Tribal Voice Communications

I can’t believe it is over ten years since I travelled to Kenya with Dr. Cheryl Mvula, to write about the extraordinary work that she had been doing with Maasai communities and sustainable tourism in Kenya’s Masai Mara.  I had only started writing really, following completion of my MSc in Responsible Tourism Management. But the people I met and places I visited on that trip of a lifetime were not only the greatest reward for my studies but also the greatest reminder that giving voice to people who deserve it was what I had set out to do when I started writing.  

In that article I wrote mostly about the Maasai people themselves who had worked so hard to combat some of the most unethical aspects of tourism in their homelands. Today I want to write about Cheryl who helped facilitate that change for the Maasai people, something that she does with both skill and sensitivity. Cheryl is a responsible tourism consultant with Tribal Voice Communications, a wildlife conservationist, anthropologist and all round feisty woman who doesn’t take no for an answer when it comes to good practice in tourism and, in particular sustainable tourism in Kenya. She was awarded an MBE in the 2017 Queen’s New Year Honours list, for services to responsible tourism, community development and conservation in Africa.

Sustainable tourism in Kenya
Dr. Cheryl Mvula, Tribal Voice Communications

Over the years, Cheryl has worked in partnership with a number of impressive NGO’s such as the  Born Free Foundation, Travel FoundationFederation of Tour Operators (FTO), the Kenya Association of Tour Operators,  Mara Conservancy and the Zambia Wildlife Authority. I am also a huge fan of and donor to her charity, High Five Club through which Cheryl tirelessly offers her time to impoverished rural communities living in regions that are popular wildlife tourism destinations, through a hand up rather than handouts  approach. Do check it out if you want a transparent and transforming charity to support for just a fiver a month that helps reduce poverty in several African countries in a sustainable way.

Sustainable tourism in Kenya

I also want to give a mention Manny Mvula, Cheryl’s husband who is Zambian, works alongside Cheryl on many projects, is one Africa’s top safari guides, a wildlife conservationist in his own right and a field trip leader. He regularly makes trips back to Zambia to work on wildlife conservation and community development projects in the Luangwa Valley, the area in which he was born and raised. It was he who proudly contacted me to share the news about Cheryl’s honour. And proud he should be.

Sustainable tourism in Kenya
Manny and Cheryl Mvula

One person who would also be rightly proud of Cheryl’s achievements is  Ben Rramet, one of the Maasai villagers who worked closely with Cheryl in turning their tourism experience from a frustrating into a fulfilling one. I met Ben on my trip there, and was honoured to host him in my home a year later when he came to England for the first time to talk about his work to other tourism operators at a conference. My children were both in awe of and inspired by him. He came and spoke at their school, and indeed he taught us all so much not only about sustainable tourism in Kenya but also about life on this planet – he has left us with so many fond memories. Sadly, Ben died tragically young, just a few years ago, and I am certain that Cheryl dedicated her honour to his memory. Because that is the sort of woman she is and pretty much sums up the wonderful way in which she works.

Sustainable tourism in Kenya
Photo left to right: Ben Longisa, Ben Rhamet and Catherine Mack

3 Replies to “Tribal Voice Communications”

  1. This is a great piece. I feel that developing economies such as Kenya need more than just donations. The rate of corruption in such countries is very high and sometimes the funds collected by organizations or individuals do not help much in creating the necessary impact. I believe that such countries need opportunities to generate their own income for long-term sustainability.

  2. What Cathy has documented here is the best of humanity and proof that there indeed selflessly dedicated individuals like Cheryl willing to put their own lives before others. Being an exceptionally renowned and world-class journalist in all things “green and ethical” Cathy has had first-hand experience and witnessed what it takes to stay resilient even when the odds are stacked against you in a world of so much uncertainty riddled with injustices, poverty, and corruption that goes beyond human comprehension.

  3. Thanks for those wise and very kind words, Manny. Hope you are both doing OK during these difficult times.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *