CoastCoastMEMBERS GUIDE 2012 Contents Message from the Chairman 3 Foreword by CEO 4 Introduction 5 People, Landscape & Community Conserved Areas 5 EK Coast Eco-rated Facilities 10 EK Coast Corporate Members 17 EK Coast CBOs Members 35 Individual Members 45 Emergency Numbers 46 Date of Publication: June 2012 Compiled by: Ecotourism Kenya P.O. Box 10146 – 00100 GPO NAIROBI Tel: +254 (0)20 272 4403/4755, (0)20 257 4059 Cell: +254 (0)726 366 080 Email: [email protected] Printed on recycled paper Design & Layout: Disclaimer Sunburst Communications ltd The Coast Guide is a publication of Ecotourism [email protected] Kenya. All rights reserved. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all the information contained in Printed By: this Guide. No liability can be accepted for Off The Wall Graphics any inaccuracies or omissions. No part of this Guide may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval Tel: +254 (0)20 224 7543 system or transmitted in any form or by any Cell: +254 (0)722 316 400 / (0)733 872 442 means without prior permission in writing Email: [email protected] from the publisher. 2 Message from Chairman It is my pleasure to welcome you to the first Coast edition of the Ecotourism Kenya Member’s Guide, which comes at an opportune time as Ecotourism Kenya sets about to launch its Coast regional office at Diani, Ukunda in April 2012. The new Tourism Act focuses on diversification of tourism products within all regions in Kenya. There- fore, the Guide is a brief showcase of EK members at the coast and their diverse products. This Guide will provide useful information about the key attractions in the Kenyan coast tour- ism circuit. It strives to direct individuals and groups interested to visit and invest in the preservation of the pristine beaches, premium hotels business, and vibrant partnerships with community tourism enterprises, and also in discover- ing the diverse marine life that the Kenyan coast has to offer. It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Ecotourism Kenya, as ask for your indulgence in our program activities at the Kenya Coast. We value your input and interest in promoting the Kenyan coast as a premium ecotourism destina- tion. Please let us know how best to serve your interests in responsible and sustainable tourism. Karibuni nyote! Andrew Muigai Chairman, Ecotourism Kenya Executive Board 3 Foreword Welcome to the 2012 Ecotourism Kenya Coast Members Guide. The Kenyan Coastline is globally popular with tour- ists because of its long, beautiful, and sunny beaches, exquisite marine life and the surrounding breathtak- ing wilderness adorned by unique wildlife, landscapes and sceneries. Visitors awe at the rich Swahili and Mi- jikenda cultures intertwined with historical artifacts dating back more than 10 centuries ago. Since its formation, Ecotourism Kenya has worked closely with other tourism stakeholders to promote responsible and sustainable tourism practices in the coastal region. This includes assessing tourism accommodation facilities for compliance to ecotourism best practices. In addition, Ecotourism Kenya is keen to diversify the Kenyan tourism products through linking local community tour- ism enterprises with tour operators and tourism accommodation facilities. This guide is a showcase of ecotourism efforts along the Kenya coastline. Also, it is an important source of overview information about the activities of Eco- tourism Kenya members. Also it will serve as a reference point for stakehold- ers keen on promoting ecotourism, responsible and sustainable tourism in the country. We have now westablished the Coast outreach Office to serve Ecotourism Kenya members better and to promote ecotourism best practice in the region while facilitating meaningful partnerships among stakeholders at the Coast. We hope this development will contribute significantly to improving the Kenyan tourism product. Karibu Ecotourism Pwani!!! Kahindi Lekalhaile CEO, Ecotourism Kenya 4 Introduction The Coast tourism circuit is defined by the region along the Kenyan coastline that includes Mombasa, Diani, Lamu and Malindi areas, as well as Taita- Taveta County in the hinterland with 62% of its land occupied by the Tsavo National Parks. This edition of Ecotourism Kenya’s Coastal Guide consists of different categories of Ecotourism Kenya members located within the Coast tourism circuit. The categories are, namely: Eco-rated facilities, Accommodation facili- ties, Tour operators and destination management companies, Community-based tourism enterprises and , and Individuals. Brief History And People The Kenyan coast earned its place on the world map over 800 years ago, as a trading centre for merchants from India, the Eastern Mediterranean, Arabia and the Persian Gulf. These merchants came to the area courtesy of the Kaskazi and Kusi, the north east and south east trade winds, respectively. Their items of trade included gold, animal skins and horns, fruits, spices, and slaves .Over time these merchants settled along the coastal strip and intermingled with the African inhabitants, leading to the emergence of settlements that grew into established towns. The coastal region was dominated by foreign tribes from different countries and kingdoms- Portuguese (15th-16th centuries), Turks (16th century), Arabs (18th – 19th centuries) and finally the British colonialists in the early and mid- 20th century. Intermarriage with foreigners led to the emergence of the Swahili people and culture, which constitute most of the Kenya coastal societies today. The language spoken is Kiswahili, a hybrid linqua franca between the locals and foreigners; the predominant religion is Islam. The Swahili culture and mixed heritage dominates the lifestyle of the Swahili, the Mijikenda, immigrants from other regions in Kenya and from other countries (such as Italy and Germany) who constitute the coastal population today. 5 Landscape And Climate The coastal region consists of low plains with hills and woodlands, within sec- tions such as Taita-Taveta and Tana River. Here the main activities are commer- cial cultivation of sugar cane and paddy rice, particularly in Tana River, and the cultivation of maize and rearing of livestock in Taita-Taveta. Along the coastline the economic activities are more diverse, apart from the cultivation of sisal, coconut, cashewnut and sugarcane. Trade is a significant industry at the Coast as the region is home to the Kilindini harbor, the main point entry for goods destined for Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Central Africa and Southern Sudan. A second port has been proposed in Lamu to supplement the transit of goods and commodities to the export region. The climate at the coast is tropical and humid, with the average temperatures being around 28°C. The Kenya coast is the backbone of the country’s tourism industry, accounting for over 60% of foreign tourism each year. Tourists enjoy visiting the exquisite beach hotels and resorts, and indulge heartedly in watersports such as snorkel- ing and sport fishing in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, while admiring the mangrove forests and diverse marine life resident in the coral reefs in Malindi, Watamu Bay and Lamu in the north and islands such as Shimoni in the south parts. The region also has 6 terrestrial and marine parks and 11 national reserves. Among these are the Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks, the largest in Kenya. For those looking to know more about the inhabitants’ history and culture the Coast is replete with prehistoric sites and monuments such as Fort Jesus in Mombasa and Gede ruins in Malindi, and festivals such as Maulid in Lamu. 6 Community Conserved Areas Following a recent study conducted by Ecotourism Kenya, community conserved areas at the Coast are divided into 2 categories: 1. Community conservancies 2. Sacred forests (Makaya, plural word in Mijikenda language) Conservancies There are 6 community-owned conservancies at the Coast: - 3 in Lamu (Kibodo Trust, Kipini Wildlife and Botanical Conservancy, Kuruwitu Community Marine Sanctuary), - 2 in Taita Taveta (Lumo Wildlife Conservancy, Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary) - 1 in Tana River (Ishaqbini Hirola Community Conservancy) Sacred forests The most prevalent community conserved areas are the makaya (sing: kaya). These are forests and woodlands in the coastal plains and hills that are deemed sacred by the Mijikenda, a community made up of 9 sub-groups: the Chonyi, Digo, Duruma, Giriama, Jibana, Kambe, Kauma Rabai and Ribe. There are 63 makaya, 23 in Kilifi and 40 in Kwale. Together they occupy a total of about 7920 acres. These are sacred forests and shrines whereby it is still considered taboo to cut the trees and vegetation around the makaya; this has led to their preservation of several rare or endangered plant species to the present day. The makaya are currently regarded as Important Bird Areas by Nature Kenya, with 42 of them having been recognized as national monuments by the National Museums of Kenya and 5 as national reserves by the Kenya Wildlife Service. 7 Kenya Tourism Private Sector Contacts Mombasa and Coast Tourism Mobile: +254 (0) 722 942054 Association Email: [email protected] Corner of Moi Avenue and Aga Khan Website: www.perakkenya.co.ke Road P.O. Box 99596, Mombasa Kenya Association of Travel Agents Tel: +254 (0) 412225428. KATO Place Longonot Road Upper- Mobile: +254 (0) 722475796 hill Email: [email protected] P.O. Box 10290 – 00100 Nairobi Website: www. kenyacoast.net Tel: +254 (20) 2731475/6, +254 202 486563 Kenya Association of Hotel Fax: +254 (20) 2731478 Keepers and Caterers (KAHC) Email: [email protected] Heidelberg House 2nd Level, Mom- Website: www.katakenya.org basa Road P.O. Box 9977-00100 Nairobi Kenya Association of Air Operators Tel: +254 (0) 20 (KAAO) 6004419/6002538 Wilson Airport, Langata Road Email: [email protected] P.O. Box 27592-00506 Nairobi Website: www.kahc.co.ke Tel: +254 (0) 20 6006914/6001165 Kenya Association of Tour Operations (KATO) Coast Branch Mobile: +254 (0) 711 983441/737 Ralli House , 3rd Fl.