CAMPI YA KANZI, KENYA

Winner Conservation Award 2006

Campi ya Kanzi - 'Camp of the hidden treasure'

This eco-friendly lodge lies on the slopes of Kenya's Chyulu Hills (The Green Hills of Africa of Ernest Hemingway), which look toward Tanzania's majestic Mount Kilimanjaro.

Quoted in National Geographic magazine as "an eco lodge where tourism can help people and nature," it is built from local materials and uses solar technology to supply hot water and electricity to the six luxury tented cottages and two tented suites.

The 400 square mile Maasai Reserve has many different environments, a great array of wildlife. Beside the famous Big Five (elephant, rhino, leopard, lion and buffalo), many other uncommon animals are present, like wild dog, cheetah and lesser kudu. Together with classic game drives, a game walk with your professional guide and red-robed Maasai tracker will be the highlight of your safari.

Campi ya Kanzi is proud to have tried a new way of conservation, through the complete involvement of the local Maasai landlords. Guests assist with this by contributing a daily conservation fee of $70, which is spent toward the welfare of both men and wildlife.

Responsible eco tourism preserves the wildlife heritage of this important East African wilderness and allows the Maasai to continue their traditional way of life - more than a millennium old.