We are American friends of Lucas.  Lucas needs to raise $15,000 to convert a truck into a Safari-ready vehicle and to launch his own Safari Company.  Here is his story..

Lucas is a member of the Maasai…the tribe considered the most authentic ethnic group of the region. He earned the name “Rasha” when he was a boy tending goats with his Uncle in a field.  A lion attacked and killed his uncle, then chased Lucas.  Lucas ran and jumped over a cliff.  He woke up three days later in a hospital and learned that he survived because when he was falling, his garment got caught on a branch of an acacia tree. Lucas suffered extensive injuries and still bears those scars today.  His grandpa then called him “Rasha”, The Unbeatable Lion.

Today, Lucas lives up to his name, Rasha.  Determination, integrity, intelligence, leadership and compassion mark the cornerstones of Lucas’ character. These special qualities are noticed by many people. In fact, he received a full college scholarship as a gift from two volunteers after working with him at an orphanage.

In 2012, Lucas attended the prestigious Mweka College of African Wildlife Management and known for its rigorous curriculum.  In fact, Lucas’ Freshman Class began with 80 students, but only 7 graduated on time. He was one of them. In addition, he graduated among the top of his class and received an award for Excellence in Fieldwork. Fieldwork has a different definition in Africa versus America.  In Africa, fieldwork entails not only research but a thorough knowledge of survival skills among wild animals and very difficult elements. Given very little food and equipment, students are dropped off in middle of the Serengeti where they must survive alone, using only their skills and a compass, then make it back to base in a few days.  Fieldwork came very easily to Lucas.  Having grown up in the “bush” as a Maasai, he felt his heart was connected to the environment.   As he said, “Botany is my life…if you love the environment, the environment will love you back.” 

Lucas has worked for safari companies over the past several years to gain business experience.  A Safari trip with Lucas is magical.  He will make the vast plains of the Serengeti come alive with interesting stories, not only about the animals and plants you see but also about habitats, insects, and other things you may not see….How the rare tree-climbing lion is only found in Tanzania, or why the huge numbers of pink flamingos come to Lake Manyara National Park, or how the animals got to the bottom of Ngorongoro Crater Conservation, the world’s largest unbroken caldera and home to the large tusker elephants. His ability to speak 5 languages allows him to offer cultural experiences to clients, such as visiting the Maasai people and the Hazbade (bushmen who speak the click language). Lucas conducts walking safaris to the Great Rift Valley Wall where you find remarkable landscape and endangered flora and fauna.  Or a climbing trip for thrill seekers up to the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa.  Considered a top guide, Safari company owners have hired Lucas to train their staff. 

Lucas has a deep passion for God, his countrymen as well as the environment. With his ability to speak many languages and his knowledge of remote villages and their people, Lucas offers guide and translation services to humanitarian and missionary groups who visit Tanzania.

However, even with Lucas’ education and experience, the pay remains minimal. To succeed in the Safari business in Africa, one must own his/her own truck.  The Tanzanian government makes that option extraordinarily difficult due to high taxes, tariffs and fees. The cost of new vehicles is prohibitive. Therefore, purchasing a used truck and modifying it to become Safari-ready is the common practice there for its economic reasons.  After a long search, Lucas found and purchased a used truck from a UN Refugee Camp. Now Lucas needs help with the vehicle conversion...the last step.

We believe his success will benefit many people in the villages of Tanzania and in educating people around the world.  Lucas has the knowledge, experience and the passion.  Let’s help him help protect and educate others about the endangered wildlife and environment of Africa.

TRUCK BEFORE MODIFICATIONS

WHAT TRUCK WILL LOOK LIKE AFTER MODIFICATIONS