Responsible Travel:

Camps International's Code Of Practice

Camps International aims to provide more rewarding holiday experiences for visitors whilst subscribing to the principles and practices of responsible tourism. In conducting our operations, we strive to improve the quality of the natural environment in which we operate, spread benefits throughout the local economy and promote community wellbeing.

 

We are committed to:

 

Economic Responsibility

Employment

 

• Maximising local economic benefits by employing and purchasing locally wherever possible to create employment, stimulate entrepreneurial activity, increase investment in infrastructure and boost the overall standard of living in the local area. 100% of our staff originates from the host country. In Kenya we employ over 30 members of staff during low season and this figure increases to over 100 during peak season.
• Employing staff transparently creating a diverse workforce in terms of gender, ethnicity, age and disability.
• Providing appropriate skills training programmes for staff (e.g. first aid course).
• Paying staff fairly and linking wages to positions and experience.
• Providing staff with incentives and bonuses linked to performance and service levels.

 

 

Procurement

 

• Buying basic supplies locally and paying fair prices for goods and services sourced locally. We buy 100% of our fresh fruit, vegetables and project materials from local producers.
• Encouraging visitors to buy locally made goods and facilitating craft sales areas near our areas of operation which showcase local products.

 

Product Development

 

• Assessing the economic impact of new initiatives before implementing new ideas.
• Ensuring communities are involved with and benefit from our initiatives.
• Providing visits to local places of interest.
• Offering visitors traditional food, cultural events and opportunities to buy locally made arts and crafts.
• Assisting with local marketing and product development by providing promotional space in the form of leaflets, advertising boards and website space to promote local organisations and activities.
  

 

 

Social Responsibility

 

• Treating cultural heritage with dignity and respect. We inform our clients about local customs and traditions and appropriate behaviour. We ensure that visitors ask permission to take photographs or videotape people.
• Involving local communities and stakeholders in the planning and decision making process for new and existing projects. Implementation and development of projects is based on the specific needs of the local communities.
• Assessing the social impacts of new initiatives before implementation.
• Providing support with education and health care and contributing to social infrastructure.
• Facilitating literacy and other education programmes for the local community.
• Implementing a charitable trust fund to create a structure to manage the flow of benefits to the community and the environment. The Camp Kenya Charitable Trust provides funds to support all of our projects and allows us to implement new projects in areas of community development and conservation that are most needed.

 

 

Environmental Responsibility

 

Energy and Resource Consumption

 

• Minimising the use of water energy and consumption by incorporating roof fed water tanks to collect rainwater, positioning water tanks close to the point of use and installing gravity fed water systems where possible. We also encourage visitors to conserve water during their stay.
• Building materials are sourced locally and sustainably sourced where possible.
• Establishing several indigenous tree planting schemes.
• Implementing a CO2 emission offset scheme whereby all our clients who have travelled by air get the opportunity to offset their carbon dioxide emissions by paying a small levy that will be used towards extensive tree planting programmes.
• Maintaining a litter free environment and purchase foods with little packaging.
• Separating and segregating waste for disposal by the local council. Organic waste is converted to compost and used by the community in the farms.
• Educating local people on appropriate waste management and sanitation.
• Setting up composting facilities for landscaping (Mwaluganje Elephant Sanctuary).

 

 

 

 

Nature conservation

 

• Maintaining indigenous trees in the area and avoid clearing nearby vegetation where possible.
• Fully briefing clients on appropriate behaviour in environmentally sensitive areas to alleviate any negative impacts of tourism (e.g. control noise levels, prevent off road driving, dropping litter, starting fires etc.).
• Developing a code of conduct for interaction with wildlife and disseminating this to visitors to ensure the welfare and conservation of wild animals is not compromised by tourism.
• Educating the local communities about the importance of sustainable natural resource management and conducting environmental education workshops for local school children to highlight the importance of conserving biodiversity.
• Organising regular beach and village clean ups.
• Providing financial support to local and International conservation organisations (e.g. The Colobus Trust, East African Whale Shark Trust, EAWLS, KWS, etc).
• Implementing and supporting scientific research of flora and fauna and encouraging worldwide environmental awareness by providing international volunteers with the opportunity to participate in applied wildlife conservation projects.
• Encouraging the purchase of crafts that are sustainably produced.
• Briefing visitors on pertinent environmental issues to discourage them from buying curios and furniture made of indigenous hardwoods or unsustainable animal products (e.g. skin, feathers, ivory, bone, shells, and coral).