Damian Bell
Director – damian@honeyguide.org
Damian has lived in Tanzania for over 15 years and has committed his life to Tanzania and its peoples. He has a personal agenda to support the Tanzanian policies to fight poverty through education, health and supporting the economy. He has done this by both supporting the Tanzanians’ role and participation in the growth of the tourism industry of which he has been involved with for these 15 years and supporting different communities with education and health initiatives. He lives in Arusha with his wife and two children.
Walid Fikirini
Director
Walid has been at the forefront of Zanzibar’s tourism industry since the 1970s. As one of the first people in Zanzibar to be trained in hotel management, Walid continued as a hotel training manager for 12 years before taking his skills to the government of Zanzibar. In the Spice Island government, Walid first worked as a Tourism Development Officer and successfully advocated for commercial sector tourism on the island. Walid soon progressed to become the Director of Tourism, the Executive Secretary of Tourism Commission (1990-2000), and finally transferred to Minister’s Office as an Advisor to the Minister of Zanzibar (2000-2002) before retirement. Walid commenced work with the Honeyguide Foundation since its inception and has been instrumental in forging connections and bringing his expertise to HGF projects on the island.
Ole Kirimbai
Chairman – kirimbai@honeyguide.org
Ole Kirimbai is one of the founding members of the Honeyguide Foundation. He first started work within Tanzania’s Wildlife Department in 1968 as a game officer. Stationed in Northern Tanzania, he went on to become second-in-charge commander of an anti-poaching patrol, a title he kept until 1985. After his career in the Wildlife Department, Kirimbai entered the tourism industry as a camp manager for Abercrombie & Kent. Soon afterwards he moved to Sokwe as a camp manager and guide and eventually progressed to become director of Sokwe (which recently merged with Asilia). Currently, Kirimbai serves as an adviser to Asilia.
William Joseph:
Field Officer
The man everybody calls ‘Zungu,’ is based in Arusha but travels a lot for the HGF coordinating projects in Loliondio, Machochwe, and Zanzibar. Before joining Honeyguide at the end of 2003, William toured all over Tanzania as the Project Coordinator for Maajabu Film Unit, which showed educational films to school children. And with a firm background in eco-tourism, Responsible Tourism and Travelers’ Philanthropy, Zungu likes to engage in environmental discussions and is always looking to broaden his intellectual horizons. A true fan of Tanzanian Bongoflavor music as well as West African beats and American oldies, Zungu enjoys listening to music and following his favorite football team, Arsenal. You can also follow Zungu of Facebook here >
Bakari Jaha
Field Officer – Matemwe - bakari@honeyguide.org
Born and raised in Matemwe and a former pupil at Matemwe Primary and Secondary School, Bakari’s knowledge of the village and people has been extremely beneficial to Honeyguide’s projects in the area. Even though Bakari only joined HGF at the beginning of the year he had already thrown himself into community development by founding his own CBO in 2007 and by working at the ‘Education Development Centre’ (EDC) in Stone Town for 3 years as a District Coordinator. Extremely concerned with some environmentally destructive habits in Matemwe, Bakari is determined to see Honeyguide’s projects in Matemwe succeed. As an avid reader and a new father, Bakari likes to stay up-to-date on environmental news and spend as much time as he can at home with his wife and 3-month old son, Yasir.
Ibrahim Salimu:
Driver/Mechanic
Ibrahim is a busy man for the HGF, with the responsibilities of delivering produce from Machochwe farms to camps inside Serengeti National Park, taking orders from the head office in Mugumu, and making sure Honeyguide Foundation automobiles are in fine running condition. Living in the Machochwe village during the tourist season has allowed Ibrahim to form close relationships with the farmers and community. He plays on the Machochwe football team and could quite possibly be the best checkers player in the world, usually playing well into the night with a torch providing the necessary light. Ibrahim joined HGF in 2008 from Asilia camps and lodges and enjoys his work because he can see how his actions help the Machochwe community day to day.
