The Simba Project
MWCT has helped Kuku Group Ranch get one of the best deals in Kenya with its tourism partner, Campi ya Kanzi. “Best” as defined by base management concession fee, highest conservation surcharge in Kenya ($100 per person per day), 95% of employs from within immediate local community and sustainability of operational standards by the lodge (Campi ya Kanzi lodge uses only solar energy for both electricity and hot water, manages waste sustainably and recycles all black water and gray water and is the only camp in Kenya that is largely water self-sufficient, using self-collected rainwater as opposed to drawing from community water sources).
Watch a short video of Campi ya Kanzi here
and a longer one here.
Results of these policies are that Campi ya Kanzi is one of the most highly awarded “eco-lodges” in all of Africa and revenues from tourism to the community have become reliable and substantial, approaching $400,000/year.
This is an ‘achieved’ objective but MWCT serves as the official oversight/management representative for the community in enforcing compliance and managing the revenues from conservation surcharges.
Tourism surcharges are used by MWCT to fund Wildlife Pays, a program that compensates livestock herders for losses to wildlife predation through a rigorous system of certification and monitoring of best practices. Maasai livestock owners are paid quarterly for value of losses in exchange for full protection of predators throughout the group ranch.
4 year goal: MWCT is promoting this sustainable model of ‘wildlife protection PES’ and has opened discussions with major tourism industry leaders within the ecosystem about scaling this program by applying wildlife PES surcharges on the bednights of larger hotel concessions within the parks to fund expansion of compensation and security capacity throughout the community lands between Amboseli and Tsavo.
Come and experience the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust first hand. Book a safari today. Or watch this video
Or consider funding us: you can
