We have very few problems with tourists, and local people are generally pleased that they visit. Their presence provides income and an interesting break from ordinary village life.
Difficulties arise when visitors drink too much. Some people become loud or aggressive after only a couple of beers, and we do not always know how to respond.
Visitors occasionally ask to smoke marijuana. It is illegal here, so we strongly advise them not to. We cannot control every individual, but anyone ignoring the law takes a serious risk.
A person who was friendly before two beers can suddenly become loud and aggressive, leaving the community unsure how to handle the situation.
Public kissing and touching also make many villagers uncomfortable. Affection is not displayed that way here, so behaviour that feels normal to tourists can appear strange or offensive.
Travelling with a local guide prevents many misunderstandings. Guides explain appropriate behaviour and introduce visitors to our history and culture. Almost all tourists arrive with a guide, and this is one reason problems remain rare.
Employment is still limited, and more men leave the villages for work. Under local tradition, a man may marry more than one wife, so some return with a second wife. That development is part of wider social and economic life rather than tourism alone.
A local guide does more than show the route; the guide translates expectations before a cultural difference becomes an insult.
People are accustomed to mzungus, or white visitors, now. Their presence may once have seemed unusual, but they are accepted and welcomed.
Our community adjusted to tourism long ago, largely on its own terms; visitors remain welcome when they respect the laws, customs and guidance of the people receiving them.