TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY IN RURAL AFRICAN COMMUNITIES

TOURISTS LOVE DONKEYS

Donkeys are a friendly size

Donkeys have easy temperaments

Donkeys will not gallop out of control

Young donkeys are like giant cuddly toys

SOUTH AFRICA HAS A TRADITION OF DONKEYS

In Polokwane (Pietersburg), a statue commemorates the work of donkeys in the mining industry

In Upington, a statue commemorates the work of donkeys in pumping water (a real donkey still does this at the Willem Prinsloo Museum in Gauteng)

DONKEYS HAVE LITTLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

Donkeys are indigenous to African savannas

A donkey consumes 6 kg of food per day

5 kg of this food needs to be dry foliage

A donkey consumes about 5 litres of water per day

Hoofs, being small, and body light, have minimum impact

DONKEYS ARE SUITED TO BACKPACKING & RIDING Donkeys expend little

energy walking with heavy loads

Donkeys are skilled at handling different centres of gravity

On steep paths, donkeys are as sure-footed as goats

On level ground, donkeys have a steady, smooth ‘four-footed’ gait.

DONKEYS ARE EASY TO HANDLE

DONKEYS ARE COMMON IN RURAL COMMUNITIES They are needed for

ploughing They pull carts for

firewood and water Otherwise they are

not much used They are seldom used

for income generation Regular use (not

overuse) improves donkey behaviour

RURAL PEOPLE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO TOURISM Most tourists

come from urban centres

African rural life is something special in the world

FOR RURAL PEOPLE, TOURISM IS VERY NEW For them, rural

living is not a special experience

They have been told that it brings money

They do not know the costs – in money, environment and culture

They do not know the responsibilities involved

FOR TOURISM EMPOWERMENT, WORKSHOPPING IS NEEDED How can people

use their own donkeys for tourism ?

What does ‘tourism’ mean ?

How can rural people do it ?SUGGESTED WORKSHOP

THEMES AND TREATMENTS FOLLOW

PEOPLE USING THEIR OWN DONKEYS Which donkeys

to use Maintenance of

donkeys Appropriate

equipment and principles of construction

WHICH DONKEYS TO USE How the donkeys should look Their state of health How many to use at any one time Who owns, who uses Possible contracts

After discussion, appropriate owners, donkeys and users can be further selected

MAINTENANCE OF DONKEYS Proper harnessing and hitching to

carts Limits of loading carts and backs Hours of use Enabling enough eating and drinking Overnight and other confinementDiscussion and agreement as to what is required to maintain donkeys in good condition

EQUIPMENT AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION Headgear for animals Backframes Backbags Harnesses Hitching equipment (swingles &

eveners) CartsEach one demonstrated and tested, with comments from participants.

WHAT DOES ‘TOURISM’ MEAN ? What do rural

people expect from tourists ?

What do tourists want ?

Environmental problems

Problem tourists

WHAT DO PEOPLE EXPECT FROM TOURISTS ? Money ? Gifts ? Penpals ? Invitations to other countries ? Project funding ?

The possibility or otherwise of achieving these must be considered and discussed, along with reasons

WHAT DO TOURISTS REALLY WANT ? Interest Taking photographs of anything they

see, including people Compensation for theft, illness or

injury Clean environments Healthy animals PrivacyCan these be provided, or otherwise what can be done ?

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS Water Food Roads/transport Waste disposal

What is needed and how can it be provided ?

PROBLEM TOURISTS Wanting special foods Dressing in a shocking manner Intruding in private places Complaining all the time Treating culture as a joke Wanting witchcraft Wanting drugs Wanting sex

After seeing each of these exemplified in a drama sketch, people can discuss how to deal with them.

HOW IT CAN BE DONE

What services are needed

The handling of money

Management

NECESSARY SERVICES Accreditation Guides Marketing Food Transport Accommodation Entertainment

What each of them means and who should be responsible

HANDLING MONEY

The possible cost of each service What can be charged ? Recipients of profits Responsibilities Record-keeping

Calculations to be done and responsibilities to be allocated

TOURISM MANAGEMENT Co-ordination of services Committee formation Contracts to be signed Dealing with competition

Each of these to be fully discussed and decided upon

PRODUCT FOR TOURISTS Company of indigenous animals Exploration of environment with local

guide Rendezvous near community Direct personal contact with rural people No artificiality Tired people, water and equipment can

be carried At least one traditional meal of local

foods Local storytelling/music/dance Depending on route, overnight

accommodation with a local family meeting good hospitality standards, otherwise fully equipped camps and catering.

STEPS THAT A TOUR OPERATOR CAN TAKE

Interviewing and selecting interested donkey owners/entrepreneurs Raising finance.      Acquiring vehicle Meetings with the leaders, traditional and political, of selected appropriate donkey

owners/entrepreneurs, to canvass the terms of participation. For each 20 or so donkey entrepreneurs, two one-day workshops, which may

encompass 5 and 6 below. Financial agreements with donkey owners/entrepreneurs. Approval of suitable providers for:

Donkey handling (including cart ownership ] can be the same Guiding ] individual/s Providing meals Providing accommodation Providing entertainment: storytelling/music/dance

Training and qualification of donkey handlers (e.g. Donkey Power CC). Training and qualification of guides (e.g. Face Afrika). Signing of agreements with communities concerning representation, payments

and standards. Liaison with local Tourism and Publicity Associations. Liaison with local lodges and tour operators. Marketing in the media Setting up website

BUDGETING AN OPERATIONTOUR OPERATOR SHOULD CONSIDER:

Vehicle purchase (combi type) Interest on vehicle loan Vehicle depreciation Vehicle maintenance Insurance Meetings with donkey owners/entrepreneurs (10 meetings, 10 days, incl. transport

4000 km) Training workshops for donkey owners & handlers (30 workshops, 30 days, incl.

transport 4000 km) Training of 20 guides Printing of leaflets Correspondence (~200 hours, stationery) Postage Telephone (includes fax, internet and email) Website creation Website maintenance Computer depreciation Fax depreciation Tour operator’s percentage (10% on, say, R6000 per tour group) Fuel for tour groups (average 300 km) Contingency 15% on expenditure Inflation 15% on expenditure

BUDGET ASSUMPTIONS:(figures likely to change from year to year, area to area) ~10 interested donkey owners/entrepreneurs ~2 people involved in meetings with donkey

owners/entrepreneurs @ R?/day per person 1 week training of 10 people at a time @ R?day = R? 1 tour group per week maximum, independent of locality, I.e.

donkey owner/entrepreneur (meaning each donkey owner may handle no more than 3 tour groups per year)

~10-15 people per tour group, paying group fee for all-inclusive (i.e. including transport from pick-up point to expedition rendezvous, donkey-trekking for 2-3 day period, entertainment (story-telling, music, dance), one traditional meal and local accommodation for one night with dinner, bed and breakfast or otherwise fully-equipped camping accommodation and catering).

CONTRACTS CONSIDEREDExample: 

COMMUNITY-MANAGEDDONKEY-BASED TOURS

AGREEMENTBETWEEN

…………………………………………………………… (hereinafter known as the DONKEY OWNER)

ANDAFRICAN ENCOUNTERS CC (say)

(Reg. No. …..)(hereinafter known as TOUR OPERATOR)

(WHERE ‘AFRICAN ENCOUNTERS’ IS TOUR OPERATOR/MARKETER)      

1.   Pay the DONKEY OWNER an agreed amount of money for each group of fifteen (or portion of five) visitors brought to the rendezvur by the TOUR OPERATOR, not including one representative of the TOUR OPERATOR, for whom no money will be paid;

1.1  Fees for a minimum of five donkeys and one donkey handler (and cart, if provided) for each full day or portion of day used;1.2.  Fees for each guide for each full day or portion of day used (qualified guides will be entitled to higher payments, set as agreed);1.3.  Each daytime meal of traditional food, regardless of numbers, provided by the DONKEY OWNER;1.4.  Each traditional storytelling, dance or music performance per day if arranged in advance;1.5.   Accommodation, including refreshments, breakfast and evening meal provided by the community for each group of five (or portion of five) people, multiplied by the number of nights which they stay.

The name of the agreed DONKEY OWNER and the amount agreed upon shall be recorded in writing as part of this agreement and a copy of such record kept by both the DONKEY OWNER and TOUR OPERATOR. 2.   Notify the DONKEY OWNER, in writing, of the standards expected of visited communities in general, donkeys, handlers, guides, meals, accommodation and the environment. A copy of such notification will form part of this agreement, and will be kept by both the DONKEY OWNER and TOUR OPERATOR.

THE TOUR OPERATOR’S SIDE:

The DONKEY OWNER/ENTREPRENEUR agrees to:

1. Nominate an agreed representative, details below, who will receive from the TOUR OPERATOR all monies and sign receipts therefor on behalf of the DONKEY OWNER;

2. Manage and distribute any amount of money paid to its agreed representative by the TOUR OPERATOR;.

3. Provide donkeys and handlers of a standard approved of by the TOUR OPERATOR;

4. Provide guides to features of tourism interest of a standard approved of by the TOUR OPERATOR;

5. Provide meals and beverages of a standard approved of by the TOUR OPERATOR;6. Provide accommodation of a standard approved of by the TOUR OPERATOR;7. Ensure that the environment of the expedtion is maintained to a standard

approved of by the TOUR OPERATOR;8. Allow a representative of the TOUR OPERATOR to accompany visitors from time

to time in order to monitor the standards;9. Abide by any decision made by the TOUR OPERATOR concerning the standards

as listed above;10. Take full responsibility for illness, injury or loss caused by actions or negligence

originating in the the actions of the DONKEY OWNER, and carry own insurance policies therefor.

THE DONKEY OWNER’S SIDE:

AGREED PAYMENTS:AMOUNTS TO BE PAID FOR:

 

1.           Each group of 15 visitors: _________

2.           Daily payment for donkeys and handler

(and cart, if provided):_________

3.           Daily payment per guide (if not handler):_________

4.           Each daytime meal, regardless of numbers:_________

5.           Storytelling, dance or music performance (if provided):_________

6.           Accommodation per night for each group of 5 visitors,

including refreshments, breakfast and evening meal: _________

TOTAL TO DONKEY OWNER: _________

 

STANDARDS TO BE MET:Donkeys  Calmness in the presence of strange people and animals No open wounds No large scars Ears intact Bones not protruding, especially not ribs and pelvis No lameness or limpingHandlers   Respectably dressed No beating of donkeys Good relationship with donkeysCarts (if used) In good condition with respect to woodwork, wheels, bearings,

shaft, swingles and traces Clean and comfortable for passengers Donkeys to be properly hitched (i.e. with breechstrap, and

weight of disselboom on back and not neck, transmitted through front swingles and evener)

Any other equipment used To be kept in good repair and attractive condition.

STANDARDS TO BE MET:Community in General Not to ask visitors for money or goods (when tour operator

brings tourists, all payments shall be made through and by tour operator only)

Allow photographs to be taken if politely asked, without expectation of payment

Environment Free of litter Buildings in good repair Dogs and cats in reasonable condition

Guides and/or storytellers Respectably dressed Good knowledge of English Good knowledge of local history Good knowledge of environment 

STANDARDS TO BE MET:Meals and refreshments Food to be properly cooked Water to be safe (boiled or borehole) Good variety of food according to season Eating implements clean and in good condition Individual clean plates, spoons, knives and forks to be

provided to those who require them Individual clean cups to be provided for all drinks, including

water, maheu and beer

Accommodation Clean Private Bedlinen sufficient and clean Toilets accessible, clean and fragrant

SAMPLE PUBLICITY:COMMUNITY-BASED

DONKEY TOURS  Go deep into traditional Africa – cradle of all humankind – and see it

through African eyes. Head into the hills and mountains, with only a pack donkey to carry the load, to visit the rocks, forests and ruined strongholds of African history. You will see not just wildlife, but how it is part of African life. Travel through wild areas and, depending on route, be welcomed into a clean, modern home where old customs are still important. Hear the fireside stories as told by the elders. See how people work at traditional livelihoods.

 None of this will be through the obscuring windows of a motor vehicle,

but with guides and donkeys you will be able to hear it, touch it, smell it. Experience Africa as a living thing, through living people and animals, and find that the legends of earth and Africa are still very much alive.

 In this third millennium you will find that the living past may also be

the most promising future. Allow 2 to 3 days in your African itinerary to reach out and know the real Africa, not just the savanna animals and outlandish costumes presented by the media. As a personalized tour, arranged differently for each group (max. 15 people), and directly benefiting each community concerned, this service may work out expensively for individuals in the smaller groups — but for a learning experience of profound quality, no price is too high.

HOW IT MAY START(2001 calcs,)

To facilitate grassroots buy-in, privately organized country-wide tours, taking in a mountain-and village 3-day donkey trek (provided by tour operator) with temporary camps along routeSet-up cost ~R80 000

To facilitate grassroots buy-in, privately owned lodge/hotel makes agreement with community-based donkey owners (co-ordinated, trained and monitored by tour operator) to keep their donkeys nearby and offer tours from lodge to local interest spotsSet-up cost ~R60 000 (for workshops)

Local donkey owners/entrepreneurs observe and want part of the action, approaching tour operator for facilitation.Workshop costs ~R60 000

Tour operator acts as co-ordinator, mentor, and marketer and ensures quality control (thus ensuring sustainability) for approved donkey owners/entreprenears offering their own treksDONKEY OWNERS (AND DONKEYS) BENEFIT

Interested communities participate in workshops to sensitize them to tourism and enable them to make decisions about types of buy-in and contractual possibilities.

Workshop costs per community;~R104 000 (returns ~R5000/yr)

ALREADY BEING OFFERED AROUND

SOUTH AFRICA

Donkeys can carry a lot, and tourists love them

Equipment is cheap and easy to make and repair, and can be very attractive