Community based eco lodges in Kenya.

Community eco lodges in Kenya are fast becoming hot spots for the authentic travelers, holiday makers or first timers who are glad some well informed travel consultant somewhere was resourceful enough to bring to their attention the existence of these amazing small accommodation alternatives in Kenya.

These Kenya safaris destinations though priced above the average tourist lodges, have hit the top most level in terms of value, service and purpose. Wildlife and conservation is now a viable alternative land use that compliments the traditional pastoralist for most indigenous local people, mainly the maasai and samburu tribesmen thus creating employment within the local communities and providing a structure for future ecological positive developments and growth of the tourism industry in Kenya.

So finally, you don’t have to ponder on how you can assist the locals native people living in the remote grasslands of Kenya, these tribesmen can now sustain themselves and get the kids going to school for the fist time instead of looking after the family cattle, they will also now have access to clean water.

All you need to do to make this a reality is to enjoy their hospitality in a world class lodge and sure enough you will have indirectly funded a homestead somewhere within your lodge location.

The profits that come out of these comfortable luxurious and rustic ventures will be divided amongst the locals and will help support the local schools, water supplies and other group ranch operations.

Illi ngwesi lodge in Laikipia, northern frontier district is built with local materials, organic in character with only six attractive bandas raised from the ground, large double beds that may be rolled out for a night under the stars. Breath taking views makes the lodge a classic and a must visit.

Crowned by British airways as a winning initiative, the lodge has been seen as the role model in community based tourism in Kenya. The trained maasai host look after the lodge and their visitors with great care and attention, the revenue from the lodges is divided amongst the locals and help support nearly five hundred house holds.

Tassia lodge protrudes from the Mokogodo escarpment and over looks the valleys and beyond. Yet another model in community eco friendly project, a place you want to stay and live, three nights is never enough. Its not a surprise these units are ever fully booked and sometimes it’s a challenge getting a chance to stay there due to over bookings, my advice, plan and book three months ahead.

Shompole lodge some where along Kenya’s lake Magadi is supposed to be the best of all. With the numbers continuously rising in eco lodges in Kenya, it’s a real challenge to stipulate which one of them is better that the other, though the goals and objective are clear and well worth every effort.

If you are well traveled and have seen the best of lodges and camps in the world, well this is supposed to be a challenge you should consider, Sabuk lodge is another favorite, remote and beautiful. Set up on a cliff overlooking the lush river 50 meters below where elephants and other wildlife come each morning for a drink.

Koija star beds in Laikipia are something out of this world, the raised rustic cottages, complete with ensuite bath rooms, hot showers have no windows but welcoming openness that come with awesome views of the landscapes far and beyond, the bathrooms are open and as you shower you enjoy the sun shine and the views. The name star beds comes from the two wheeled beds that roll out on the platform and as you sleep under a white net under the stars, you enjoy the very last of available natural experience not found anywhere else.

They even provide you with the stars identification handy book, so as you gaze up clear twinkling African skies, you will locate and finally identify Leo the lion low in the west is still as bright as ‘The regulus’ and ‘The southern cross’. Or is it?

The ever smiling and knowledgeable masai host takes good care of you and keep you company all through. Proud to show off their country side and cultures, you are sure to enjoy every bit of it. Activities in most of these locations include game viewing, bush dinners, bush breakfast, cultural village visits to witness the tradition and cultural practices including livestock keeping, traditional hunting skills, rites, rituals and dances.

The food is fresh from the fertile Kenya highlands and the private airstrips each lodge enjoys serves well for the daily supplies.
At the renowned Masai Mara game reserve, the Base camp is an award winning eco project. A key goal and mission for the camp is to develop a model project for tourists where concerns for conservation issues and local cultures are fully integrated. With the aim to make a difference and make a positive impact in the Masai Mara and to inspire others to follow.
Contribution to a clean environment through eco-based technology in favour of wildlife conservation through projects that support the local people and their cultures is finally coming from very interesting quotas. This eventually means building awareness and increasing the knowledge about natural resource management to the local community.
 

A success story for Kenya, and it’s countrymen.