| Name of the facility | Bateleur Camp |
|---|---|
| Certification Achieved | Silver |
| Year opened | 1982 |
| Tourism region | Masai Mara/South Rift |
| County | Narok |
| Address | Ololoolo Group Ranch Map It |
| Telephone/Mobile | +254 73 686 1804 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | andbeyond.com |
| Facility Notes | Bateleur Camp is located in Ololoolo Group Ranch adjacent to Masai Mara Game Reserve on GPS coordinates Latitude -0.0236 Longitude 37.9062. It consists of i8 tents with a total bed capacity of 36. The facility which is operated by &Beyond Limited is open all year round and has 58 employees for its operations. The camp is along the banks of the Sabaringo River on the edge of the Oloololo escarpment. The riverine forest system along the river provides refuge for birds and mammal species. The ubiquitous blue monkey and rare red-tail monkey can be found feeding on fruits in the forest canopy. Other common mammals include: warthog, elephant, jackals, hyenas, leopard, lion, wild dog, buffalo, eland, gerenuk, Grant’s gazelle, hartebeest and impala. A myriad of birds and butterflies can be found in abundance |
| Energy management | Bateleur Camp’s main source of power is two (2) diesel generators with an output of 300 and 330 KvA. The power is metered and also rationed for approximately six hours daily for energy conservation. The facility also has a 24hr solar powered electric fence and has invested on energy saving bulbs that are used throughout the facility. LED lights have been fixed in the guest tents. LPG gas is used for cooking in the guest kitchen while energy efficient stoves are used in the staff kitchen. Solar water heaters are used within camp for water heating purposes in the guest tents. The staffs are sensitized and briefed on energy conservation during departmental meetings and monthly environmental days |
| Environmental management | Bateleur Camp is guided by the mother company -&Beyond Company which has an elaborate environmental policy that stipulates on care for the land, care for wildlife and care for the people. The camp has also undertaken its annual environmental audit in compliance with EMCA 1999 (Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act). |
| Chemical use | Bateleur camp uses biodegradable bathroom amenities from Cinnabar Green within the guest rooms. Swimming pool chemicals are supplied by Henkel Limited while laundry chemicals are supplied by Diversy Limited. All chemicals are accompanied by Material Safety Data Sheets. (MSDS). |
| Conservation Criteria | |
| Community Criteria | |
| Solid waste management | Waste is separated at source (plastics, organic, glass, tins). The waste is later moved to a waste collection center at its sister camp-Kichwa Tembo for further sorting before final disposal via -&Beyond Head Office to recycling companies in Nairobi. Organic waste is composted within the facility in a well-covered pit to keep off scavengers. To reduce on plastic waste, water is served in re-fillable glass bottles which are available in all guest rooms and restaurant. The facility also uses rechargeable torches for its guest tents thus reducing on battery waste. Used oil is given to locals for domestic timber use |
| Water management | The camp obtains its water from a borehole within Kichwa Tembo Camp which is then pumped into reserve tanks with a total capacity of 40,000 liters. The tanks are fitted with automatic float switches to control water overflow and avoid spillage and the water also metered at source for monitoring purposes. Water is further conserved through the fitting of guest rooms with water efficient shower filter heads and dual flush toilet cisterns. The guests are also encouraged to re-use bathing towels to reduce water consumption. The management enhances staff sensitization in water use during departmental meetings and on their monthly environmental days. |
| Visitor communication & education | The facility briefs its guests upon arrival and also provides them with room information folders, birds and animals’ checklist and orientation booklet in the guest tents. Room folders have information about the camp operations and values, Masai Mara ecosystem, the local Masai community and environmental conservation initiatives. Guests are also briefed during game drives by the rangers. The camp offers nature walks to guests. The walks are led by the resident naturalist who offers an opportunity for visitors to explore and learn about nature. |
| Pollution | The generator room is sound proofed and fitted with a muffler, aimed at containing the noise pollution. Additionally, the camp has fitted low wattage bulbs on the pathways to minimize on light pollution. |
| Environmental conservation | Bateleur Camp has been architecturally designed to blend in with the environment with little or no habitat disturbance. A tree planting program by the camp has also seen 5000 tree seedlings planted, with a 90% success rate, creating a woodlot that surrounds the camp. This has ensured the preservation of the existing riverine forest system’s natural state. Apart from holding monthly environmental cleanup days, the camp also assists Mara Conservancy in wildlife monitoring such as identifying animal snares, research, and elephant anti-poaching awareness. The facility’s rangers and guides are involved in these activities. |
| Waste water management | The facility has set up a system to manage its grey and black water effluents. Grey water from the kitchen flows through a grease trap and drains into a soak pit while that from the staff quarters, laundry and public areas is managed through Bio-digester treatment system. Black effluent is also managed through the Bio-digester treatment system fitted with access manholes into septic tanks. The water is treated for recycling and re-use. The facility has a swimming pool which is cleaned via vacuum cleaning and backwash systems and water pumped back to the pool. PH and chlorine levels are checked daily through a test kit. Backwash is done depending on guest occupancy. Water effluent tests have been conducted in compliance with Environmental Management Co-ordination (Water Quality) regulations of 2006 and the facility issued with an effluent discharge license. |
| Purchasing and supplies | The camp purchases its products on weekly basis. The vegetables are packed in re-usable crates whereas meat is packed in cooler boxes. Besides dry products, e.g. cereals are bought in bulk 90kg, 50 kg etc. Re-usable cartons are encouraged for packaging |
| Employment and remuneration/staff welfare | The camp has a staff committee which represents staff issues to the management. |
| Staff education, communication and awareness training | The camp holds daily briefing meetings at departmental levels and monthly environmental days which are used as a platform for staff communication and education. The staff is also included in tree planting activities and afforestation initiatives. Environmental information is also displayed on the staff notice boards |
| Cultural preservation and promotion/protection of local sites | The facility has signed a contract with Maasai warriors to perform at Bateleur Camp on scheduled days (after every three days). The performers are allowed to sell their curios directly to the guests after their performances. |
| Benefits to local community/community empowerment | Approximately 50% of the staff at Bateleur Camp is from the local Masaai community. Priority for casual labor is also given to the local community. Where possible, the camp purchases products locally e.g. local masai honey, organic vegetables from women and staff meat. The camp also provides health care services to the local community. The clinic at the camp is open to locals for medical attendance and the camp provides transport for the community during emergencies. The clinical officer spearheads health programs on healthy/positive living to the local community and local primary schools where &Beyond company conducts health de-worming activities to the pupils. In partnership with Africa Foundation, &Beyond supports the local communities adjacent to the camps namely Emurutoto, Olmotonyi, Olopikidongo’e, Saparingo, Iltolish, Enkereri and Enkutoto. Support is provided through; Construction of 40 beehives for local women groups i.e. Enkutoto, Naretisho, Emayian and Engereri groups. Each beehive was constructed at an approximate cost of Ksh 2000. The camp then purchases the honey produced. For the past three months, the camp has purchased honey worth Ksh. 300,000 from the community. Supplying water to Emurutoto primary school from the Kawai water pan which was constructed with support from the camp There is an on-going project for the construction of Saparingo teachers ablution and administration block Bursary fund for needy children in the above named communities. Approximately US$20,000 has been utilized for bursaries The facility also runs an organized community village visit program to the neighboring villages. Each guest pays $40 which is directly paid to the community. Excelling employees are rewarded on quarterly basis and annually. |
| Cultural Criteria | |
| Health and safety | Bateleur Camp has undergone Health Inspection and issued with a Health Inspection Certificate. Medical checkup has also been conducted for food and beverage handlers in compliance with Food, Drugs, and Chemical substances Act. Cap 254. Furthermore, the camp has a full-time clinical officer on duty and a well-stocked dispensary (oxygen cylinders, medicine etc) that caters for the staff, guests and the local people. (Medical care for the local people is scheduled; however, all emergencies are attended to). An emergency team has also been trained and is headed by the clinical officer. 50% of the staff is also trained on fire-fighting skills. The game rangers/guides are trained on first aid and the game drive vehicles are equipped with first aid kits. The camp is also subscribed to Amref Flying Doctors services for emergency evacuation of visitors. The room information folders within the guest rooms include emergency and safety procedures and contacts. The swimming pool is well-marked and precautionary signage mounted for safety purposes. Bateleur Camp conducts regular risk assessments to monitor the safety preparedness of the camp. Additionally, firefighting equipment e.g. fire extinguishers, fire blankets, hose drills are serviced and strategically placed within the facility and the fire exits well displayed and positioned throughout the facility. The staff is issued with PPE (Personal protective equipment). |
| Child labor, abuse and human rights | The facility does not employ any person below the legal working age of 18 years. |
| Business Practises Criteria | |
| Entry Date | 12th March 2018 |
