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We share the view that some tourism in Kenya is essential for the survival of the areas our clients visit. It provides much needed income to sustain communities and wildlife habitats. It is imperative however that it is channeled to safaris and properties that make a genuine difference. In our view this is hard to define so we personally visit every property on our itineraries and complete a Sustainable Questionnaire and only those that reach our minimum standard get representation. As a result you can be assured the safaris we sell and lodges we list are at the forefront of Sustainable Tourism.
Community:
From a community perspective and in varying degrees (please ask to see results for specific lodges) each: employs locally throughout the operation from senior management and guides through to front of house, drivers, cooks and housekeeping; operates a Trust that benefits the local community; charges a conservation fee which goes to the trust; tries to preserve local cultures; supports the development of education within the community; supports the development of health within the community and helps and assists the local community to implement sustainable ways to manage their land and their resources.
Environment:
From an environmental perspective and in varying degrees each lodge is; active in the preservation of the local wilderness; has not purchased land from a community and/or instigated the subdivision of land previously owned by a community; is active in the preservation of wildlife; is active in encouraging the local population to become involved in the conservation of wildlife through self-interest schemes; has measured its Environmental footprint for water usage, crops rain water and recycles its water; has measured its Environmental footprint for waste and has sought to reduce it; ensures solid waste and sewage is disposed of in a way that doesn’t damage the environment; has measured its Environmental footprint for electricity usage and has sought to reduce it; uses renewable energy to cook its food, heat its water and produce its electricity; used sustainable and traditional building materials wherever possible and ensured the construction of the property had a minimal impact on the natural surroundings and is in keeping with the local environment.
Below are some specific details about the lodges on this itinerary:
Tassia Lodge - built for the Mokogodo Maasai, allowing a symbiotic relationship with community and conservation. It is built entirely from low impact local materials. The entire lodge is run on solar power.
Kiboko Star Beds - Since 2000, the Loisaba Community Trust has championed enterprise by helping to set-up the community-owned Starbeds tourism facility, women’s craft-making and a cultural manyatta. It has also sponsored many similar projects as well as livestock husbandry courses. They aim to assist the area surrounding Loisaba by encouraging community-driven enterprises and fostering the development of philanthropic based community initiatives. Loisaba has provided the labour, skills and equipment necessary for the Starbeds. The local people did their part with a sizable community contribution including the plot of regenerated land around the Starbeds which they have decreed a reserved area off limits to stock grazing. The importance of a project such as this is multi-dimensional. Foremost, amongst the objectives is community development. The project has the potential to entrench a new means of earning, helping progress in such areas as Health Care and Education. At the same time its values will help to sustain traditions of the Laikipia Maasai. Meshed with this idea of alternative earning is the second important goal: Wildlife Conservations. Their aim is to work along side the local community and wildlife to preserve the environment in which they all live.
Ol Malo - Has established a reputation for eco-tourism that far exceeds its modest size. It is a world leader. It has set up the Ol Malo Trust, which provides funding and help for the Samburu with their medical needs, education and food. An outlet is also provided to help them sell their arts and crafts.
Delta Dunes Lodge - A conservation fee is paid to the Community for every guest that stays at the Lodge to improve the standard of living, education, employment and medical facilities in the area.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
