Luxury safari and bush camp in Kenya
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
Campi ya Kanzi believes in having a self-conduct code. We believe true ecotourism needs to address each of the following points.
Real involvement of local communities: Conservation in the 21st century should consider people, so the first point for ecotourism should be how a tourist facility relates to the local communities.
Campi ya Kanzi is a community lodge, in community land, employing locally, paying tourism revenues locally, supporting a community Trust.
Carbon footprint on electricity usage, hot water, cooking: We use only renewable energies. Photovoltaic panels for our electricity; solar boilers for hot water; we cook all our food in “Agha” stoves where a charcoal made from coffee husks is used (this eco-friendly charcoal is a project of the United Nations Environmental Program, we have been the first lodge to adopt it, 12 years ago).
Environmental footprint on water usage: Campi ya Kanzi fulfills all its water needs by cropping the rains and storing water in special PVC bladders. We have a water catchment of approximately 8,500 square meters (over 90,000 square ft) and a water storage of approximately 1,200,000 liters (nearly 350,000 gallons)
Preservation of wilderness: Hard to consider ecotourism not linked with preserving the wilderness one visits. MWCT and Campi ya Kanzi have the same mission: preserving the Maasai wilderness of the Greater Kilimanjaro Ecosystem.
Preservation of wildlife: The same applies to wildlife. Ecotourism is about protection of natural resources. In our ecosystem the most valuable resource is wildlife.
Preservation of culture: Ecotourism cannot happen without considering the local communities. In our case we are dealing with arguably the most iconic tribe of Africa, whose culture is still very much alive, and deserves full protection.
Employing locally: in order to support the local communities not only an eco facility should employ locally, but also train local staff. Campi ya Kanzi has a staff of 65 Kenyans, 90% of which are local Maasai. All guides, trackers, maids and waiters are Maasai from the community.
Environmental footprint in recycling wastes: Not only do we use recyclable energies for our electricity, for our hot water and for our cooking, we also recycle all of the recyclable wastes: organic waste goes into the camp compost, utilized in our organic vegetable garden; wastes are separated (glass, paper, plastic, tins) and recycled were feasible. The un-recyclable wastes are incinerated in a specially built incinerator.
Environmental footprint in building: our buildings were built not only with sustainable materials collected locally (lava rocks, thatched grass roofs, etc.), but we avoided any landscaping. No soil was removed (beside the digging for the foundations), and no trees were cut. Local people were employed, instead of contracting builders from outside.
Environmental footprint of supplies: sometimes buying locally it is implied as a good environmental practice. It depends on the circumstances. We buy from Nairobi suppliers in bulk, using the best of our knowledge to support those suppliers who care about the environment. Where we are located, local farming is done totally unsustainably; it is leading to subdivision of the land. We have seen many lodges praising themselves for purchasing locally, while by doing so (and saving on logistical costs) they contribute to the destruction of the environment.
Community
Campi ya Kanzi has two goals: treat you to the most memorable vacation of your life, while helping the Maasai preserve their wildlife and cultural heritages. Here you will experience true ethical and solidarity tourism. State of the art technologies have been used to make the least impact on the environment: water comes from rain cropping, electricity from 120 photovoltaic panels, hot water from solar panels, food is cooked using an eco-friendly charcoal. But most importantly the lodge is a partnership with the Maasai local community.
Discover the real Africa: the Maasai Mara (600 square miles) offers accommodation for about 5,000 guests (76 acres per guest). Our Group Ranch (about 400 square miles) has one lodge, Campi ya Kanzi, with room for 16 guests (17,500 acres per guest). Here you will be in the real Africa, away from the minibuses and the noisy crowds. Being outside of a National Park you will be able to walk, in safety, escorted by your professional guide and Maasai tracker.
Unique is rather an overused (and often abused) term, but that’s what we truly are. Unlike other lodges, we are not in a National Park (with crowds of visitors) or in a small, privately owned concession.
Instead, we are a community eco-lodge, offering an authentic experience of an iconic Africa, rich in wildlife, wilderness and culture.
The diversity of the landscape, and consequently of the wildlife, is tremendous. You can spend a week here, enjoying and discovering something different everyday, combining traditional game drives with unforgettable game walks, while being deeply immersed in the Maasai culture.
In the words of Edward Norton, the President of Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund: “The contribution that Campi ya Kanzi makes to Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust is a shining example of the way the romance and adventure of tourism in the last, best wild places can actually help preserve those places for the future.”
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