OUR VISION
- Respect for nature and people as part of the environment
- Biodiversity combined with social integration
- Healing through natural resources
- Education as a central element of the sustainable process
- Original African food and remedies

PERMACULTURE

The concept of permaculture is based on the millennia-old tradition of forest gardening, the origins of which can be traced back to the South American Amazon region. In Tanzania, the Meru ethnic group on Mount Meru in Arusha National Park and the Chagga on Mount Kilimanjaro have been practising agriculture in the form of forest gardening for more than 400 years.

We want to revive this cultural tradition, which has been forgotten due to decades of agricultural monoculture under the regime of Julius Nyerere, together with the local population. Gardens for the reintroduction of indigenous trees and the cultivation of useful and medicinal plants will be created.

We are creating an oasis of permaculture and self-sufficiency where our guests can relax and actively participate.

Within the institute, which is responsible for building the Maasai lodge in accordance with the above parameters, a beekeeping project is also being established under the direction of beekeeper and permaculture teacher Franko Göhse. This is carried out in collaboration with traditional Tanzanian beekeepers on the grounds of the Africa Amini Maasai Lodge in the Maasai steppe and on the edge of Arusha National Park.

By training the local population and helping them to establish a profitable income from honey production, we will also raise awareness of the importance of nature conservation. A reduction in the use of pesticides in agriculture to protect bees, whose lives are threatened by them, is one of the key factors. Within the lodge, we offer our guests our own “Bee Good” honey. The proceeds from the additional sales at the market are also distributed to the Africa Amini Alama projects and to the further development of the Beekeeping Institute. As a special highlight, we offer bee safaris under expert guidance!

REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE

Due to food shortages, rising food prices and the high use of chemicals in agriculture, we are cultivating our own agricultural land in order to produce healthy staple foods for our schoolchildren. This is a necessity, but the project, which was launched in October, has a much broader significance. We want to encourage people to follow our example and pass on our knowledge to the next generation. That is why we started the new Oltepes Kilimo Secondary School for Regenerative Agriculture and also teach these now forgotten techniques in the higher classes of elementary school. We use home-made fertilizers and plants such as neem leaves to control pests. By planting different types of grain in the immediate vicinity, we focus on synergies between the plants and attach great importance to the reintroduction of old grain varieties. Fields near Simba Vision in Madebe, at Kilimo Secondary School, in Kiteto and, since 2023, also in Maroroni serve as pilot farms for the regenerative cultivation of cereals, maize and beans. We want to break new ground, give the Maasai and Meru alternatives for the respectful use of natural resources and encourage them to return to their original traditions!

AGROFORESTRY

As a result of climate change and widespread deforestation, the Maasai savannah of Ngabobo is becoming drier and drier and increasingly difficult to use for agriculture. The challenges for livestock and farmers are increasing, which is why reforestation is an important aspect of microclimatic change. In addition to growing crops, we are increasingly aware of the need for one of our planet's most important resources: the world of trees and their central role in the micro-regulation of an area. On all our farms, we integrate agroforestry to harness the synergies of trees for the farms, according to the principles of permaculture. Over 1000 trees have already been planted and maintained by Africa Amini in 2022, whether as a boundary for our fields, to keep the wind out and clean the water from the irrigation channels, for shade or to harvest fruit for the children. Trees in all our schools and also for the use of medicinal herbs. It is touching to see how much our children have already adopted this idea in various projects and are enthusiastically taking responsibility for the trees they have planted.

OUR FARMS

Over the last 10 years, Africa Amini Alama has planted several permaculture gardens to provide our school children with vegetables and to educate them about the importance of organic produce. These gardens are located in two areas with different climatic conditions:

MOMELLA IN MERU LAND

- Worseg Vision School

- Africa Amini Secondary School for sustainable tourism

- Clinic for natural healing and preventive medicine

- KinderVilla

NGABOBO IN MAASAI LAND

- Ngabobo natural medicine Farm

- Ngabobo Moringa Farm

- Maasai Vision School

- Simba Vision School

- Oltepez Kilimo Secondary School

- Original Maasai Lodge vegetable garden

All gardens work on the principle of composting, efficient water use and grow purely organic vegetables. Moringa as a general multivitamin is available at all locations.