Memberships and awards

Campi ya Kanzi: Gold rated by Ecotourism Kenya

Campi ya Kanzi is a proud member of Ecotourism Kenya and has been awarded the Gold rating (first in the Country) in recognition of its efforts for sustainable tourism through preservation of Kenya's environmental/cultural heritage.

Campi ya Kanzi: winner of Eco-Warrior Award 2006

The award provides Ecotourism Kenya with an opportunity to recognize and reward innovations in sustainable tourism while supplying information on best practices. Among the values emphasized by the award are innovations that respect the environment, respect local people and cultures, impacts on local economies and empower local communities, practice of ecotourism, provide opportunities for linkages with local communities and promote good environmental governance.

We are also member of The International Ecotourism Society.

Campi ya Kanzi: winner of TOURISM for TOMORROW 2006 - Conservation Award Winner

The Tourism for Tomorrow Award is a very important recognition for Worlds leading examples for best practice in tourism development. We are very glad to have won the 2006 edition for Conservation.

The Award is granted by The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), a membership organization representing the leaders of the global Travel & Tourism Industry, working with Governments to raise awareness of one of the world's most important contributors to the economy and employment.

Sponsors of the Award are, among others, British Airways, Avis, Adventure Magazine of the National Geographic Society, BBC World, The Daily Telegraph, Travel Weekly...

Campi ya Kanzi: winner of
2005 Skål International Ecotourism Award

The award, while highlighting best practices in tourism around the world, also serves the purpose of acquainting the world with a new concept that puts emphasis on the importance of the interaction of the physical, cultural and social environment, the traveller's responsibility and the need for active community participation for Ecotourism.

Skål, founded as an international association in 1934 is the largest organisation of travel and tourism professionals in the world, embracing all sectors of the tourism industry, including hoteliers, travel agents, airlines, tourism media, tourism students etc. Skål with 22,000 members is active in 87 Countries and approximately 500 locations worldwide. More information can be found at www.skal.org

Skål International is an Affiliate Member of the World Tourism Organization whose mission is to promote the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. Skål has adopted the Global Code of Ethics in Tourism, and is also a sponsor to the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from sexual exploitation in tourism, and supports the new project ST-EP (Sustainable Tourism- Eliminating Poverty).

What is the aim of Skål International Ecotourism Awards and when was it first launched?

Skål International following the United Nations declaration of 2002 as the Year of Ecotourism and the Mountains, launched the Ecotourism Awards in the same year, to highlight and acknowledge best practices around the globe.
Skål, as an international organisation of the industry leaders, is a powerful force in the travel and tourism industry to initiate change and encourage the conservation of the environment in order to promote tourism and travel. The awards presented on these grounds, while highlighting best practices in tourism around the world, also serve the purpose of acquainting the world with this new concept that puts emphasis on the importance of the interaction of the physical, cultural and social environment the traveller's responsibility and the need for active community participation for Ecotourism.
Skål values sustainable development in Tourism as the key to the industry's future success and considers Ecotourism but one area of the various components of sustainable development.

The National Geographic Society

The National Geographic Society, in the September 2005 issue of their magazine, has mentioned Campi ya Kanzi as a lodge where tourism can help. The only lodge mentioned in Africa.

These memberships, awards and endorsements are a constant drive to keep pushing us toward sound management choices and to the best protection of the delicate and challenged environment we live in.

Campi ya Kanzi
World Legacy Award 2004 finalist

"The World Legacy Awards honor extraordinary businesses, organizations and places that have made a significant contribution to promoting the principles of sustaining tourism, including the conservation of nature, economic benefits to local peoples and cross-cultural understanding."

The reasons why we have been nominated

Campi ya Kanzi is an eco-tourism safari camp with a difference. Not only your safari guide will be a Maasai, but in addition to visit an African wilderness with such wildlife as black rhino, cheetah, and wild dog, you also get a firsthand glimpse of Maasai culture, meeting people in the local village.

Campi ya Kanzi helps the Maasai women preserve traditional craft-making skills, and you can buy their work knowing your money benefits them directly. Campi ya Kanzi is a joint venture between the founders and the Maasai community, for which it provides about $30 U.S. per guest per day under the form of a conservation fee (used to help sick people, assist schools, prevent poaching, etc.). Together with its associated Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust, the camp employs over 70 Maasai.