| Name of the facility | Ol Tukai Lodge |
|---|---|
| Certification Achieved | Bronze |
| Year opened | 1996 |
| Tourism region | Tsavo/Amboseli |
| County | Kajiado |
| Address | Amboseli National Park Map It |
| Telephone/Mobile | +254 20 444 5514 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | oltukailodge.com |
| Facility Notes | Ol Tukai Lodge is situated within Amboseli National Park and began operating in 1996. The lodge coins its name from the local Masai community dialect Maa language ‘Ol Tukai’ which means “Dark Palms”. The facility is precisely located on latitude 37M 0309146 and longitude UTM 9704924. It consists of 80 rooms and a three bedroom villa, with total bed occupancy of 166. The work force is made up of 120 permanent employees. The lodge sits on an area of 33 acres on a lease period of 45 years.
Amboseli National Park is about 392 km2 in size located in the 8,000 km2 Amboseli ecosystem that straddles across the Kenya-Tanzania border. It was gazetted as a National Park in 1974 in order to protect the core ecosystem. The park falls within a hot and semi-arid zone. The soils are characterized by a mixture of red volcanic rocks, calcareous clay, black cotton and salty dusty soils. The vegetation ranges from open grasslands, Acacia Tortilis, bush land and reed beds dominating the swampy areas. Most of the water in Amboseli comes from underground springs and aquifers that are fed primarily from Mount Kilimanjaro. The Park is home to a variety of wildlife and famous for elephant watching. Other common wildlife includes: Cape buffalo, impala, lion, cheetah, hyena, giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest among others. It is also a haven for birdlife with over 400 species recorded including kingfishers, cranes and water birds. Other attractions in the area include opportunities to interact with the local Maasai community and the spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro peaks, the highest mountain in Africa. |
| Energy management | The Lodge runs on diesel generators and solar power. It has three (3) generators with power output capacity of 355KvA, 350 KvA and 135 KvA respectively. The generators are used for lighting the lodge and running refrigerators. Solar power is used for water heating. Visitors are encouraged to conserve energy through switching off unnecessary lights and through visual signage within the guest rooms. The facility runs on LED (Light Emitting Diodes) and energy saving bulbs only. In addition, the lodge has an energy rationing schedule. Solar rechargeable torches are used. |
| Environmental management | Ol Tukai Lodge has documented, a comprehensive environmental Management Plan (EMP) articulating environmental sustainability and conservation through best environmental management practices in Water, Energy, Waste, purchasing and facility operations. In addition, the facility has an environmental policy statement which describes the facility’s commitment to environmental protection, conservation, sustainable development and environmental awareness. Ol Tukai Lodge has conducted its annual self-Environmental Audit to comply with NEMA Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations of 2003 |
| Chemical use | Biodegradable chemical products including bathroom amenities, laundry chemicals and swimming pool chemicals are used at the facility. Material safety data sheets for the chemicals are available |
| Conservation Criteria | |
| Community Criteria | |
| Solid waste management | Waste bins are strategically distributed throughout the facility |
| Water management | The facility has a borehole as the main source of water, in addition is a well; water is stored in reservoir tanks of average capacity of 80,000 litres and distributed via gravitational force throughout the premises. The lodge laundry machines are automated in water uptake and are run at their optimum weights to conserve water. The Lodge sensitizes its staff during meetings and guests during briefings on water conservation. Guest rooms are fixed with high pressure shower heads and guests are encouraged to re-use their towels in an effort to conserve water |
| Visitor communication & education | Visitors are briefed upon arrival. Room information sheets are provided in the guest rooms with an environmental policy and information on environmental conservation (water and energy) and lodges history and activities. |
| Pollution | The facility has installed an oil interceptor to contain any fuel spillage from the generator room. Lamp shades are used to control light pollution on the path ways at night. |
| Environmental conservation | The lodge holds an environmental day on monthly basis. The day is designated for general cleanliness and environmental sensitization. Ol Tukai also engages in tree planting activities within its premises. Approximately 150 indigenous tree seedlings were planted in June 2015 with a success rate of 70%. Tree seedlings are obtained from Kenya Wildlife Service. |
| Waste water management | Effluent from the guest kitchen flows through a grease trap before draining into a soak pit. Grey waste water from the laundry, guest rooms and staff quarters is managed via soak pits. Black water within the facility is managed through septic tanks. The facility has three compartment septic tanks system where overflow is maintained through radial arms and ends up in soak pits. The system is fixed with access manholes. The swimming pool is cleaned via vacuum cleaning, sieving and the backwash system. Backwashing is done on every three (3) days in the evening. Swimming pool chemicals use records are kept |
| Purchasing and supplies | The Lodge encourages environmental packaging ways. This includes; bulk buying where possible to reduce on packaging material such as purchase of shampoos and lotions, and delivery of perishables including vegetables, fruits packed in re-usable crates, cartons and cool boxes for meat |
| Employment and remuneration/staff welfare | They also have a staff welfare committee which handles staff affairs |
| Staff education, communication and awareness training | The employees have daily departmental briefing meetings.Notice boards are used to facilitate communication to the staff. |
| Cultural preservation and promotion/protection of local sites | The lodge contracts the local people to showcase their culture by performing cultural dances at the facility and, permits them to sell their curios and artifacts directly to the visitors at the lodge. The lodge organizes village visits for the guests to the local Manyatta and benefits channeled to the local community. The visitors receive talks and lectures on the local culture form the resident naturalist |
| Benefits to local community/community empowerment | Ol Tukai Lodge community benefits are done through Amrit Foundation; Every 1% of the sales in the gift shop is donated to the foundation which finances the facility community initiatives The lodge seeks to promote education of the local children which has been achieved through: • Built three (3) classrooms and a dormitory for girls at Enkongu Narok School. Currently 26 board at the school • Built a water system (borehole), installed solar for lighting and toilets for the school which approximately cost KES 2.5 million Through the staff committee; the employees sponsors one (1) local child through paying school fees. Guests are allowed to buy curios directly from the locals during village visits and cultural dances are sponsored at the facility. The lodge purchases locally where possible, perishables such potatoes, are bought in Kimana. Casual work job opportunities are given to the locals |
| Cultural Criteria | |
| Health and safety | The lodge has been inspected and issued with a Heath clearance certificate under the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation. The kitchen staff (food handlers) undergoes medical checkups in every six (6) months. The facility has a clinic and clinical officer available on 24hrs to cater for staff and guest health care. First aid kits are available in strategic areas including the main office, clinic and kitchen areas. The facility encourages its guests to insure with Flying doctors services for emergency responses The lodge is fitted with firefighting equipment including fire blankets in the kitchen and fire extinguishers. An emergency plan is also available in every guest room. Safety and precautionary signage are fixed in strategic areas such as No Diving signs at the swimming pool. No smoking and highly flammable signage at the gas storage area. Fire assembly points, smoke detectors and fire alarm/bell are marked and respectively installed. Fire drills were conducted during the fire-fighting refresher training. In addition, the staff is provided with Personal Protective Equipment including gloves, working aprons, and boots. There is a trained first aid and fire-fighting team which constitutes key staff members from all departments. On addition, a trained health and safety team is in place |
| 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 |
