Outstanding & Replicable Tourism Practices
· The Maasai Brand, an initiative that seeks to improve and promote traditional handicrafts made by women’s groups in the Talek region of Maasai mara. It is an initiative that promotes cultural conservation, gender sensitivity, capacity building and local income generation. It recorded an income of about Ksh. 2 million in 2006 for these women.
· Evidence of high investment in conservation and community support. The director noted that for the first five years, Basecamp did not make a profit as all monies went into these efforts.
· Use of “Maasai grammar” to explain culture. In guest rooms for instance, coat hangers, beds, linen, furniture and other furnishings have made use of Maasai designs or parts, as a way of encouraging visitors to learn more about the Maasai culture
· Winning international recognition in sustainable tourism, including 2005 First Choice Responsible Tourism Award for Best Practice in Protected Areas.
Responsible/ Best Tourism Practices
· Extensive use of local material, including deadwood, and labor for construction. Most structures are constructed in a way that they can be dismantled and taken away safely, leaving no footprint.
· Environmental conservation: Use of a tree-top wildlife viewing post has reduced the need for game drives
· Extensive use of solar energy and use of energy saving LED bulbs. The solar water heaters are ISO-certified and have been chosen because of their energy efficiency character. Even the communication system is powered by solar energy.
· Uses an efficient kuni booster from Botto Solar at the staff quarters
· Have a solar cooker at the kitchen area, as a demonstration to the local community on efficient technologies available
· Practices garbage separation and composting. Has clean and well-fenced garbage disposal and composting areas.
· Grey water from every tent is collected and re-used to water plants in the compound
· Use of dry toilets
· Has supported the planting of an estimated 25,000 trees since 2000, as part of restoring vegetation along the river near Basecamp. This has been done jointly with the local community.
· A percentage of bed night goes to an education fund that mainly supports girl-child education; estimated to have given Ksh 140,000 in 2006. Basecamp is also supporting a masters student at Moi University.
· Of the 43 staff, 95% are local, including 10 women.
