The Long Run

Long Run Alliance Member

Campi ya Kanzi

Location: Kenya

http://www.maasai.com Book Now

Campi ya Kanzi is widely recognized as one of the most unique and inspiring safari experiences in Africa. Situated at the foot of the legendary Chyulu Hills, Hemingway’s Green Hills of Africa, it is a luxury camp offering an incomparable combination of 5-star luxury, first class wilderness adventure, amazing wildlife, and authentic immersion in Maasai culture. This is truly the ultimate African safari.

This luxury eco-lodge was built in partnership with the Maasai community which owns the 280,000-acre Kuku Group Ranch where it is situated. Campi ya Kanzi has a unique commitment to community development and environmental sustainability and its main focus is the protection of the wilderness, wildlife and preservation of the cultural heritage of its hosts – the Maasai. It was founded in 1996 by Luca Belpietro and Antonella Bonomi a husband and wife team of Italian descent whose dream had always been to come to Africa and be directly involved in wildlife conservation in Kenya. This dream has been realised at Campi ya Kanzi which stretches from the Chyulu Hills to the foothills of mount Kilimanjaro an area with immense biodiversity ranging from the cloud forest of the hills to the wildlife and plains at the foot of the mountain.

Taking the path less travelled, it offers its guests the unique opportunity to explore this breathtaking wildness on foot with a Maasai tracker, who teaches them to read footprints, approach wildlife and identify different species of trees and birds. It provides that personal touch as guests are hosted by and have direct access to its owners. Campi ya Kanzi is always keen to pass on its knowledge and sees its interaction with every guest as an opportunity to pass on its sustainability message.

Campi ya Kanzi’s close ties to what is arguably one of the most iconic tribes in Africa, the Maasai, is evident in each aspect of its business, from its decor, to its architecture and tour packages in which it offers excursions to Maasai villages. It has also established the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT), through which it actively engages the Maasai people in the conservation of the rich biodiversity in this region.

Campi ya Kanzi attaches great value to the natural beauty of its surroundings and has committed itself to the preservation of this untamed yet delicate ecosystem. Its conservation efforts have not been limited to the vast Kuku Group Ranch but have also crossed its boundaries to neighbouring ranches such as the 95,000 acre Rombo Group ranch and the 182,000 acre Chyulu National Park.

This vast expanse faces a number of conservation challenges, the most significant ones being the destruction of wetlands through unsustainable farming practices, poor grass and rangeland management and the ever-present human-wildlife conflict. It has addressed a myriad of these challenges through the establishment of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust whose mission is to preserve healthy ecosystems and biodiversity within the Maasai tribal lands of East Africa by promoting conservation and creating sustainable benefits for the community.

Through this Trust, the Camp has initiated a programme called ‘Wildlife Pays’ which is in essence a compensation scheme for livestock herders who lose their animals to wildlife predation. Under this programme, Maasai livestock owners are paid a quarterly fee equal to the value of their losses in exchange for protection of predators throughout the Camp. Unlike most compensation programs, MWCT’s Wildlife Pays does not rely on donations to fund it but instead uses surcharges levied on tourists – a $100 per person per day conservation fee. This has effectively established MWCT as a pioneer in the Payment for Ecosystem Service (PES) model which it has centred on the protection of wildlife. The program has been instrumental in the protection of lions, cheetahs, hyenas, leopards and wild dogs and has also had a positive impact on the populations of both the giraffe and elephant. MWCT is also working with partners like AECOM and Conservation International to assess the potential value of carbon and watershed services that would serve as a potential additional revenue source for the community.

Campi ya Kanzi is also at the forefront of a land conservancies project; an ambitious initiative which aims to create a network of conservancies amounting to over 150 000 acres of land of the highest conservation value constituting wildlife corridors grassland reserves watersheds and springs. Working with a group of land owners in the area, conservation zones are being set up and so far, 12,000 acres have been secured for this purpose. These ‘conservation zones’ will showcase best practice in environmental stewardship, land tenure and sustainable income generation for communities; and will be instrumental in demonstrating the viability of the proposed network of conservancies. The expansion of the existing zones is already in progress.

The day to day running of the Camp is also designed to have a minimal impact on its surroundings. All its water is harvested from the rain and it is also 100% solar efficient.

Campi ya Kanzi has truly made its conservation efforts beneficial to its neighbours. The Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT) is the largest employer in the region and is proactively cultivating and training a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders within the community.

MWCT has engaged with Texas A&M’s Rangeland Management Division to initiate a research partnership based at our new Chyulu Conservation and Research Centre to study impacts of herding practice, fire, drought on grasslands and develop a long term strategy for sustainable use. As the majority of the 7,000 people in the Maasai community live off pastoralism and farming, this strategy will ensure that the community will continue to benefit practices that have been going on for generations.

In addition to the establishment of new income streams for the community, Campi ya Kanzi is actively involved in building the capacities of its neighbours. It provides training through its conservation programs arming previously unemployable Maasai youths with tools they can use to secure employment as tour guides and conservation scouts. One of many success stories is that of Samson Parashina, son to a local chief, who started out as a waiter at the Camp. As a result of continues training he has risen through the ranks and is now the head tour guide at Campi ya Kanzi and President of the MWCT.

Campi ya Kanzi has also enhanced the quality of education and health in the area by employing teaching staff for 21 schools and employing doctors and nurses for the four local dispensaries.

Campi ya Kanzi believes that sustainable tourism cannot be attained without consideration for communities and more so their culture. Its community is made up of people from the Maasai tribe who despite the urbanisation and western culture taking Africa by storm, have managed to hold onto their age-old traditions. Paying tribute to this culture, it employs elders to teach Maasai lore in the 21 schools it supports. It reflects this rich Maasai heritage through its buildings and decor. Its staff have no uniforms and instead wear traditional Maasai attire, adding to the authenticity of its guest’s experience.

It works to sensitise and educate guests about Maasai culture and heritage by ensuring continued interaction between them and its staff which is made up of the Maasai people. This interaction cultivates a deeper understanding of the Maa culture. It also provides guests with information sheets and books that provide information about Maasai culture. Campi ya Kanzi also runs cultural “bomas” or halls where visitors are encouraged to purchase Maasai artwork and beadwork.

Campi ya Kanzi’s main source of income is its sustainable tourism business, however, it has set up an animal husbandry and livelihood initiatives (alternative to unsustainable farming) as alternative sources of income. It employs its staff locally and involves the Maasai in every aspect of its tourism business.

Through the Maasai Wildlife Conservation Trust (MWCT) it has provided its neighbours with gainful employment and has provided income to the community who now receive direct benefits from the tourism businesses on their land.