| Name of the facility | Karen Blixen Camp |
|---|---|
| Certification Achieved | Gold |
| Year opened | 2009 |
| Tourism region | Masai Mara/South Rift |
| County | Narok |
| Address | Head Office – Nairobi Map It |
| Telephone/Mobile | +254-721-804100 / +254- 732- 686079 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | karenblixencamp.com |
| Facility Notes | Karen Blixen Camp is located within Mara North Conservancy on GPS Coordinates Latitude 1.3399° S Longitude 36.7083°E. The camp has 22 tents with a bed capacity of 50 guests. It is opened all year round with a current workforce of 98 employees for its operations. Mara North Conservancy (MNC) is a Community-owned wilderness area of more than 30,000 hectares. It is a vital part of the Maasai Mara ecosystem as it forms the north-western zone, bordering the Maasai Mara National Reserve in the south of Kenya. |
| Energy management | The Camp is on 100% solar energy which translates to almost nil emissions. Solar energy is the main source of electricity for lighting and water heating at the camp. The facility has installed energy saving bulbs and LED’s in some areas to conserve energy and reduce light pollution. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is used for cooking in the entire facility. There are 250 solar panels with an output capacity of 50 KvA maintained by Centre for Alternative Technology company (CAT) with the solar power inverter system. The facility also uses briquettes for baking and staff kitchen. Solar panels warm bathing water for the guests as stipulated in the Solar Water Heating Regulations of 2012. Guests are briefed on energy conservation upon arrival. Staff on the other hand are educated on energy conservation and efficiency through regular briefings |
| Environmental management | The Camp is steered by its mission statement on responsible tourism, nature protection and poverty alleviation. The statement pays the highest regard to environmental concern, local communities, culture and sustainability. It is also a guide towards responsible consumption and reduced use of destructive substances. In addition, the statement shows the commitment of the facility towards safeguarding the natural ecosystem and its inhabitants. The facility has an Environmental Management System which guides on proper environmental conduct in the consumption of natural resources (efficiency in water and energy use), proper waste management and health and safety practices together with compliance with legislation, sensitization of staff and clients. As part of the Mara Rianta ecosystem management, the facility is involved in the monitoring and continued improvement of the set environmental targets. |
| Chemical use | Gas is bought in bulk in a five (2) tone cylinder, the storage area is caged, away from human dwellings and precautionary signage well. Visitors are briefed upon during their stay on the lodge’s operations and environmental values. This is done during eco-walks. The guest tents are equipped with information on notice boards on environmental conservation and operations of Lodge. The camp uses Diversy biodegradable chemical products for laundry and cleaning purposes. Material Safety Data Sheets for the chemicals are available; staff are equipped with knowledge on handling and proper use of these chemicals. Biodegradable bathing soaps and shampoos are used within the guest tents. |
| Conservation Criteria | |
| Community Criteria | |
| Solid waste management | KBC stores its plastic, wine bottles and metallic waste in a waste management center for further segregation for reuse around the facility. The bottles are later transported to Kitengela glass for recycling purposes. Organic waste – food waste – is sorted at the source and stored at the waste management center. Waste is separated at source and the bins are well labeled, bins are well distributed throughout the facility. |
| Water management | Proper communication on water conservation is placed in all key water consumption points. The main source of water for the camp is from borehole. The water is stored in two reservoirs of 168,000 litres; it is filtered and chlorinated before pumping to the entire premises for use. The tanks are in good condition with manual supervision of refills to reduce water wastage. A water meter has been installed at source to monitor usage. Daily meter readings and recording is done. Visitors are sensitized on sustainable water consumption on arrival. The facility has automated and programmed laundry washing machines. This ensures efficiency in water use, energy and chemical consumption. |
| Visitor communication & education | The camp conducts game drives for the guest in the effort to educate on wildlife conservation and to highlight the efforts of the facility in countering poaching and other threats against wildlife. |
| Pollution | The facility has an oil interceptor has been installed at the generator area to prevent any leakage. Very little waste oil is generated from servicing the back-up generators. The used oil is donated to the local community for use on fencing posts and wood preservation. The pathways are lit using low wattage bulbs at night to reduce on light pollution. |
| Environmental conservation | The camp supports the Mara Elephant Project; the camp’s helicopter is used for monitoring the herds of elephants in the conservancy. This is in the effort to reduce human-wildlife conflict, and minimize the dangers the elephants face from poaching. The facility also participates in cleanups of the Mara Rianta conservancy and partner establishments like schools that involve the general public, pupils and other stakeholders/land owners. KBC is a member of the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancy Association. As a stakeholder, the facility ensures sober decisions are made concerning the conservancy. In addition to that the camp supports the Mara Elephant Project; the camp’s helicopter is used for monitoring the herds of elephants in the conservancy. This is in the effort to reduce human-wildlife conflict, and minimize the dangers the elephants face from poaching. KBC also carries out ecological monitoring of the ecosystem and species mapping in order to ensure the success of the Mobile Bomas program (Zonation). This is a grazing pattern that ensure minimal disturbance of wildlife while at the same time being able to graze livestock. The facility contributes conservancy fees of 4.2 million annually for bed occupancy. The monies are paid for Mara Rianta Conservancy management and operations. The Camp has minimized activities that tamper with the natural ecosystem of the Mara Rianta Conservancy. They have not introduced any new species into the camp, instead, they maintain the trees and shrubs originally found here when the facility was opened. Eco-walks – these entail a thorough tour of the facility of the guest to educate them on the green practices carried out by the camp. The camp owns an organic farm that provides staff with vegetables. |
| Waste water management | The facility has a swimming pool which is cleaned via scrubbing, brushing and the backwash system. PH (alkalinity and acidity) is checked daily. Backwashing is done depending on occupancy and pool use. Black water is collected in a septic tank for sludge digestion before flowing into a wetland waste water treatment system. The grey water on the other hand flows directly into the wetland treatment system. EM2 + molasses are added at the entry of the waste water to the wetland treatment area. |
| Purchasing and supplies | Meat for staff is bought and packed in cool boxes. Fruits and vegetables are packed in re-usable crates. |
| Employment and remuneration/staff welfare | The employees are given letters of appointment, code of conduct and job descriptions upon employment The facility provides opportunities for staff refresher courses and betterment monthly on safety, health and fire drill. Employees are provided with, food, medical cover, uniform, entertainment center, transport and accommodation facilities. Staff accommodation is well maintained i.e. clean and well kept. The staffs are paid in line with the minimum wage. |
| Staff education, communication and awareness training | Notice boards are used to facilitate communication to the staff. |
| Cultural preservation and promotion/protection of local sites | The camp ensures to carry out manyatta visits for its guest to enhance their knowledge of the local community culture. The facility informs clients on the cultural information within the area. There are books and publications in the lobby about the Maasai community. |
| Benefits to local community/community empowerment | The camp pays KES 4.2 million per year bed night fee to over 700 land owners of Mara North Conservancy The facility through the Karen Blixen Camp Trust supports the Mara Rianta Women Empowerment Programme which trains and supports the local women in bead work, language classes and hygiene matters. The initiative looks to empower the girl child to become economically independent hence acquiring the ability to rise above retrogressive culture such as early child marriage. The Karen Blixen Hospitality School which currently has three teachers takes and trains men and women from the local community and trains them in matters hospitality. The community which is dependent on pastoralism therefore gains the capacity to venture out at their own will. The facility has supported the Mara Rianta village school in renovating two classes so far in an ongoing project to upgrade the status of the school. The facility coordinates the zonation-Bomas- program which they carry out in the effort to reduce human-wildlife conflict plus land degradation. The facility provides the community with water which the women fetch in 20 litres containers for at least five rounds. |
| Cultural Criteria | |
| Health and safety | The camp has an Occupational Health and Safety committee in place that spearheads the safety issues within the facility. An annual health and safety audit has also been conducted. Firefighting equipment is well serviced and strategically placed, fire drills are often carried out and emergency response procedures have been established. Firefighting equipment including fire extinguishers, fire hose rails, automatic fire extinguishers, and fire blanket in the kitchen are duly serviced. Servicing is conducted by Trojan company every six months. The facility has an elaborate firefighting system consisting of fire extinguishers in every tent (foam and carbon dioxide); fire alarm and a hose reel are stationed strategically. The fire assembly point is stationed at an accessible point and well labeled. The facility provides protective gear / PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as boots, uniform, gloves, apron to the 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 | 10th November 2017 |
