| Name of the facility | Saruni Samburu |
|---|---|
| Certification Achieved | Silver |
| Year opened | 2008 |
| Tourism region | Laikipia/Samburu |
| County | Samburu |
| Address | 20 Mwitu Road, Mwitu Estate, Karen, Map It |
| Telephone/Mobile | +254 (0) 735 950 903 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | sarunisamburu.com |
| Facility Notes | Saruni Samburu is located at the heart of the Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy, about 7 km from the Northern border of the Samburu National Reserve on GPS coordinates Latitude 0.705992 (0°42′21.574″N) || Longitude 37.53057 (37°31′50.08″E). It also borders Ngutuk Ongiron to the west, Namunyak Community Conservation Trust to the north and Sera Community Wildlife Conservation to the north east. The lodge has six (6) rooms with a bed capacity of 16 guests. It is open all year round. The conservancy serves as a critical migratory corridor between the northern reserves of Sera and Namunyak, to the southern reserves of West Gate, Samburu and Nakuprat-Gotu. The key wildlife in the region include the Samburu elephant, leopard, reticulated giraffe, Oryx and Grevy’s zebra along with a plethora of birds and other small mammals. |
| Energy management | Solar power fixed with power inverter battery system is the main source of energy. There are 84 solar panels throughout which provide power for the lodge. The facility also uses solar water heaters for heating water for the guest rooms. A generator with an output of 45 KvA is used as back up for the lodge. The generator runs for approximately eight hours a day and is also used for energy intensive works at the workshop. The generators are metered and energy consumption is analyzed per guest. The lodge uses rechargeable torches in the guest rooms. The facility uses charcoal briquettes for grilling meat in the jiko cookers. |
| Environmental management | Saruni Samburu is guided by its 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 management system with management plans in water, energy and waste. The lodge undertakes its annual self-Environmental Audit (EA) as required by EMCA 1999 (Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act.) |
| Chemical use | The lodge uses biodegradable bathroom amenities from Cinnabar Green in the guest tents. Fuel (Diesel) is stored in is stored in an underground tank and dispensed using a fuel pump. |
| Conservation Criteria | |
| Community Criteria | |
| Solid waste management | Sorting of waste is done at the waste holding area. Plastic and metallic waste is then taken to a recycling centre in Nairobi. Waste tyres are transported for recycling in Nanyuki. As a waste reduction measure, the facility provides guests with water from refillable glass bottles in the room. Presently, the lodge is in the process of completely facing out plastic bottled water by providing the guests with braded, refillable stainless steel bottles |
| Water management | Main source of water for Saruni Samburu is obtained from a borehole within the conservancy. The water is collected by a water truck, which makes on average three trips per day ( ferrying 4,000 litres of water per trip). The water is then stored in a16,000 litre reservoir and distributed via pumping and gravity to the entire facility. 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 | Visitors are briefed upon arrival on the facility’s operations and environmental values. The guest tents are equipped with room information folders to brief the visitors on environmental conservation and operations of Saruni Samburu and NRT as well as the activities and biodiversity within Kalama conservancy. The rooms are also furnished with magazines detailing the history, ecosystems and flora and fauna within East Africa as well as international travel news. |
| Pollution | The lodge uses low light emitting bulbs to minimize light pollution at night. |
| Environmental conservation | Saruni Samburu collects a conservation fee of 116 USD per guest. The money goes directly into conservation programmes within the conservancy. In the last year, the facility paid a total of Ksh. 8,946,707 to Kalama Conservancy. The facility also offers monetary and logistical support for biodiversity conservation projects. Within the last year, Saruni Samburu has donated Ksh. 50,000 towards a feeding program to the Grevy Zebra Trust. Saruni Samburu manages a local watering hole. In this way, the lodge provides water obtained from the borehole to wildlife as the region is primarily a water scarce area. |
| Waste water management | The facility swimming pool is cleaned via sieving, backwash and vacuum cleaning. Records are kept on a daily basis. The facility conducts effluent tests on a quarterly basis and has applied for an effluent discharge license. Grey water from the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms is managed through soak pits. Black water throughout the facility is managed through a system of septic tanks and soak pits. The facility also adds bio clean to the septic tanks for efficient sludge digestion. |
| Purchasing and supplies | Vegetables and fruits are packed in reusable crates while meat and dairy products are stored in freezers. Where possible dry goods are bought in bulk to reduce on the packaging |
| Employment and remuneration/staff welfare | Basic Staff benefits at the lodge include food, health insurance, uniform, entertainment, transport and accommodation. The staff at Saruni Samburu have a welfare committee that handles staff issues. |
| Staff education, communication and awareness training | Staff have been trained on basic first Aid, firefighting skills and use of firefighting equipment. They are also regularly trained per department for skills. Notice boards are used to facilitate communication to the staff. |
| Cultural preservation and promotion/protection of local sites | Saruni Samburu promotes local culture actively in various ways. • The architecture of the lodge depicts the local Samburu traditional huts with thatched roofs. • Intricate pieces of décor have blended contemporary designs with the local culture e.g. beaded place mats/coasters, beaded hot/cold water shower signs, bathroom gowns etc. • The staff dress in the traditional Samburu or Maasai attires at the lodge. • Room information folders have elaborate description of the the local Samburu culture and heritage. • The lodge also sells authentic local beadwork at the Gift shop, which is supplied by local women’s groups from Kiltaman Village and Archer’s Post. • Saruni Samburu conducts cultural village visits for its guests. Each guest pays a sum of 20USD to experience the unique Samburu culture. The proceeds of these visits goes directly to the villages. • Engaging the guests in a 2-3day practical engagement with the local morans to learn the aspects and skills of a Traditional Samburu Warrior. This initiative is known as the warrior Academy. |
| Benefits to local community/community empowerment | The facility employs staff primarily from the local area. Approximately 80% of the employees are locals. Saruni Samburu supports the local community in various aspects related to conservation, enterprise and education. They include; • Partnership with pack for a purpose. This initiative involves the guests by encouraging them to bring along meaningful supplies to impact the local communities in areas they visit. In this vein Saruni Samburu supports Kiltimani Primary school through donations of stationery, books, sports equipment, clothes etc. • Saruni Samburu supports local enterprise by providing display space at the gift shop for beadwork to support the local women group. The beadwork is done by the women and all the proceeds go directly to them. • Scholarships and bursaries for local students. Presently Saruni Samburu has granted a full scholarship to a local student to pursue a diploma in purchasing and supply management at University of Nairobi.. |
| Cultural Criteria | |
| Health and safety | Firefighting equipment has been inspected and duly serviced by Atlas Fire Security Limited. In addition, the staff is trained of fire safety skills. Fire exits and assembly points are properly marked and displayed within the facility. Food handlers have undergone medical tests in September 2017 in compliance with Food, Drugs, and Chemical substances Act. Cap 25 The facility has an emergency procedure and emergency contacts in place included in the room information folder within the guest rooms. The guest rooms are equipped with rechargeable torches that can be used during emergencies. Medical emergencies for staff are referred to Baraka clinic at Archers Post and Nanyuki Cottage hospital. There is also a doctor on call to attend to visitors or emergency services. |
| Child labor, abuse and human rights | The management of Saruni Samburu strictly adheres to the minimum legal working age of 18 years |
| Business Practises Criteria | |
| Entry Date | 12th March 2018 |
