| Name of the facility | Tortilis Camp |
|---|---|
| Certification Achieved | Gold |
| Year opened | 1995 |
| Tourism region | Tsavo/Amboseli |
| County | Kajiado |
| Address | Kitirua Conservancy Map It |
| Telephone/Mobile | +254 730 127 000 |
| [email protected] | |
| Website | elewanacollection.com |
| Facility Notes | Tortilis Camp is located within the Amboseli ecosystem in Kitirua Conservancy on global positioning system (GPS) Latitude 37M 0297973 and Longitude UTM 9703310. The camp was established in 1995 managed by Elewana Limited. It has eighteen guest tents with a total bed capacity of forty guests. The facility has a total work force of 70 employees for its operations. Kitirua Conservancy covers about 30,000 acres within the Amboseli ecosystem where it provides a critical wildlife dispersal corridor between Tanzania & Kenya. The conservancy is a partnership between Cheli and Peacock, and Kenya Wildlife Trust on one hand and the local Maasai land owners on the other hand to ensure professional management of the natural land resources, including wildlife for the benefit of land owners. This is achieved through activities such as ecological monitoring, security for wildlife and people, training and salaries for community rangers, habitat restoration in certain areas, facilitation of low-impact grazing program, and the implementation of the a Lion Guardians program. |
| Energy management | Tortilis Camp runs primarily on solar power. The power is channelled through a photovoltaic solar panels systems. The facility has a total of 110 solar panels. The system is also fitted with inverters and batteries for power storage. The solar power system is very closely monitored through a digitized system. The output of the system can even calculate the amount of Carbon (IV) Oxide emissions avoided. See section of solar power house below |
| Environmental management | Tortilis Camp has an environmental policy that forms an integral part of their business. The policy shows the camp’s commitment to best management of the environment as well as health and safety. The camp is guided by the Elewana baseline sustainability management plan. The plan also encompasses a working environmental management system for all the camps. The environmental management system (EMS) for the camp has clear action plans for solid waste management, water and energy conservation. The EMS includes monitoring actions for continued improvement. The camp undertakes its annual self-Environmental Audit (EA) as required by EMCA 1999 (Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act.)Ref No. NEMA/EA/5/2/3252 |
| Chemical use | The camp uses biodegradable bathroom amenities from Cinabar Green in the guest tents. Biodegradable laundry detergents are also used at the camp, supplied by Odex Chemicals. Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the chemicals used within the facility are available. Swimming pool chemicals consumption records are properly kept to monitor chemical use. LPG is bought in bulk in a two tone tank. Diesel is stored in an underground tank with a capacity of 6,000 litres |
| Conservation Criteria | |
| Community Criteria | |
| Solid waste management | Sorting of waste is done at the waste holding area. Organic waste is composed at the compost pit. The pit is well secured to prevent any scavenging by wildlife. This is later reused as soil fertilizer in the kitchen garden. Other wastes such as plastics, metal, glass are transported to offsite for recycling or disposal. As a waste reduction measure, the facility provides guests with water from refillable glass bottles in the restaurant and guest rooms. As a waste reduction measure, the camp gives the guests souvenir aluminum bottles which can be refilled at the dispenser during their stay and even be used on the game drive. The camp keeps an inventory (weight) of waste (types and quantity) generated for efforts aimed at waste monitoring at source and to create waste reduction targets. |
| Water management | Main source of water for Tortilis Camp is a borehole. The water is pumped to the facility and stored in reservoirs with the capacity of 60,000 litres. The facility has installed a water meter at the borehole to monitor the abstraction of water. The camp has also sub-metered the water at the main consumption areas such as the guest area, garden and the staff quarters. To minimize water consumption, the garden is strictly watered in the evening hours. The facility has a filtration system which is able to purify water to a portable state. 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 Land and Life Foundation. In the evenings, each guest receives a welcome card with educational information. The card gives a brief overview of the Amboseli National park, the ecosystem and biodiversity, Eco-rating certification of the camp as well the activities that a guest can engage in during their stay. There is a strategically placed placard at the camp that subtly informs the guests some of the activities carried out by Land and life foundation in the area. |
| Pollution | The camp covers the lanterns at night to minimize light pollution. |
| Environmental conservation | The facility has put efforts to reclaim degraded areas within and around the camp. This had been achieved through planting Amboseli grass, indigenous species of succulents and aloes as well as over 450 Acacia Tortilis tress. There is currently a proposal to expand this restoration initiative in partnership with David Western. The aim of this expansion will be to restore biodiversity and serve as a visitor nature trail area. The camp is also starting out a bee project. This project is aimed at increasing the indigenous bees population in the area and enhance pollination and consequently increase biodiversity species variety in the area. The camp engages the staff in a monthly environmental clean-up activity within and around the camp’s premises. The camp contributes directly to conservation through the payment of conservancy management fees as well as bed night fees to the local land owners of Kitirua Conservancy. This has enabled the successful management of 30,000 acres of land as a conservation area. |
| Waste water management | The facility swimming pool is cleaned via sieving, backwash and vacuum cleaning. Records are kept on a daily basis. Grey water from the kitchen is passed through a grease trap for effective removal of oils and fats. The grease trap is cleaned on a daily basis. Grey and black water throughout the facility is managed through system of septic tanks and soak pits.EM1 is added to the septic tanks for effective 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 camp include food, uniform, entertainment, transport and accommodation. The staff members also have a welfare committee, health and safety committee as well as a works committee that help to deal with staff matters. The camp has a staff reward scheme for recognizing outstanding efforts and achievement by the staff. To this effect, the camp has a star notice board where they display the employee of the month who is awarded a double salary for their efforts. Recently the camp had engaged in a team building activity. The staff shared meals and participated in some team building activities at the nearby observation hill. This is an effort to foster team spirit and staff motivation. |
| Staff education, communication and awareness training | Staff have been trained on basic first Aid, fire fighting skills and use of firefighting equipment.The employees have regular briefing meetings.Notice boards are used to facilitate communication to the staff. The staff have scheduled in house per department training for skills enhancement. The facility also outsources training for sommeliers. This has been achieved through Wine Ambassador of the Year training provided by company known as Under the Influence hosted at Lewa Safari Camp. The guides undergo training at Joy’s Camp twice a year. This is facilitated by the Elewana properties guides training program. As part of the Elewana Group, Tortilis participates in the Guide apprenticeship program. In this program, the applicants are trained in all the Elewana camps in all departments; this is then followed through by a guide traineeship period. The trainees are awarded with an internationally recognized guiding certificate |
| Cultural preservation and promotion/protection of local sites | Tortilis Camp promotes local culture actively in various ways. Some pieces of décor have blended contemporary designs with the local culture such as candle holders. Each guest receives a handcrafted beaded bracelet on the night before the departure made by a local women’s group from Ole Nkao The camp facilitates village visits by the guests to see the traditional Masai way of life. A group of local dancers are also hired by the camp to entertain the guests and display the traditional dances of the people. The camp facilitates traditional Masai cultural weddings for the guests upon request. Staff from the local community are encouraged to actively interact with guests and chat about their culture. |
| Benefits to local community/community empowerment | The facility employs staff from the local area. Approximately 85% of the employees are locals. All casual work is also given to the locals. The camp makes some local purchases to support local enterprise. This includes some vegetables, staff meat and beadwork. The local community land owners of Olgulului Ololarashi Group Ranch on which Kitirua Conservancy sits on also benefit from payment of lease fees. Tortilis Camp supports the local community in various aspects through the Land and Life Foundation. The foundation works in different focus areas such as education, conservation and medical support. The ongoing projects include; The Wildlife Warrior Program. Through this initiative the foundation has worked to increase the overall awareness on biodiversity conservation through environmental education Provision of bursaries and full scholarships to the most promising students under the wildlife warrior Program. The scholarships run all through Secondary education. In Amboseli, the foundation works closely with Eseteti Primary School. Currently there are 60 students in the region under this program. The Foundation has in January built two classrooms and a dormitory in the nearby Primary School. Land and life foundation has over the years raised a total of USD 13,500 for the refurbishment of the school. To date, the Land and Life foundation has been able to set up volley ball and football pitches, purchase over 900 textbooks and 150 Kilos of stationery for the school. |
| Cultural Criteria | |
| Health and safety | The staff undergo regular basic first Aid training. The staff members have been trained on Fire Safety. The Camp has also trained the staff on Occupational Safety and Health. Fire fighting equipment has been inspected and duly serviced by Trojan Fire Security. Food handlers have undergone medical tests 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.Fire exits and assembly points are properly marked and displayed within the facility. The facility has conducted a health and safety audit and a Fire safety audit |
| Child labor, abuse and human rights | The management of Tortilis Camp strictly adheres to the minimum legal working age of 18 years. |
| Business Practises Criteria | |
| Entry Date | 13th March 2018 |
Tortilis Camp
Book best Africa Luxury Safaris in Kenya & East Africa explore best wildlife parks,, wildebeest migration, big five, big cats, cultures, beaches & natural wonders
Table of Contents
Why Go with Adeli Kenya Safaris
- Born, raised & based in Africa. Let u show you the Africa we know well and cherish so much
- Africa sustainable travel is our passion
- Great Value for Money. Best price guaranteed
- Experienced team of travel experts
- Knowledgeable & multi-lingual safari guides
- Safety conscious
- Fleet of well maintained vehicles
Your dream safari / holiday is just a call or email away. Contact Adeli Kenya Safaris today. Tel: +254720564538 | WhatsApp: +254720564538 | Email: [email protected]
