Sustainable Tourism

Elephant Pepper Camp is one of only six camps in Kenya to have been awarded “Gold Level” Eco Rating by the internationally recognised civil society organisation Eco Tourism Kenya. The camp achieves environmental best practice by combining old fashioned safari camp know-how with the latest technology, leaving a minimal footprint. Almost invisible under the Elephant Pepper trees with completely removable tent structures, the camp relies entirely on solar power and uses only LED lighting.

Rubbish is responsibly disposed of or recycled and separated glass is sold to the recycling plant ‘Central Glass’ in Nairobi.

Community

Elephant Pepper Camp has always worked directly with the community in this area since the late 1980s. Ensuring that the landowners benefit with a fair income from tourism. Since 2009, Elephant Pepper Camp has contributed over US$ 415,000 in lease payments and bednight fees directly to the Maasai landowners.

With the fixed payments coming in, these landowners have opened bank accounts, are able to plan their expenditure and even start accumulating savings. This helps them to set up local businesses and invest in the education of the future generation. Elephant Pepper Camp also employs over 80% of its staff from the surrounding communities.

Get Involved

On your safari, through the Land and Life Foundation, you can really make a difference to the communities you are travelling near, by donating stationary, text books, uniforms, food and sports equipment in person, directly to the staff and pupils of a school. We work closely with the Committees of each school to make sure that each donation addresses a genuine need highlighted specifically by the school staff and parents.

At Elephant Pepper Camp, we support the local Ololomei Primary School which caters for 448 students from Pre School (age 6-7) to Standard 8. In 2007 the camp had raised enough funds to build a new classroom, in 2009 we added a kitchen and in 2010 we provided the school with desks and chairs.

Contact Hannah Wood, the General Manager of the Land & Life Foundation through info@landandlife.foundation, to find out exactly what Ololomei Primary School currently requires and ensure that you provide a genuinely needed contribution and have a meaningful interaction with Kenyan communities during your safari.

If you are considering bringing donations from abroad, visit the Pack for a Purpose website for very specific advice on what is needed. Please do note that when flying within Kenya, the internal flight weight restriction is 15kg and may therefore limit what you can carry with you to the camps and donate to the rural communities in person. We can always, however, donate anything over and above your weight limit on your behalf at a later date.