7 minute read
Eco-friendly fitness
If you are a fitness enthusiast as keen on improving the planet’s health as much as your own, then Tanzania has some interesting options for you. Here are some green ways to get in shape.
Plogging
Jogging is a pretty eco-friendly endeavour as it is, but plogging takes it to a new level with runners picking up any rubbish they see along the way. The sport began in Sweden and its name is a portmanteau of “jogging” and “plokka upp”, the Swedish phrasal verb for “pick up” (which makes me think the Swedish language might not be too difficult to “plokka upp” for an English speaker).
Dar es Salaam has plenty of beaches to run on, but their beauty is often spoiled by the amount of litter left to pile up on the white sands. It’s not only an eyesore, but has a serious impact on marine life and their habitats. Local organisations such as Let’s Do It Tanzania and Nipe Fagio have been inspired to join the international plogging phenomenon and have teamed up with jogging clubs in Dar for regular runs to collect discarded, yet eminently recyclable, plastic waste. There are plenty of running clubs across the country, but a good place to start is The Runners Club Tanzania (@runnerstanzania on Instagram) or just turn your own jogs into plogs. Pull on a pair of disposable gloves, grab a bin bag and scan the streets or beach for disposable litter along your route. At the end of your run, deposit the litter into an appropriate recycle bin. The regular squats required to pick up the litter add an extra dimension to your workout and you’ll get that warm, fuzzy feeling of having done your bit for the environment to add to your runner’s high.
One Bike run a regular ‘re-cycling’ event to pick up litter in Moshi
Re-cycling
The team of bicycle enthusiasts that make up social enterprise One Bike are on a mission to promote sustainable travel and healthy lifestyles and protect the environment in Moshi. Here they run a bike repair shop where mechanics have reconditioned a number of bikes and donated them to people in need in the city and the surrounding Kilimanjaro region. They also invite others in the community to join them in their self-styled “re-cycling” events every weekend. One Bike co-founder Hillary Matemu describes the growing movement as a “guerrilla activity” in which riders pick up plastic bottles littering the streets. The plastics collected are then sent to the nearby recycling facility to be processed. More than 500kg of waste has been collected so far. The One Bike shop has bikes for hire if you want to join in a re-cycling outing. They also run several cycling tours, including multi-day adventures in the foothills of Kilimanjaro. For more information, visit onebiketz.com
Make sure you leave a light eco footprint when you climb
Climbing Kilimanjaro
Wherever man goes, you’ll find litter, it seems, even if it’s 5,895 metres above sea level. Mount Kilimanjaro gets between 40,000 and 50, 000 trekkers every year and pollution of this fragile and special environment is becoming an increasing concern.
It is vital then that anyone who takes on the challenging ascent does it in a manner that protects the mountain for future generations and respects its unique geology and flora. Kinapa, the Kilimanjaro National Park Authorities, have enforced strict regulations to keep the mountain clean, but it is wise to ensure your climb operator is not only aware of the rules, but has plans in place to abide by them.
As you climb, be mindful that the lower slopes are home to many of the Chagga people. The mountain’s streams run downhill to supply the farms and villages in the foothills so climbers should avoid washing themselves or their utensils in them. Your own water supply should also be taken from the streams and boiled, filtered or purified. Plastic bottles are not allowed.
It’s not the most pleasant conversation to have, but you should discuss human waste with your climb operator. Excrement has become a real problem on the mountain, especially on the higher slopes where the low temperatures mean the waste cannot be buried in the frozen ground and does not degrade.
Strict regulations have been introduced on Mt Kilimanjaro
To minimise blighting the environment either ensure your operator brings its own chemical toilet and all waste is brought down the mountain by porters or – if this, understandably, is a job you wouldn’t wish on anyone – take responsibility for your own waste, bring a bag to carry it and dispose of it properly once you are down the mountain.
Other ways to ensure an ascent with a light environmental footprint include avoiding evening camp fires, which can be especially dangerous in dry and gusty areas such as the mountain’s alpine desert zone between 4,000 and 5,000 metres in elevation. It’s also important to remember that while you may be keen to descend as quick as possible to more oxygen-rich altitudes, slithering down the shale is now discouraged ecologically because of its effect on erosion of the loose rocks.
Scuba diving and snorkelling
With coral reefs to be found alongabout two thirds of Tanzania’s coastline as well as encircling the islands of the Zanzibar archipelago, divers are spoilt for choice for wonderful under waterworlds teeming with marine life to explore. These reefs are precious ecosystems vital to the health of our entire oceans, but they are fragile and the damage caused by overfishing, plastic debris and the effects of climate change (such as rising sea temperatures) around the world is taking its toll. The last thing the reefs need is for divers to add to the damage done so following sustainable practice is key. The Green Fins Code of Conduct is the only internationally recognised environmental standards for scuba diving and snorkelling. Its guidelines include not stepping on coral,which is easily broken and takes a long time to grow back; not touching or chasing marine life; not stirring up sediment on the seafloor, which can spread disease on the reef; avoiding littering and making sure you are wearing reef friendly sunscreen or covering up with clothing when in the sun.
To ensure the divers that comeafter you get to share your thrill of swimming amid an abundancy of marine species, make sure you take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but bubbles.
Kitesurfing
As a sport that relies on the harnessing of the elements, kitesurfing is an environmentally friendly pursuit. There are few better and safer places to practise this exhilarating sport than Zanzibar Island (Unguja). The best kitesurf spots are found along the southeast coastline at Dongwe, Paje and Jambiani. Beginners willappreciate the expanse of flat andshallow water with a safe sandbottom and lots of space to launchand land. More seasoned surfers will see the flat lagoons ideal for freestyle jumps and tricks and excellent wave-riding potential on the reef break. Wind conditions are good all year round, but December to March is the time for the steady Kaskazi north winds while June to September gets the more powerful Kusi south winds.
This part of Zanzibar is one of the island’s least developed areas with no huge hotel resorts and crowds of tourists to overpower the tranquil village atmosphere. That’s just the way the kite surfers like it and you’ll find the surf hire clubs are engaged in maintaining a light footprint here and preserving the pristine environment.
It’s possible to enjoy and protect Tanzania’s marine environment
GO GREEN WITH YOUR SPORTS KIT
ASQUITH
Ethical activewear brand Asquith has a range of leggings and sports bras made from its trademarked Bambor fabric, which is made of a blend of organic cotton, bamboo and a pinch of Elasthane for extra stretch. They are biodegradeable, chemical-free, soft and long-lasting. Shop the range at asquithlondon.com
HYLO ATHLETICS
Hylo Athletics’ trainers are made with seven natural materials including corn fibre, natural rubber and organic cotton. When you’ve run them into the ground, Hylo will buy your tattered shoes back from you and turn the fabrics into compost to be used in the next generation of Hylo shoes. Visit hyloathletics.com
GLOBAL WAKECUP
Don’t add to the already 35 million plastic bottles used every day across the world. This BPA-free reusable water bottle is made from stainless steel and has an airtight, leak-proof, bamboo screw top to prevent accidental spills. Visit globalwakecup.com
PRESCA
Founded by a former Ironman athlete, Presca produces eco-friendly apparel for cyclists. The fabrics are recycled polyester from plastic bottles, and recycled nylon from fishing nets and carpets. The website even shows you the eco-friendly effect of each item in terms of days of drinking water saved, and how many bottles were used to make it. Visit prescasportswear.com
(All products can be shipped globally)
