| Name of the facility | Ekorian’s Mugie Camp |
|---|---|
| Certification Achieved | Silver |
| Year opened | 2012 |
| Tourism region | North Rift |
| County | Laikipia |
| Address | Mugie Ranch Map It |
| Telephone/Mobile | : +254(0)722385727/(0)722692708 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | ekorian.com |
| Facility Notes | Ekorian’s Mugie Camp is located on 10 acres parcel of land leased for 5years from Mugie Ranch. The facility has a total of 6 rooms with a bed capacity of 12. The camp has employed 13 staff and is open 11 months a year. Mugie Ranch is 46,000 acres inclusive of 22,000 acres for Mugie Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is home to around seventy species of mammals including lion, cheetah, leopard, buffalo, elephant, eland and hyena. The ranch is a haven for birdlife with over 280 species recorded. Mugie dam, located in the sanctuary occupies approximately 156 acres of land with a water holding capacity of 1.3 billion litres. The dam is a vital source of water for the wildlife throughout the year and is an attraction for migratory birds. Mugie ranch is one of the core study areas of the “Laikipia Predator Project”, a research study aimed at improving the conservation of large carnivores throughout Africa which are under threat from livestock and human-wildlife conflicts. |
| Energy management | The facility’s main source of electrical energy is solar which is used for lighting and running all the refrigerators. The power source consists of 14 solar panels connected to a power inverter battery system. The power inverter system is automated to allow easier energy consumption monitoring. The other source of energy is Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) which is used for cooking both at the guests and staff quarters. The camp has adopted the following practices to conserve energy; • Use of energy saving LED and energy saving bulbs for lighting throughout the camp • Briefing of guests and staff on energy conservation and efficiency • Main switches are installed for all the lights as you exit the tents to ensure guests switch off lights as they leave the tent. • Solar power rechargeable flash light torches are used by, guests and security officers within the camp |
| Environmental management | Ekorian’s Mugie Camp is established on ecotourism principles with an aim for promoting responsible tourism. The facility has a comprehensive environmental management system with clear action / management plans for water, energy and solid & waste water management. Its environmental policy is based on the values of conserving the environment for future generations. The camp has also undertaken its annual self-Environmental Audit (EA) as required by EMCA 1999 (Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act.) |
| Chemical use | The camp uses biodegradable bathing soaps and solvents. Shower products are supplied by Cinnabar Green. LPG (Liquefied Petroleum gas), used for guest cooking, is packed in 25 and 50 kg gas cylinders. Fuel (Petrol) is stored in 20 litre Jerry cans whereas paraffin is bought in 20litre containers |
| Conservation Criteria | |
| Community Criteria | |
| Solid waste management | Ekorian’s Mugie camp separates its solid waste at source and the waste bins clearly labelled for this purpose. The camp has put into place the following practices in an effort to reduce its waste; • Waste produced is tracked and recorded (types, weight and quantity) for monitoring purposes to assist in creating waste reduction targets. • Use of rechargeable solar torches as a measure to avoid cell-battery waste generation • Serving drinking water to guests in glass jugs to reduce on plastic water bottles waste. • Harvesting rain water and taking it through a filtration system and then served to guests via use of re-usable water bottles. This is an initiative established in line with “Throttle The Bottle” – a campaign dedicated to reducing the use of throwaway plastic water bottles from tourism accommodation facilities in East Africa • Vehicles are fitted with water canisters where guests can re-fill their bottles. • Inside the guest tents, the camp serves water in re-used and decorated wine bottles. Any excess plastic, glass and metallic waste is later disposed via Nanyuki to recycling companies. |
| Water management | Ekorian’s Mugie Camp main source of water is a borehole located within the premises. The water is solar pumped and stored in reservoirs with an average capacity of 30,000 litres. A meter has been installed to monitor usage. Guests are sensitized on water conservation efforts by the camp manager upon arrival and through tent information folders. Signage has also been placed on major water user points such as guests and staff washing area and kitchen. |
| Visitor communication & education | The facility briefs its guests upon arrival on the camp and its activities. More information is made available to guest in room information sheets which are provided in the guest tents. The room information folder has information on Mugie Ranch conservation values aimed at informing and raising visitors’ environmental awareness as well as their general experience. Also available for guests within the facility is a reading resource area which is located at the restaurant. The resource area is supplied with materials that have information on birds and mammals. In addition, Nature walks, Game drives, fly camping, camel rides, kayaking, and bird watching activities are offered as environmental awareness creation / education platforms to the guests. |
| Pollution | Dlight solar lamps are used to light the paths at night with an aim to reduce light pollution. |
| Environmental conservation | Ekoria’s Mugie Camp is built on low environmental footprint and blends in with the local surrounding. The guest tents are made of a beige canvas raised on wooden platforms with timber obtained from Kakuzi Limited while the tent sheds are made from reeds (Cladium mariscus) harvested from a wetland in Rumuruti Township. The tent design and the reed roof thatching blends well with the natural surrounding environment. The camp has further established an environmental team to spearhead environmental issues / initiatives within the facility. The camp supports conservation by paying a conservation fee of USD105 to Mugie Ranch per guest per night. Guests are also encouraged to engage in in low impact activities such as village visits for local cultural experience, bird watching, nature walks and Kayaking at Mugie Dam. Additionally, the facility’s guides assist Mugie ranch in wildlife monitoring and report on any incidences to the ranch and Kenya Wildlife Service. Ekorian’s Mugie Camp also supports the conservation of Cheetahs through the Northern Rangelands Trust. This is done through creating guests awareness by provision of room pamphlets on the research initiative. |
| Waste water management | Ekorian’s Mugie Camp has constructed a soak pit to manage grey effluents from the kitchen and laundry. The effluent from the guest and staff kitchen flows through a grease trap to filter out oils and grease before draining into the soak pit. Black water within the facility is managed by use of Roto septic tanks and overflow maintained through soak pits. The system is fixed with access maintenance manholes and EM 1 (Bio-Clean) effective microorganism is added in the septic tanks, 5 in total, to facilitate sludge digestion. |
| Purchasing and supplies | Food for staff and guests is bought in bulk to reduce on packaging. Fruits and vegetables are packed in re-usable crates |
| Employment and remuneration/staff welfare | The facility has a staff welfare committee that meets regularly to deal with staff issues with the managemen |
| Staff education, communication and awareness training | The camp has notice boards fixed within for staff communication. Employees are sensitized and briefed during departmental/daily meetings. |
| Cultural preservation and promotion/protection of local sites | The facility has a curio shop where stock such as beadwork is obtained from the local women in Suguta Marmar. The selling prices are determined by the owners. The visitors can also be taken to the local village -Suguta Marmar and to Samburu and Pokot markets, to experience the local culture. |
| Benefits to local community/community empowerment | Ekorian’s Mugie Camp has sourced 80% of its staff from the local community and where possible, purchases its products from the local Nyahururu and Sosian towns. Products such as staff food including flour, sugar, vegetables and fruits are also bought locally. The camp also offers school visits to the local Mugie School where clients’ donation such as sports equipment, text books etc are made |
| Cultural Criteria | |
| Health and safety | The camp has conducted medical checkups for food and beverage handlers to ascertain their health fitness in compliance with Food, Drugs, and Chemical substances Act. Cap 254. A team of staff has been trained on first aid skills and the facility equipped with a medical first aid kit. All the guide vehicles are equipped with first aid boxes. In addition, the facility has a doctor – on – call from Nanyuki Cottage to attend to visitors or emergency services. Medical referrals for the staff are made to nearby clinics at Mugie Ranch. The Camp has also subscribed to ‘Flying doctors’ evacuation services. The camp’s swimming pool is well-marked and safety signage put in placeEkorian’s Mugie Camp has installed firefighting equipment including sand buckets which are strategically placed throughout the entire facility. The camp has further marked a fire assembly point and fixed an alarm. Apart from this, a rock wall for security and also as a fire break has been erected within the periphery of the facility to manage fires. Precautionary and safety signage such as ‘highly flammable’ ‘Hatari’ have also been placed in strategic sections of the facility e.g. Fuel section, Gas etc. The facility provides protective gear / PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to the repairs and maintenance staff. |
| 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 |
