Name of the facility | Sasaab Lodge |
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Certification Achieved | Gold |
Year opened | 2007 |
Tourism region | Laikipia/Samburu |
County | Samburu |
Address | Head Office – Nairobi Map It |
Telephone/Mobile | +254725675830 |
[email protected] | |
Website | thesafaricollection.com |
Facility Notes | Sasaab Lodge is located in Westgate Conservancy within Ngutuk Group Ranch, specifically on GPS coordinates N 00° 37.860’ and E 037° 21.033’. The facility which was opened in 2007 is managed by The Safari Collection. It has nine (9) tents with a total bed capacity of 18 guests and 26 employees for its operations. West Gate Community Conservancy borders Samburu National Reserve to its south, Kalama Community Wildlife Conservancy to its east, and Namunyak Wildlife Conservation Trust to the north. Its southern and western boundary is the Ewaso Nyiro River. The Conservancy was initiated by the local land owners of Ngutuk Ongiron Group Ranch in 2004 as a tourism and conservation enterprise to diversify income generating sources in order to facilitate social and economic development for the ranch. Pastoralism is the social-economic backbone for the Samburu community at the group ranch, which also provides a critical wildlife dispersal area to Samburu National Reserve (SNR), particularly for the endangered Gravy’s Zebra and elephants. Other key wildlife species include Lions, Grant’s gazelle, and Somali ostrich. |
Energy management | Solar is the main source of energy for Sasaab Lodge. There are 36 solar panels which provide power for lighting, fridges and electrical appliances. The energy is supplemented by a backup generator with an output capacity of 60KvA. The generator is only used for heavy energy demand duties such as welding and ironing. The lodge has a meter to monitor its energy consumption. In addition generator fuel consumption is closely monitored. The facility has installed ten (10) solar water heaters used in the guest rooms and kitchen areas. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is used for guest cooking whereas dead wood is used for staff cooking. The facility runs on LED (Light Emitting Diodes) and energy saving bulbs only. Visitors are briefed upon arrival on the need to conserve energy through switching off unnecessary lights. |
Environmental management | Sasaab Lodge operations are spearheaded through the Corporate Company – The Safari Collection- environmental policy which recognizes the need for environmental protection and sustainability. The policy has specific action plans on Sustainable management, compliance to relevant government legislation, social responsibility, communication of policies to stakeholders and monitoring for continued improvement. The lodge has an Environmental Management System (EMS) that is committed to streamlining its operations to high environmental standards. The EMS seeks to provide a framework for the management of environmental and socio-economic aspects, and safeguard the health and safety of employees and visitors. The EMS includes set objectives, management plans, and monitoring measures for resources such as water, energy and waste management, and health and safety. The lodge has undertaken its annual Environmental Audit (EA) as required by EMCA 2015 (Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act.) |
Chemical use | The facility uses biodegradable cleaning products from Diversey for general cleaning purposes and for laundry. The staff has been trained on the appropriate chemical use. There is an organized operating procedure for the nine (9) swimming pools chemical handling. The pool attendant is well trained in handling and storage of pool chemicals in accordance to safety and health regulations. The pools are maintained on a daily basis and records for chemicals usage recorded regularly Diesel is stored in a 4,000 liters tank, whereas petrol and paraffin is stored in 20litre containers. The storage area is well contained and secured to prevent spillage. Safety signage is also available. Liquefied Petroleum gas is stored in 50 kg and 12kg cylinders. The cylinders are well secured – for safety purposes. |
Conservation Criteria | |
Community Criteria | |
Solid waste management | Sasaab Lodge has a solid waste management policy that is based on the three principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. This policy is implemented through a clearly outlined waste management plan. Waste separation is done at source and the waste bins are labelled. The waste bins are strategically placed throughout the facility. Additionally, the waste is put in a waste management center – separation chambers for further segregation before transporting for recycling through a waste disposal transport company called Taka Solutions. The facility monitors waste through a ‘waste disposal track form’ indicating the type and quantity of waste disposed therefore assisting in creating waste reduction targets. Organic waste is composted in a three (3) chamber composting system. The manure is later used in the lodge’s kitchen garden. Ash is added to reduce odor and chamber are tightly sealed to keep off wildlife -scavengers. Some organic waste is used to feed chicken kept at the lodge. A few waste wine bottles are decorated, sanitized and used to serve water at the guest rooms. |
Water management | Main source of water for the facility is a borehole located within the facility. The water is solar pumped on a high elevation and stored in two (2) main reservoirs of 10,000 liters each for distribution via gravity to the entire lodge. A water extraction permit for the borehole is available. The water is metered at source to monitor consumption. Recording is done on daily basis for monitoring purposes. The lodge has a reverse osmosis system in place for treating and purifying drinking water. This has reduced on need to buy bottled water. Irrigation is only done early morning and late evening (through use of sprinklers) to ensure minimal water wastage. In addition, is a regular maintenance and inspection of the plumbing system to rectify any leakages. The facility has installed push taps at the main water outlets and low pressure shower heads in the guest cottages to reduce water use. Despite minimal rainfall occurrence in that area, a rain water harvesting tank with a capacity of 6400 liters is in place. The Lodge 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. In an effort to save water, the facility has ‘save a bucket initiative’ whereby guest are sensitized to put a bucket and collect running water from showers before it gets hot. The water is later used for irrigating lawns within the premises. |
Visitor communication & education | Visitors are briefed upon arrival. Room information sheets are provided in the guest rooms with detailed information on Sasaab Lodge environmental conservation and activities. Room information packs also contain information on the Samburu ecosystem and Westgate Conservancy. The lodge has a reading resource area located at the restaurant with information materials on Birds, mammals and Samburu culture Nature walks, Game drives and camel riding activities are offered as awareness creation /education platforms to the guests with the help of the guides. |
Pollution | Lanterns are used to illuminate the pathways at night to reduce on light pollution. The generator room is insulated and a muffler system fixed on the generator to reduce on sound pollution. |
Environmental conservation | The lodge supports the Ewaso Lions Project which is a grassroots initiative focused on the predators’ protection. The partnership involves various conservation initiatives. The lodge guides participate in monitoring wildlife and information sharing with the conservancy rangers. Sasaab partners with Ewaso Lions specifically within and around Westgate Conservancy on environmental clean-up exercises. Through the project, local household are given waste collection bins which is later collected by the lodge for disposal to recyclers. Through Westgate conservancy and Ewaso Lions, Sasaab also supports initiatives such as ‘The Lions Kid Camp’ which involves school children from Ngutuk Ongiron, and nearby Lorubae and Girgir primary schools where the children are taken for game drives aimed at educating them on wildlife conservation. Additionally, local women are also involved through the Women Safari Project for conservation sensitization purposes. |
Waste water management | Waste water from the kitchen flows through a grease trap and drains into a soak pit. Waste water from the guest rooms, laundry and staff quarters is managed through soak pits. The lodge has one main swimming pool and nine plunge pools. Every two pools are connected with a backwash cleaning system. Backwash is conducted at least once or twice a week depending on usage. Effluent tests have been conducted and the facility issued with an effluent discharge license in compliance with Environmental Management and Coordination (Water Quality) Regulations of 2006. Black water within the facility is managed through the use of septic tanks. The facility has eight (8) septic tanks evenly distributed within the facility. The system is fixed with access maintenance manholes and EM 1 (Bio-Clean) effective microorganism is added in the septic tanks to facilitate sludge digestion. Monthly routine checks are conducted for maintenance purpose. A site drainage plan is available. This is a diagrammatic representation for the lodge waste water management system, which is essential for monitoring purposes. |
Purchasing and supplies | Purchasing of supplies is done in an environmentally friendly way – re-usable packaging material and bulk purchase where possible. Fruits and vegetables are mostly purchased in Meru town. Some fresh vegetables are picked from the kitchen garden reducing the need for packaging. |
Employment and remuneration/staff welfare | About 75% of the employees are from the local area, however, all casual work job opportunities are given to the locals. Staff benefits include; sponsored training, health care, insurance covers, uniform, food, entertainment, accommodation and transport. |
Staff education, communication and awareness training | Sasaab Lodge guides are certified under the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association: (KPSGA). There are three (3) certified guides – 1 silver and 2 bronze certified. The employees have daily briefing meetings. The facility has a staff welfare committee that meets regularly to deal with staff issues with the management. Notice boards are used to facilitate communication to the staff. |
Cultural preservation and promotion/protection of local sites | The visitors are offered an authentic cultural experience to the local villages – Sasaab and Ngutuk Village. The system is organized in such a way that no money exchanges hands. Monies are collected at the lodge and paid to the locals through the community liaison officer or the lodge manager. Each guest pays Kshs. 1000 whereas children are charged at Kshs. 500 for the village visits. In addition, the lodge has an existing strategy where a specified percentage of village visits contribution is directed to community projects supported by a local women group – Namayana and Saimalu Cultural Manyatta. |
Benefits to local community/community empowerment | Sasaab Lodge makes remittances on conservancy fees ($40 per guest), bed night fee and land lease fee to Westgate Conservancy where some of the funds are used for local community development initiatives Sasaab Lodge has a community engagement plan and supports various community initiatives in education, health and conservation. These initiatives include; Education: Supports Ngutuk and Sasaab primary schools by establishing a daily school lunch feeding program for students. The schools have 200 and 50 students respectively. This is aimed at encouraging children to attend school. Health: The Lodge partners with various doctors from the MEAK (Medical and Educational Aid to Kenya) Foundation to host eye and dental clinics around local villages including Naisunyai, Sukuroi, Ngutuk, Sasaab villages. Community empowerment: the lodge provides medical emergency such as snake bites transport to the nearest health facility to the community members. In addition, the facility supplies water to the community on a monthly basis (1000 liters). |
Cultural Criteria | |
Health and safety | The lodge has a detailed Health and Safety Policy in place which acts as a comprehensive guide on safety procedures at the facility. In addition, the facility has an environment, health and safety Committee that spearheads environmental, health and safety issues. The facility staff has been trained on first aid and fire-fighting skills. In addition, there is a doctor on call from Intrepids Lodge. Staff medical care is referred to Westgate and Wamba clinics. There is a medical insurance cover in place. Adequate first aid kits are available within the lodge – office, workshop and game drive vehicles. The first aid boxes were assessed and found to comply with the First Aid Rules. Further the lodge is linked to AMREF for air emergency evacuation. The lodge has been inspected and issued with a Health Clearance Certificate from the County department of Public Health and Sanitation. Medical check-ups are conducted in every six (6) months to food and beverage handlers to ascertain their health fitness, and in compliance with the Food, Drugs, and Chemical substances Act. Cap 254. Adequate fire-fighting equipment including, fire extinguishers, fire blanket in the kitchen and sand buckets are serviced. Fire assembly point is clearly and conspicuously marked within the lodge. A fire alarm is also in place. The facility provides protective gear / PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as boots, welding glasses, gloves, apron to the staff. The camp has installed safety and precautionary signage such as, highly flammable in strategic areas such as diesel storage room. The facility has undertaken a fire safety audit dated February 2016 to comply with Factories and other places of work (Fire Risk Reduction) Rules 2007 The lodge is registered under the Directorate of Safety and Health (DOSH) and issued with a Certificate of registration of a workplace. Guest cottages are equipped with fire evacuation plan – facility plan – and emergency response equipment such as a radio call and whistle. Proper housekeeping – well arranged, dry and tidy – was observed at the workshop. This promotes safety at the workshop and the workers involved |
Child labor, abuse and human rights | The facility adheres to the legal employment age. |
Business Practises Criteria | |
Entry Date | 10th November 2017 |