ISSUE NO. 01 AUGUST 2011 – OCTOBER 2011 1 A PUBLICATION OF ECOTOURISM KENYA Linking tourism, conservation and communities AUGUST 2011 – OCTOBER 2011 this edition has been sponsored by the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife (AFEW). inside>> Exceptional gateway: Mt. Suswa Conservancy Understanding 7 ecotourism 8 The ecotourism necessity 14 Zero waste habits profits youths 17 2 ISSUE NO. 01 AUGUST 2011 – OCTOBER 2011 EDITORIAL PAGE ISSUE NO. 01 AUGUST 2011 – OCTOBER 2011 3 Naturals is a quarterly magazine owned and published by Ecotourism Kenya, a civil society organization formed in 1996 to promote ecotourism practices in Kenya. EK Board Members Andrew Muigai Chairman elcome technical knowledge from Elizabeth Kimotho Secretary to the first relevant practical experience to guide investment John Duffy Treasurer edition of Message W planning and management Dr. Mordecai Ogada Naturals magazine. from the decision-making. Training George Kamau It’s a great pleasure institutes offering ecotourism Hadley Becha to introduce this new courses need a magazine Dr. Mohanjeet Brar publication meant to enrich that provides training Kahindi Lekalhaile and support the tourism resources as well as a Judy Kepha Gona industry in Kenya. The editor career guide for aspiring Elizabeth Wachira initiation of the magazine practitioners. An enlightened has been motivated by workforce armed with the EK Secretariat a drastic rise in requests necessary skills, knowledge Kahindi Lekalhaile for authentic information and education about the Chief Executive Officer about ecotourism, and importance of ecotourism Chris Magero an increasing demand is essential for ensuring for ecotourism resources sustainable tourism through Eco-Certification Coordinator by many tourism adoption of responsible Gonzaga Mungai stakeholders. The upsurge tourism practices. Community Outreach Officer in environmental awareness Phoebe Munyoro by travellers worldwide has Apart from sharing Membership and Communications Officer consequently elicited a high information, Naturals Lynette Kamonde Accountant interest in ecotourism by provides opportunities for exchanging experiences Gordon Abong’o Administrative Assistant tour operators, hoteliers and gained from the application local communities in Kenya. Kenya Ecotourism by Photo EK Interns and Volunteers of ecotourism practices Arnold Kinyanjui,Wangeci Murgoh, Lilian Ecotourism can be simply in Kenya and around the Kagume, Yvonne Kola, Susan Njonjo, Wanjiru defined as ‘the involvement world. It also provides a Kamwende & Rael Gati, ecotourism practises, of tourism in environmental responsible and sustainable networking platform for Editorial Team conservation practises linked tourism; the three concepts tourism actors on matters Editor -Kahindi Lekalhaile to human development are scattered in marketing concerning ecotourism. Associate Editor - Valerie Mukuna needsthat promote promotions by different The magazine markets Assistant Editor & Advertising - Phoebe Munyoro equitable sharing of benefits local tour operators and ecotourism-based travel products, including market- Contributors - Kahindi Lekalhaile, Chris accrued from tourism with hospitality providers. There Magero, Gonzaga Mungai, Wangeci Murgoh, local communities while is lack of a consolidated ready community tourism Steve Mwangi, Arnold Kinyanjui, Kate Owino supporting their nature resource for promoting enterprises located within & Phoebe Munyoro conservation values’. ecotourism as an important tourist attractions in urban tool for improving tourism and rural areas. Most Cover Photo: To sustain the high interest standards in Kenya. importantly, the publication A Pokot woman taken by Chege wa Kariuki in ecotourism, there is advocates for responsible Layout and Design need for adopting creative Therefore, Naturals and sustainable tourism to Sunburst Communications and adaptive management magazine targets a wide protect the environment, approaches that address key readership comprised of conserve natural resources Circulation players, stakeholders and students, tour operators, and equitable sharing Gordon Abong’o relevant actors in order to policy makers, social of benefits with local generate the desired positive development agents, communities. effects onto the tourism conservation interests, sector in Kenya. One key entrepreneurs and investors. I welcome you to contribute approach is to provide a articles to the magazine Disclaimer It is a hub for learning, The opinions and views expressed in articles published regular platform for sharing sharing information and based on your role in Naturals magazine are the respective author’s own information and exchanging presenting innovative and interest in tourism. and do not necessarily reflect those of Ecotourism Ke- experiences about ideas on promoting Hopefully, the publication nya, which seeks to publish a diverse range of perspec- ecotourism. There are few nature conservation and will meet your expectations tives on given issues. Authors are fully responsible and and help you understand are legally liable for their own work. Ecotourism Kenya local publications providing community participation assumes no responsibility or legal liability, express or news and information in tourism. Players in the and practise ecotourism implied, for the content of any work by authors. Every coherently related to tourism industry need suitably. effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all the information contained in this magazine. 4 ISSUE NO. 01 AUGUST 2011 – OCTOBER 2011 COntEntS and LETTERS TO EDITOR Contents 7 Letter from the editor 3 A dish to die for 16 The exceptional gateway: Mt. Suswa Conservancy 7 Letter to the editor 4 Zero waste policy profits youth17 17 Eco-rated facilities 6 Advertising rates 20 Understanding ecotourism: Ecotourism classifieds22 8 The Kenyan perspective 8 Ecotourism Kenya activities 10 EK Board members & secretariat 11 The ecotourism necessity 14 Selenkay Conservancy 12 14 Letters to the editor Dear Editor, We often receive requests from French citizens on ecological-related Dear Editor, and cultural tourism. We would therefore like to establish contact with I am a great fan of your work that links tourism, conservation and a member of your team who will provide us with information on these communities. How can I become a member of Ecotourism Kenya sectors from time to time. In addition, kindly send us information on and what are your membership and advertising rates? possibilities for tourists to visit and stay with communities, particularly Eco-investor the Maasai. Mwiyathi Wanjira for The French Ambassador to Kenya Dear Eco-investor, www.kenyaembassyparis.org Thank you for your keen interest in our work to become a member of Ecotourism Kenya. Besides the satisfaction of Dear Mwiyathi, knowing that you are supporting environmental conservation We are glad to learn that French citizens are interested in visiting activities, members also enjoy discounted rates on our attractions and community-based ecotourism enterprises. We have publications, activities and merchandise. Also, members enjoy developed an online Members’ Database that can be viewed on our free consultation with the EK Secretariat. To learn more on website at http://www.ecotourismkenya.org/members.php. Here our membership categories and to download the application you’ll find our members’ profiles and contact details that are listed forms on our website, www.ecotourismkenya.org, See in three categories: Eco-rated facilities, Corporate and Community our membership and advertising rates on Page 22 of this Based Organizations. For any more inquires do not hesitate to magazine. contact our Community Officer, Mr. Gonzaga Mungai. Editor Editor ECOTOURISM ISSUE ISSUE NO. 01 AUGUST 2011 – OCTOBER 2011 5 TheThe OriginsOrigins ofof EcotourismEcotourism peoples due to the intricate connection between nature and local cultures. Again, implicit in the term was the assumption that local communities living with nature should benefit from tourism and will save nature in the process. It is not surprising that ecotourism has incorporated a fair portion of nature and wildlife tourism within the African context. The development of ecotourism became highly attractive and relevant in many African countries, where wildlife tourism and wildlife conservation was already deeply rooted from the late 1960s as a key source of national revenue. By the 1970s Photo by Ecotourism Kenya Ecotourism by Photo efforts were already underway to address the negative side of wildlife tourism, Many people wonder about the these actions, the mass media and press while exhausting avenues by which local origins of ecotourism. Much popularised the terminology ‘eco-friendly communities can benefit from other has been written about it but tourism’. tourism activities that do not necessarily there is little consensus about involve wildlife. what it entails. This has led to The expanded notion of ecotourism has the rise of many controversies; drawn enormous interest by private, not just about the definition of governmental and non-governmental the term, but also its underlying stakeholders. However, the development principles. of ecotourism has had its own setbacks. Ecotourism arose in the 1970s from a From an economic perspective, the idea conservationist perspective based on that tourists could provide sufficient concerns by local indigenous people in income through nature watching as an South America to save rainforests from alternative to the destructive logging, timber logging, ranching