Uncharted Outposts [www.unchartedoutposts.com], one of Kenya's oldest safari and travel specialists, announced Thursday that Campi Ya Kanzi is among the first recipients of Ecotourism Kenya's new Gold Eco-rating. A community owned eco-resort in southern Kenya's Chyulu Hills, Campi Ya Kanzi was one of three properties to receive the Gold rating from Ecotourism Kenya, a group that promotes sustainable tourism. The Gold rating recognizes excellence in environmental management, sustainable use of resources and community/social linkages. Five other properties received the group's Silver Eco-rating. It is a collaboration with the local Maasi community, which helped construct and staff the camp. Buildings were constructed from local materials, like lava rocks, thatch and lumber from a reforestation program. Hot water comes from solar boilers, while electricity is produced by solar systems and the food is prepared with eco-friendly charcoal. Waste is collected, recycled or incinerated-or used as compost for a small organic vegetable garden. Water is collected from the roofs and purified through lava filters, then recycled and fed into a pond for wildlife. The Eco-rating system--Africa's first--has three successive levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. It offers travelers to Kenya a guarantee that the product they are consuming is ecologically and socially responsible. For more details, please visit the Ecotourism Kenya web site: [www.ecotourismkenya.org/index.php].
