Basecamp Masai Mara, Campi ya Kanzi and Malewa River Lodge are Kenya’s first tourist accommodation facilities to attain Gold Eco-rating in Ecotourism Kenya’s Eco-rating Scheme. The three winners were announced at an event held on March 22, 2007 at Sarova Panafric, Nairobi.
 
Gold Eco-rating is the highest level of certification in the scheme and it signifies excellence and innovation in environmental management, resource use and social linkages. To achieve Gold Eco-rating, a facility’s environmental/ conservation practices and social linkages must be beyond reproach as a minimum requirement with the innovations demonstrating a high level of commitment to best practices.
 
Basecamp Masai Mara is a 16-tent permanent tented camp located in Talek, Maasai Mara. Among its noted outstanding/innovative practices is creation of the “The Maasai Brand”, an initiative that promotes traditional handicrafts made by women’s groups in Talek area. Basecamp trains the women to make high quality traditional Maasai handicrafts and markets these products to its guests and selected outlets locally and internationally. In 2006, income realized from “The Maasai Brand” sales was in excess of Ksh. 2.5 million.
 
Campi ya Kanzi on the other hand, has helped to establish a wildlife trust for local land owners - the Maasai Wildlife Conservation Trust (MWCT). Located in a 2,500-acre conservancy in Kuku Group Ranch in the Chyulu Hills, the 8-tent permanent tented camp supports the trust by donating a percentage of bed-night fees and from private donations by guests and overseas foundations. The camp also collects a conservation fee from every guest to the camp and forwards the same to the trust. MWCT supports a predator compensation program that pays members of Kuku Group Ranch who lose their livestock to predators. It employs 55 members of the local community, contributing to direct household incomes. It also supports education and health initiatives in the area.
 
Malewa’s winning practices include an elaborate environmental training program that targets local and overseas school-going children. Located in the 3,500-acre Kigio Wildlife Conservancy in Naivasha, the 6-tent facility stands on land that was once a degraded cattle ranch but has now been turned into an amazing wildlife sanctuary in less than 10 years. In addition to promoting environmental education for local schools, Malewa River Lodge uses wind energy and has re-introduced the Rothschild giraffe and white rhino into the conservancy, both endangered species.
 
The Ecotourism Kenya Eco-rating Scheme was the first eco-certification programme in Africa. There are currently 32 facilities (3 at Gold, 5 at Silver and 24 at Bronze level) and many more waiting to be evaluated. The scheme aims to brand Kenya as an ecotourism destination at a time when travelers are becoming increasingly concerned about the ecological and social impacts of their visits.