2010 Innovation Award Finalist: Basecamp Explorer
Organization: Basecamp Explorer
Nominated by: Judy Gona (Organization Category)
Project Description:
In 2009, Basecamp Explorer, in partnership with 500 masai landowners, agreed to create a 20,000 hectares community wildlife conservancy in Masai Mara Kenya. The called it Naboisho, which means togetherness in local Maa language.
Unique to this conservancy is that each of the 500 landowners is guaranteed of monthly income paid as rent for fifteen years, for setting aside part of their land for conservation. the rent is determined by the number of acres a landowner has contributed to the conservancy and will increase each year based on inflation rates.
The conservancy will create some 200 jobs for guides, camp staff, scouts, research teams, community outreach personnel, project officers, managers among others. the conservancy, now operational will have five eco-camps operating at the highest levels of ecotourism with all required to have Ecotourism Kenya’s Silver eco-rating certification within two years of operation.
A big cat monitoring project and elephant monitoring are being implemented. through a volunteers program, Naboisho is inviting the world to share in this incredible project. within the conservancy, is the only community guiding school in Eastern Africa.
Basecamp has been appointed the main consultant in steering the school to the highest levels of academic excellence. The choice of Basecamp as a partner by the community in the conservancy project, is not by coincidence. it a result of trust built over ten years where Basecamp has proven that tourism can benefit host communities through effective involvement. Basecamp through an effective CSR program has initiated projects in health, education, culture, conservation and climate change. our education program has seen close to 100 masai girls access education and enabled 115 women earn a regular income through an enterprise dubbed Basecamp Masai brand.
Masai brand is a provisional member of Fair Trade having been awarded fair trade label by the Confederation of Fair Trade in Africa (COFTA). Basecamp has a similar initiative with women from the village of Chandelao in India, where it runs a lodge. Basecamp Explorer is indeed a showcase of responsible tourism.
Lease signing
The Masai Brand
…I had the unfortunate task of travelling with the co-founders of basecamp into Namibia…and reading about the ‘innovation award finalist” I realize how blind the eco tourism industry is, having met the players behind basecamp, and having first hand experience of these peoples attitude towards Africa and its people I only laugh at such an award…another victory to add to the belt of the brown bottle boys, anther sucker taken…
AKIM
Hello Akim
I have visited many of the camps run by Basecamp and I have been nothing but pleasantly surprised both by how they are run and also by the people working behind. I intend to start selling their camps around the world and would therefor be very interested in hearing you collaborate a little more on your opinion, which of the camps have you visited and so far?
Kind regards
Ulrika
Basecamp is by far the best sustainable tourist travle operator we have had ever been with. Actually there have not been any other travel agency that can match their authentuisity, enthusiasm for us and to make our stay fulfilling. We are four families that travel all around the world to learn our selves, children and adults alike, more knowledge about how cultures have been for ages. We do so because we know the answers to the future lies in the native cultures wisdom combined with future technology, implemented by todays children. The best way to do so is by traveling where wisdom is still in the thinking of everything is connected and are dependent upon the other. Basecamp help cultures to be able to sustain and give them opportunity to continue their strong energies to sustain old cultures with authentisity. The way Basecamp involve and build strong relationship, partnership and business at attractive destinations between themseslves, the locals and the turist are genuine.
Kind regards,
Arne
Maybe Akim is disappointed of the nomination as he is running a competing company?
I have followed Basecamp Explorer for years. Basecamp Explorer is a honest and serious company working for the best of the people and the regions where they have their camps.
Pjoter
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