Kenya Encourages Ecotourism

Like many African countries, Kenya’s relies on tourism as one of its main streams of income.

At independence the accent was on encouraging specialized groups from the upper segment of the market to visit the country for big game hunting expeditions and beach tourism.

Package Tours to National Parks and Beaches in Kenya

The focus later shifted to target the middle income segment of the market to visit our coastal resorts, which today accounts for over 60% of visitors to Kenya. These tourists took advantage of the inclusive package tour arrangements to visit the country in large numbers giving rise to the onset of high volume tourism in Kenya. This resulted in over-concentration of tourist activities in some areas of the country, notably the Coastal beaches of the North Coast and South Coast especailly around Diani as well as in some National Parks and Game Reserves.

The Government and other interested parties then realized that there was a need to harmonize tourism activities and investment with a view to fostering the growth of sustainable tourism in the country.

Ecotourism Kenya - Sustainable Tourism Practices

Ecotourism Kenya is civil society organization that was founded in 1996 to promote ecotourism and sustainable tourism practices. It manages a scheme that certifies tourist accommodation facilities in Kenya. The Eco-rating Scheme, as the scheme is called, is an initiative of the Kenyan tourism industry that is designed to further the goals of sustainable tourism by recognizing efforts aimed at promoting environmental, social and economic values.

Kenya’s First Gold and Silver Eco-Rated Facilities

Basecamp Maasai Mara, Campi ya Kanzi and Malewa River Lodge are the first recipients of Gold Eco-rating.

• Basecamp Maasai Mara is different from most other places due to close cooperation with the Maasai. The owners are committed to the cultural, social and environmental work they do at the camp and in its surroundings. In Maasai Mara and Serengeti the density of animals is 10 to 20 times greater than anywhere else in Africa.
• Campi ya Kanzi features Maasai-led walking safaris in Kenya where visitors can experience the thrill of tracking game on foot with traditional Maasai.
• Malewa River Lodge is the small and exclusive 16 bed “eco-friendly” camp in the Kigio Wildlife Conservancy, nestled in the shade of huge Acacia trees on the banks of the Malewa River.

Gold Eco-rating signifies excellence in environmental management, sustainable use of resources and community linkages. It's the highest level of certification in the Eco-rating scheme.

Silver Eco-Rating

Amboseli Porini Camp, Mara Porini Camp, Olonana, Ol Seki Mara and Turtle Bay Beach Club were awarded Silver Eco-rating.

Silver Eco-rating signifies a facility that is moving towards excellence in the areas of environmental management, sustainable resource use and community linkages.

Keyna - an Eco tourism Destination

Apart from evaluating performance of hotels, lodges, camps and bush homes, the Eco-rating Scheme is contributing to branding Kenya as an eco tourism destination. In a market where travelers are increasingly concerned about the ecological and social impacts of their holidays, this scheme offers guarantee to the traveler that the product they are consuming is ecologically and socially responsible.

The Ecotourism Kenya's Eco-rating Scheme is designed to promote and increase awareness of environmentally and socially sound business practices, conserve the natural resource base on which Kenya's tourism depends and improve the overall standards of the Kenya’s tourism industry.

For more information on the Eco-rating scheme

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