Mara Bush Houses

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Name of the facility	Mara Bush Houses
Certification Achieved	Gold
Year opened	1991
Tourism region	Masai Mara/South Rift
County	Narok
Address	32- 00217 Naboisho, Kenya Map It
Telephone/Mobile	+254 715 479550
Email	[email protected]
Website	marabushhouses.com
Facility Notes	The Mara Bush Houses are located on Private land bordering the Mara North Conservancy. The conservancy covers about 61,000 acres of community owned and protected land. The conservancy borders the Masai Mara National Reserve to the South. The Masai Mara area is abundant in wildlife and regarded as one of the best game viewing sites in Africa. The conservancy is home to lions, leopards, cheetahs and plenty of herbivores and birds.
Energy management	Mara Bush Houses primarily run on solar power. Solar power fixed with power inverter battery system is the main source of energy. The system is also fitted with an energy meter to monitor consumption. Power usage is also analysed based on bed capacity and staff at the facility. The facility also has a backup generator of 30KVA that is run 4 hours a day. The facility uses 2 solar water boilers for heating water in the kitchen and in the staff areas. Water for use in the guest rooms is heated using energy efficient kuni boilers. The facility outsources wood from a sustainable source in Kericho that is used for camp fires and in the kuni water boilers
Environmental management	Mara Bush Houses is guided by Asilia Group environmental policy that emphasizes on dedication to the practice of sound environmental stewardship, promotion of health and safety of guests and employees as well as integration of all social and environmental concerns in their business operations. The facility has a detailed environmental plan and tangible environmental management systems in place with management plans in water, energy, waste as well as Health and safety. The facility undertakes its annual self-Environmental Audit (EA) as required by EMCA 1999 (Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act.) Dated December 2017. Ref No. NEMA/EA/5/2/4494.
Chemical use	Gas is bought in bulk and dispensed in 50Kg and 13kg cylinders for staff and guests cooking respectively. The storage section is caged for safety purposes.The fuel (diesel) is stored in a 2500 litres tank. While petrol and kerosene is stored in 20 litre metal jerry cans. The facility uses biodegradable bathroom amenities such as bathing soaps and shampoos in the guest tents supplied by charlotte Ryse. Biodegradable detergents from Odex Chemicals are used in the laundry.Material Safety Data sheets are available for all the chemicals used within the facility.
Conservation Criteria
Community Criteria
Solid waste management	Waste separation (paper, plastics, metals, glass and organic) is conducted at source. Organic waste is composted. The rest is put at a waste collection center for further segregation before it is transported by a NEMA licensed waste handler to Narok. The facility monitors its waste generation through an inventory (quantity and type) for legal compliance and to create efforts towards waste reduction at source. Waste from the facility is further analysed based on number of staff and guest occupancy. in an effort to reduce waste, guests are served with water from refillable glass bottles in the rooms. The guests are also issued with refillable branded bottles for use during their stay.
Water management	The main source of water for Mara Bush Houses is rainwater. Rain water accounts for about 90% of all water used within the facility. The facility also draws water from a nearby spring. Water is collected and stored in underground tanks with the capacity of about 110,000 litres. The water is then pumped to an overhead tank and supplied through the facility by gravity. The facility has installed and inlet and outlet meter at the spring and the main reservoir tanks. Meter readings are taken on a daily basis and further analysed based on bed nights and number of staff. Guest rooms are fitted with dual flush toilet cisterns which reduce on the amount of water consumed per flush The guests are also sensitized on minimum water use using signage and “towel talks” in the rooms to promote reuse of towels and linen.
Visitor communication & education	Booklets and room information folders are available at the guest houses. The room information contains publications such as on the Masai Mara reserve, the Maa culture, the Mara conservancies and Serengeti-Mara ecosystems and biodiversity as well as, mammals and bird lists.There is also elaborate information on the activities of the Asilia properties including sustainability, positive impact on the communities etc. Visitors are briefed upon arrival on the facility’s operations, and environmental values.
Pollution	The generator is fitted with a sound proof casing to reduce sound pollution.Efficient monitoring and maintenance of vehicles and generators ensures there is minimal air pollution.
Environmental conservation	As part of the greater Asilia Group, the facility supports the Twende Porini Program. This initiative is aimed at environmental education for school going children to teach them about conservation, grazing land, water use and the value of conservancies. Through Asilia giving, the facility supports a number of conservation projects. For instance; In the last financial yearUSD 6,711 was donated to the Rhino Ark Project towards the protecting the source of the Mara RiverUSD 39,855 was donated to Kenya Wildlife Trust towards to the Mara Lion and Cheetah project. The facility also offsets all carbon emanating from its business operations through Carbon Tanzania.
Waste water management	The facility conducts effluent tests on a quarterly basis and has an effluent discharge license. Ref No. NEMA/WQ/EDL/4611Effluent from the guest and staff kitchen flows through a grease trap to remove fats and oils. The facility has a weekly grease trap cleaning schedule for efficient monitoring. Black water throughout the facility is managed through a system of septic tanks and soak pits. Grey water is managed through soak pits.
Purchasing and supplies	The facility purchases its products in bulk to reduce on packaging; fruits and vegetables are packed in re-usable crates whereas meat is packaged in freezers.
Employment and remuneration/staff welfare	The facility has a staff committee and which represents staff issues to the management. Staff benefits include food, uniform, entertainment center, transport and accommodation. The staff participate in quite a number of internal Asilia award schemes including; Employee of the year, the call of duty award, long term services awards, Eco- warrior award etc
Staff education, communication and awareness training	The facility has an in-house staff training program where employees are sensitized on the facility standard operating procedures. Employees at the facility are regularly trained using Lobster Inc modules and a dedicated trainer.The chefs, guides and the managers undertake yearly training in Tanzania. As part of the Asilia group, staff coming in at management level are taken through a mentorship program to take up Assistant Managers positions. Notice boards and memos are also used to communicate to the staff.
Cultural preservation and promotion/protection of local sites	The facility incorporates the local Masai culture in décor e.g. beaded glass water bottles in the guest rooms.The facility organizes Maasai dances for special guest celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries. The facility organizes village visits for its guests to sample the local Masai Culture. The guest can choose from 3 villages Sadera Boma, Nchoe Village and Kileiya. The facility also has activities for kids to promote the local culture such as spear throwing, bows and arrows etc
Benefits to local community/community empowerment	– The facility purchases locally where possible, vegetables, and meat for the staff are bought locally.Majority of the employees are from the local community. About 60% of the employees are local. As part of the Asilia properties, every guest at Mara Bush Houses is charged 5 USD per night that is channeled to Asilia Giving -a charitable platform that donates all proceeds to conservation and social development.In the last financial year a total of 200,000 USD was donated. Out of this 26,330 USD was donated to support the Maa Trust. The Maa trust empowers local people by promoting social enterprise and through microfinance.The Maa trust has two major social enterprise projects, that is the Maa Beadwork and Maa Honey. These projects support local women groups who have now become empowered to raise their living standards. For instance, they have alternative income; can afford solar power lighting and education for their children. The trust also works in issues of water and sanitation and supporting schools and education. Asilia giving supports three schools within the Mara i.e. Ngoswani, Mbitin and Ol Kuroto Primary Schools Through KWT, Asilia giving supports the Justice Ole Keiwua Scholarship that supports promising youth in attaining a university degree in Tourism and Wildlife Management fields
Cultural Criteria
Health and safety	The facility is guided by Asilia’s Health and Safety Policy.The policy in great detail stipulates the responsibility of the management as well as Health and Safety Procedures and Emergency procedures for both the staff and guests. The facility also has core safety principles to guide the staff on matters of Health and Safety. Precautionary and safety signage such as ‘Hatari’ ‘highly flammable’ are strategically fixed at relevant places such as the fuel and gas storage areas. Proper Housekeeping (well arranged, clean, and properly ventilated) was seen at the food and dry goods storage area and in the repairs and maintenance section.The facility has undergone Health Inspection and issued with a Health Inspection Certificate. There is an adequate team of staff (the facility manager, guides and heads of departments) trained on first aid and a well-equipped first aid kit at the facility.Adequate firefighting equipment including, fire extinguishers, fire blanket in the kitchen, are serviced and strategically placed throughout the facility. (Servicing conducted by Titan Fire Security Ltd. The staff members have been trained on fire safety and fire fighting skills. The last training was conducted in July 2017 by Regency fire and safety services limited. A fire assembly point is properly marked and displayed within the facility. A fire alarm is also available.The facility has conducted a comprehensive health and safety audit in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Act 2007.Dated July 2017. The facility has also conducted a fire risk audit. Dated July 2017. The staff members have a health and safety committee that spearheads health and safety matters at the facility.
Child labor, abuse and human rights	the facility has a Human Resource policy that guides against employment of minors. Minimum employment age is years.
Business Practises Criteria
Entry Date	9th March 2018

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