Pilot activities started in Ng'iresi village on the slopes of Mount Meru, Longido, the Usambara Mountains and Mto wa Mbu.  In all places, locals received training and advice on how to organize tours for foreigners.  In cooperation with the Tanzania Tourist Board (TTB), cultural tours were initiated in conjunction with tour operators, and tourists started to arrive shortly thereafter.

Today we are averaging around 3,000 visitors for the various cultural tourism programs and thus far reactions by both parties are extremely positive.  Throughout these international exchanges, the local communities use a part of the generated income for specific development objectives.

The positive results of the pilot phase made SNV and the TTB decide to start a joint five-year program on developing and promoting cultural tourism in Tanzania.  The program officially started in 1997 and is currently focused in Northern Tanzania.   From the original pilot phases, programs have been added through a women's group in Mulala (north of Usa River), and a tour of the Engaruka Ruins.