| Name of the facility | Sarova Mara Game Camp |
|---|---|
| Certification Achieved | Silver |
| Year opened | 1984 |
| Tourism region | Masai Mara/South Rift |
| County | Narok |
| Address | Masai Mara National Reserve Map It |
| Telephone/Mobile | +254 50 22386/22194 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | sarovahotels.com |
| Facility Notes | Sarova Mara Game Camp is located in Masai Mara National Reserve is approximately five kilometers from Sekenani gate. It is located on Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates on latitude 36M 0758076 and longitude UTM 9830789. Owned and managed by The Sarova Hotels, the facility was established in 1984 but has undergone various renovations over years with most recent being 2011. It has 75 guest tents with a maximum bed capacity of 150 and a total work force of 135 permanent employees |
| Energy management | Sarova Mara has an energy policy and energy management plan with clear goals, objectives and action plan. Additionally, it has an energy committee to spearhead energy monitoring and conservation. The facility has two main sources of power, solar energy and diesel generators. There are three generators with power output of 100 KvA, 225 KvA and 320 KvA respectively. The facility has invested in sixteen solar water heaters with a capacity of 300 litres each. The generators are used for lighting, running electrical equipment and back-up on solar. In addition, the camp has a solar powered electric fence. The generators fuel is monitored and power rationed for at least 8 hours in a day for energy conservation. Energy consumption is metered and monitored on a daily basis in major outlets such as laundry, kitchen, and guest areas. Monthly consumption records are displayed on the notice board and discussed at departmental levels. For energy conservation purposes, energy saving bulbs and light emitting diodes (LED) are installed throughout the facility. In addition, the camp has modified two of its generators muffler system; the hot exhaust fumes are used for water heating. The water is put in a hot water tank for use within the kitchen. Further, guests are briefed upon arrival on energy conservation through switching off unnecessary lights and generator rationing. |
| Environmental management | Sarova Mara Game Camp has a well communicated environmental policy, which emphasizes the camps commitment to quality service, environmental best practices, compliance to relevant environmental legislations, pollution prevention and ensuring health and safety. There is an environmental management system with clear management plans for energy, water and solid waste. In addition, the camp has a designated environmental committee-Green Team-to spearhead environmental issues in line with the environmental management system. |
| Chemical use | The camp uses bathroom amenities, e.g. bathing soaps and shampoos supplied by Hanview Enterprises Limited; laundry chemicals supplied by Diversy chemicals while swimming pool amenities supplied by Henkel chemicals. All these chemicals are accompanied by Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). The facility laundry machines are automated to ensure precise use of chemicals, while the swimming pool attendant is well trained in handling and storage of pool. The pool is well maintained and records for chemicals usage recorded on a daily basis. Fuel (Diesel and petrol) is stored in underground tanks of 10,000 litres and 6,000 litres respectively, fixed with a fuelling pump. Gas is bought in bulk. The storage area is well secured and fixed with precautionary signage for safety purposes. |
| Conservation Criteria | |
| Community Criteria | |
| Solid waste management | The camp an effective solid waste management system, whereby waste separation is conducted at source, with clearly labelled and colour coded bins, which are strategically placed throughout the facility. Waste is later put in a waste management center (separation room) for further segregation before disposal. Metallic waste is disposed directly via scrap waste recyclers whereas plastic, glass and old tyre waste is disposed for recycling at Sarova Central Stores. Medical waste is put in safety boxes and transported to Narok hospital for incineration while Rentokil services have been contracted to manage sanitary waste. Organic waste is weighed and composted at a designated pit within the facility premises. To reduce on plastic waste, the facility uses 18 litre dispensers to serve drinking water at the staff quarters and office block. |
| Water management | The camp has a water policy showing commitment to water conservation and compliance to existing water regulatory acts. Main source of water for the facility is drawn from a spring; the water is pumped and stored in reservoirs with a total capacity of 100,000 litres. It is treated through sedimentation and chlorination before supply to all consumer points. A water extraction permit has been obtained in accordance with the law. The water is metered and consumption monitored at the main outlet. The facility has a rapid maintenance team to attend to any water leakage. The camp has put in place various measures to ensure reduced water use. Such measures include; adjusting its single water toilet cistern system – by putting two litre water bottles in the cistern – a measure to reduce on water consumed per flush; fixing low shower filter heads within the camp for water use efficiency; and installing push taps and knee pressed taps at the main water outlets to reduce water use. Finally, the Camp sensitizes its staff during daily meetings and guests during briefings on water conservation. Guests are also encouraged to re-use their towels and linen through information sheets available in guest rooms. |
| Visitor communication & education | Visitors are briefed upon arrival. Room information sheets are provided in the guest rooms with information on Sarova Hotels. Room information packs also contain information on the Masai Mara ecosystem. Nature walks, Game drives are offered as awareness creation /education platforms to the guests with the help of the guides |
| Pollution | Low light – energy saving bulbs are used to illuminate the pathways at night to reduce on light pollution with a cover put on the path lights to reduce on light emission. The generator operation hours are closely monitored for servicing purposes, while the room is insulated and a muffler system fixed on the generator to reduce on sound pollution. Additionally, an oil interceptor has been fixed at the generator room to handle any oil spills from the room. Also, the facility has a designate Car wash area fixed with an oil interceptor to reduce on possible oil spills |
| Environmental conservation | Sarova Mara Game Camp is designed to blend in with the natural surroundings, with the guest tents being built out of palm roofing (makuti) and grey canvas tents. Natural vegetation within the premises is relatively undisturbed. Further on conservation, the camp conducts tree planting activities through partnerships with Kenya Wildlife Service, mostly within the premises and at Sekenani primary school. The camp has planted approximately 400 indigenous tree seedlings. Occasionally, the facility participates in reserve cleaning and litter collection activities through partnerships with the Chief Warden-Masai Mara National Reserve |
| Waste water management | Grey and black water at the facility is managed through a sewer system. Effluent from laundry, guest tents and staff quarters flows into septic tanks for solid waste sedimentation and sludge digestion before flowing into the sewer system. From the system, it flows into a wetland which comprises of five treatment co-joined lagoons before discharge into the environment. The sewer system comprises of a sewer line, man holes, septic tanks and a wetland with five connected lagoons with different stages of treatment. Bio-enzymes are added in the septic tanks for sludge digestion. The effluent undergoes various stages of natural treatment (solar effects, aerobic/anaerobic treatment, through vegetation and polar rock purification, solar effects) then released into the environment. |
| Purchasing and supplies | Purchasing of supplies is done in an environmentally friendly way – re-usable packaging material and bulk purchases are considered where possible. e.g. vegetables and fruits packed in crates. Some fresh vegetables are picked from the kitchen garden reducing the need for packaging |
| Employment and remuneration/staff welfare | The facility has a staff welfare committee that meets regularly to deal with staff issues with the management |
| Staff education, communication and awareness training | The camp has established a creative approach for communicating with the staff by erecting motivation signage posts along the staff quarters’ path with sensitization messages on work ethic and dealing with guests. Notice boards are used to facilitate communication to the staff, in addition to daily briefing meetings |
| Cultural preservation and promotion/protection of local sites | Sarova Mara facilitates authentic guests village visits at a fee remitted to the locals. To promote visitor experience, the camp organizes sale of local curios, cultural talks and entertainment dances from a hired local dance troupe where the dancers are paid per dance. In addition, the camp has an in house cultural village -Isikon Village managed by a local women group from Sekenani. Revenue collected from the village is directed to the community.The camp has an anti-sexual harassment policy to discourage sexual harassment and abide by the culture of the area |
| Benefits to local community/community empowerment | The camp has a designate place within the premises where local women from the Sekenani display and sell their curios and artefacts directly to the guests every Friday of the week. Sarova employs staff from the local people with approximately 50% of the permanent employees hired from the local area. Sarova Mara Game camp has a corporate social responsibility program on education, health and community wellbeing. The camp partners with donors specifically on Sekenani Primary School/Sekenani Boarding School. Achievements include; • Development of six (6) classrooms, two (2) dormitories built by Sarova Mara Staff monetary contributions and two (2) more dormitories built with partnership of a guest. In addition is a girl’s accommodation facility for Sekenani primary school built in partnership with Richard Brandson – Virgin Airlines • Soliciting and hosting of British Teachers for the school under – Educating the Children ETC – an organization Improving the quality of primary education through assigning teachers from the UK to schools in the Masai Mara • Donation of beds, sanitary towels to the school • Partnership in paying fees for twelve (girls) in the school. • Provision of transport during school term events and feeding program for the school • Tree planting program at the school • Health education and quarterly medical care for the Sekenani School and Sekenani area. • Sponsored one student in Narok South Primary School through high school in Tangecha High School. In addition it sponsors one (1) girl child student at Limuru Girls School. • Built a community toilet facility at Sekenani Chiefs Camp Staff benefits include; sponsored training, health care, insurance covers, uniform, food, entertainment, accommodation and transport |
| Cultural Criteria | |
| Health and safety | The Camp has a health and safety committee that spearheads safety issues within the facility. Additionally, there is a fire team trained on fire-fighting and first aiders in the ratio of 1:10 in the departments. First aid kits are well placed in the main departments. The Camp has implemented the HACCP (Hazard analysis and critical control points) food safety in its operations. The facility has an established glass breakage safety policy that illustrates on the procedures to be followed once a breakage occurs. Also, Food handlers have undergone medical tests in compliance with Food, Drugs, and Chemical substances Act.cap 254. Sanitary Inspection has been conducted by public health inspectors under the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation. The facility has been issued with a Health Inspection License. Sarova Mara has a clinic within the premises and a 24 hrs clinical officer on duty to attend to the staff and guests. The clinic is well equipped with medical equipment including, emergency nebulizers, defibrillators, and artificial oxygen. The camp has an established evacuation plan in place; various hotline numbers for major departments are posted on the notice board. Additionally, the camp is linked to flying doctors services and charter air services can be provided for emergency response. Further, the guest tents are equipped with telephone to reception telephone communication system for emergency response. Fire-fighting equipment which includes fire extinguishers, kitchen fire blankets and sand buckets are serviced and strategically placed within the facility while fire assembly points and fire alarm/bell well marked and installed respectively. The staff is provided with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment.) such as gloves, welding glasses, working aprons, and boots. Precautionary and safety signage are well fixed in areas such as the gas storage, the swimming pool and fuel pumping station |
| 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 | 13th March 2018 |
