Transport from Kilindoni to Ras Kisimani takes 20 minutes with our boat along the coastline, while transport over land takes 45 minutes! Here we see Jan Schnitzler, our WWOOFER, enjoying the spectacular views.

We visited Tichafa Makovere, our project manager, our tree local workers from Mlongo village and Jan Schnitzler, our WWOOFER, at Ras Kisimani last week. They have done a tremendous job in planting and maintaining crops, and removing weedbush for our eco lodge area. Also they have cleared our boundaries, and a pathway to the nearest ancient mosque and well, from which we obtain our (drinking!) water

With rainfall reaching +100mms at certain days this month our crops are booming!

At this moment cover crop has been planted to bring nucleant into the first two hectares of soil on Ras Kisimani. In whole we have planted some legumes, pigeon peas, groundnuts, cowpeas, pumpkins, melons, okra, cucumbers, etc that have now germinated at a distance of 70cm by 120cm and between them maize has been planted at 70cm by 60cm.

Tichafa and his team have made good progress in clearing our future PRI camp ground, respecting all valuable trees and shrubs. Nearly 5 acres have been cleared:

More pictures in the “Site Pictures” section

Permaculture is a natural and sustainable way of farming; once set up it will provide a substantial bulk of fresh organic produce on Mafia Island; for lodges and hotels but also for the local market.

We plan to build a Permaculture School on the property and would like to train, amongst others, local Mafia Island people in this sustainable way of farming that will benefit the whole community.
The Eco-Lodge will provide a work opportunity for the local community, create substantial income for the farm and will help lift the economy of the Ras Kisimani area.

So in this way we will start landbased developments, but we have an equal interest for marine life sustainability like Padi Culture and Lagoon Culture.