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1000 Trees: Altezza Travel Restores the Forest

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In May 2022, Altezza Travel planted over 1000 trees along the Rundugai river near Chemka. Chemka Hot Springs is a popular recreation located 15 km (9 miles) away from the Kilimanjaro airport. Now, the natural shelter belt along the watercourse is being restored.

This article looks at the work being done to restore the natural environment in the area.

Landscape gardening at the Rundugai river bank
Landscape gardening at the Rundugai river bank

What We Have Already Done

May 2022 was a time of ‘giving back’ for Altezza Travel: first, we planted over 400 trees on the bank of the Sere River in the buffer zone of Kilimanjaro Park, and then we reinforced the banks of the Rundugai River. In both cases, the forest floor was damaged and the channel became bare, endangering the entire ecosystem. This often happens in places where people come into contact with nature, and it takes extra effort to restore the damage. Altezza Travel specifically bought an unforested plot of land in order to plant it with trees and contribute to a healthier forest in the area.

Unloading the saplings
Unloading the saplings

On May 26 and 27, the Altezza Travel team began rebuilding the Rundugai River shelter belt.

First, we set up camp at the site to prepare the soil. The ground here is stony, which means we first had to loosen its top layer and remove any large stones before we could begin planting trees. Moreover, we had to additionally fertilize the soil so the trees could grow healthy and strong.

Managers of Altezza took part in the tree planting...
Managers of Altezza took part in the tree planting...
... shoulder to shoulder with the gardeners of Altezza's hotels
... shoulder to shoulder with the gardeners of Altezza's hotels

All the gardeners from the company's hotels, as well as other members of the Altezza team, our friends, and a few hired local workers, took part in the campaign, too.

One of Altezza’s key employees, Michael, who has extensive experience in horticulture, has been leading this project.

Michael is in charge of the climbing gear at Altezza Travel
Michael is in charge of the climbing gear at Altezza Travel
 In his free time, Michael loves gardening
In his free time, Michael loves gardening

During the first stage, we planted about 300 trees in the area closest to the water. This is the most important part of the shelter belt because the tree roots bind the soil and prevent the river from eroding the bank.

Residents of the nearby villages come to the river in this area to draw water, and they also bring their cattle here for watering. This is where the land is trampled and the green cover is most easily destroyed. Unfortunately, the district authorities do not inform local residents about the connection between human activity and the deplorable ecological consequences.

A satellite image
A satellite image

The bank requires natural protection at a width of 60 meters from the river's edge. We have successively planted the entire bare ground, distributing the trees at a distance of three meters from each other.

Furthermore, each sapling requires additional protection due to the harshness of the local soil. In addition to watering the young trees individually, an automatic sprinkler system with a 360° rotation pattern irrigates the entire plot.

Automatic sprinkler system
Automatic sprinkler system

We also bought manure from local farmers to fertilize the soil around the saplings. After planting, the fertilized and moistened soil around the plants is covered with green grass and shrub branches that we mowed while preparing the area for tree planting.

Hole drilling stage
Hole drilling stage
The next step is to plant seedlings
The next step is to plant seedlings

In total, Altezza Travel has purchased more than 1,000 trees to create a green space in this damaged area. Among them are Rauwolfia, or the South African cinch tree; Spathodea, the tulip tree with bright red flowers that look like a fountain; the golden Markhamia with beautiful yellow bells, the fig tree of the Ficus family that grows well beside the water; and the African Kigelia which has a funny second name - Sausage Tree - given for its long fruit that hangs like sausages under the tree’s crown.

A flower of African tulip tree
A flower of African tulip tree
The vigorous root of a sycomore fig
The vigorous root of a sycomore fig
Fruit of kigelia (Kigelia africana), otherwise known as sausage tree
Fruit of kigelia (Kigelia africana), otherwise known as sausage tree

All the planted trees need time to take root and get everything they needed to grow healthy and strong. For that purpose, there are still people staying near the site in our field camp for a while. They will watch the seedlings, water them, and protect them from animal and human encroachment.

Everyone enjoyed their day out planting new trees
Everyone enjoyed their day out planting new trees
Many hands make light work!
Many hands make light work!

One of the main threats to the young plants is the herds of goats brought to graze by shepherds from the nearby villages. During a previous attempt to plant trees: goats nibbled at the stems and the seedlings died.

This time we took measures to protect the seedlings: we fenced off the area with dry thorny branches and left guards in the camp who would drive the animals away during the first year of the saplings' growth.

Our camp near the site
Our camp near the site

What Is Still To Be Done  

Once the young trees have taken root at the new place, we plan to plant bushes between them to create the second level of plant life. The third and the lowest level will be grass and moss, this final level will help to enrich the soil.

First stage of handling the saplings on the Rundugai bank
First stage of handling the saplings on the Rundugai bank

During the first months of the trees' lives, we will take good care of them and monitor their growth. We plan to supplement this feature article with photos from time to time. In the future, we will add both photo reports and satellite images of the area to clearly show the process of ecosystem restoration on the Rundugai River.

Follow the life of the trees and the restoration of an important ecosystem with us!

Published on 16 October 2023 Revised on 24 September 2024
About this article
Yurii Bogorodskiy
Expert Articles: 60
Written byYurii Bogorodskiy
Travel Expert Tanzania
Expertise:
Birdwatching Birdwatching
History History
Islands Islands
Tanzania Tanzania
Wildlife Wildlife
Safari Safari

Yuri, a full-time researcher and writer at Altezza Travel, has been living in Tanzania since 2019. He has explored many of its lesser-known destinations, including Kitulo and Rubondo National Parks, Lake Victoria, Zanzibar, and many other historical, natural, and archeological sites. His experiences in the Amani Forest and Ibanda–Kyerwa National Park have inspired him to become a passionate birder. Yurii is also an avid reader, delving into various volumes about Tanzanian culture and history. He regularly shares detailed articles based on his research and travels on our blog.

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