Poachers Turned Defenders: How Nyerere National Park transforms attitudes, lives
Tanzania National Parks is proving that the best way to protect an elephant is to invest in the person living next to it.
FRIDAY January 23, 2026
By Patty Magubira
The Tranquility News Reporter, Tanzania
For years, the relationship between the communities bordering Nyerere National Park and the wildlife within was defined by conflict and survival.
But today, a radical shift is occurring. Through the Resilient Natural Resources Management for Tourism and Growth (REGROW) project, Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) is proving that the best way to protect an elephant is to invest in the person living next to it.
The investment is staggering, over Sh502 million (about$197,638) in seed funds has been injected into community groups, with startups funding reaching Sh1.1 billion (about $433,071).
From scholarships to poultry farms and rice mills, the park is no longer just a fenced-off wilderness—it has become an economic engine for the region.
For many youth at Kisaki Village in Morogoro Region, the dream of higher education was once a financial impossibility. REGROW has bridged that gap, providing 100 per cent scholarships to 394 students at a cost of Sh1.1 billion (about $433,071).
I would not have known the College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka, if it was not for REGROW,” Jonas Tasinga, graduate in wildlife conservation from the College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka.
“I would not have known the College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka, if it was not for REGROW,” says Jonas Tasinga, a recent graduate in wildlife conservation.
“Without this course, I might be engaging in poaching. Now I know that wildlife belongs to us, not just the government.”
The impact is equally felt by girls like Anitha Makasa, who used her sponsorship to gain entrepreneurship and conservation skills.
Today, she manufactures cassava soap and insecticide. “Being a girl, I would have been easily trapped without this sponsorship,” she admits.
From bush meat to businesses
The economic transformation is perhaps most visible in the animal husbandry union known as UWAKI – a Kiswahili acronym for Umoja wa Wanyama Kisaki.
Led by Remmy Tayari, the group has transitioned from small-scale savings to a professional poultry operation.
With a Sh29.6 million (about $11,654) grant from REGROW, the group built modern shelters and now manages hundreds of hybrid chickens, selling them locally and to tourist lodges within and outside the park.
In the past, members of UWAKI group could only borrow Sh300,000 (about $118) each. Today, they can secure up to Sh9 million (about $3,540).
The group has become a frontline defense for wildlife. “We are good ambassadors. We no longer complain when animals destroy crops like we did in the past, because we see the benefits,” Tayari explains.
Ramla Kapimilila, the union’s Assistant Secretary, says the project has stabilised families. With her earnings, she has built a house and pays her child’s secondary school fees independently.
“I no longer disturb my husband for essential needs,” she says proudly.
Infrastructure and industry
Beyond farming, the project is modernising the Kisaki Kituoni. Wilson Lugenzi, a local carpenter, now operates his workshop and a brick-making plant using electricity connected via a new $17,736 rice husking plant funded by Kisaki Kwanza – a local Community Conservation Bank (COCOBA).
“None of us had a dream of getting electricity in the near future,” Lugenzi says, explaining that he and his neighbours paid only a small connection fee, thanks to the plant’s proximity.
Modernising the park
While the community thrives, the park itself has seen a massive upgrade to handle tourism growth.
A new administrative hub with reception and tourism offices has been constructed at Mtemere Gate Complex.
None of us had a dream of getting electricity in the near future,” Wilson Lugenzi, carpenter and owner of a brick-making workshop.
Five new rest houses and a full-service restaurant also have been constructed a few minutes-drive from the gate.
Also constructed through the REGROW project is a state-of-the-art Mtemere Airstrip, with 2.8-kilometre runway and a terminal building with 20 offices to welcome both local and international visitors.
Moreover, the project spent Sh13.7 billion (about $5.4 million) on patrol gear, vehicles, tractors, and machineries to ensure the park remains a safe haven for wildlife and tourists.
A call to action
Despite the success, challenges remain. The road from Morogoro Municipality is often impassable during the rainy season, delaying supplies.
Furthermore, the community is concerned about the premature suspension of the REGROW project, leaving many youths waiting for more scholarship opportunities.
However, the message from the park’s leadership is clear: “The national park is present because it accommodates wildlife,” Ephraim Mwangomo, Assistant Conservation Commissioner for TANAPA states. “Once animals are depleted, no tourist will arrive,” he warns.
For the residents of Kisaki, the lesson has been learned: A living elephant is worth far more than a poached one.
As Obeid Mlosa, Kisaki neighbourhood Chairperson, puts it: “We never knew the value of wildlife in the past. Now, our youth are the ones educating us.”Ω
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The Tranquility News Reporter/Sub Editor, Tanzania
Patty Magubira is an experienced environmental and business editor whose career started at the Tanzania's state-owned newspaper - The Daily News. He is a man of perfection. Aided by his extensive training as a community forestry expert before joining Tanzania School of Journalism. Magubira had successfully held various key posts in newsrooms, giving him an unmatched connections in media fraternity. Having worked as a bureau chief in Arusha and Mwanza, he managed to build a team work, boosting sales to the highest level ever. He was then promoted to a sub-editor after completing a training in Nairobi, Kenya. His incredible experience, critical thinking and exposure are critical to the quality of any media outlet.
