Mara Napa Camps transcends the conventional definition of a luxury safari camp. While it undoubtedly provides unparalleled amenities, breathtaking views, and unforgettable experiences for its discerning guests, its true distinction lies in its unwavering commitment to broader social and environmental objectives. Beyond offering opulence, Mara Napa Camps harbors a profound dedication to wildlife conservation, cultural preservation, and community empowerment. The camp actively engages in educational programs, imparting knowledge about the importance of preserving the delicate ecosystems of the Maasai Mara. Through educational programs, on-the-job training, and entrepreneurial support, community members develop self-reliance that is sustainable.
MNC assists the community with road maintenance, flood control, building upgrades or other needs as they present themselves, and prides itself in the following core values: respect, integrity, teamwork, partnership, and innovation.
What Mara Napa Camps has accomplished thus far:
Bettering community roads in the local village, Talek
With the help of the Camp’s backhoe, Mara Napa Camps has continued to work closely with the Talek community and camps to maintain community roads and open drainage lines to address the flooding challenges that become a nightmare for school-going children and members of the community.
Providing services and anti-venom to local health centers
MNC has partnered with the local community health center to stock snake antivenom which helps subsidize the cost of getting snake bite treatment. In many occasions, Mara Napa Camps has also provided medical assistance through paying for transportation and medical costs for local community
members to get specialized treatment in hospitals out of Maasai Mara.
Community relief food intervention during COVID
In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), food insecurity has emerged as a global humanitarian crisis. The Executive Director of the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme (WFP) warned that the world was facing a “hunger pandemic.” Closer home in the Maasai Mara, MNC donated foodstuff to 300 households. These are direct beneficiaries while another 200 indirect beneficiaries benefited in the relief food provided.
Providing free purified water to the community since 2018
In 2018, Mara Napa Camps drilled a borehole and installed an ultrafiltration system. This borehole is known to be the only borehole in the area that provides the community with free, safe water during the dry season. In addition to providing water to the community, schools and ranger posts have benefited as well.
Creating a women’s gathering place for meetings and training
Kimelok Women’s group has undergone a three-month business training that will equip them with knowledge and tools to establish and run small businesses to profitability. The intention of the training was to support the 1st SDG goal to end generational poverty by igniting entrepreneurial potential. To support the women’s group and build capacity, MNC has designed a way to continuously visit the women's businesses to discuss progress, challenges, and ways to solve them. The women's gathering center has become a safe space to provide women with a shelter for meetings and training without worrying about paying any costs.
Introduction of a solar plant
Mara Napa Camps is powered by a mini-grid. Solar mini-grids can provide high-quality uninterrupted renewable electricity to underserved villages and communities and these are the lessons that Mara Napa intends to encourage school children to learn in matters of renewable energy. By visiting Mara Napa Camps, students will have an opportunity to learn about solar energy and its effectiveness in rural areas.
Providing vocational training
During the construction of Mara Napa Camps, 120 young Maasai men and women underwent various upskilling trainings. These skills included thatching using Makuti, electrical, mechanics, and training in first aid, beekeeping, and masonry. These young people went on to secure employment using these skills and continue to make a positive impact in their lives and the lives of their families.
School Infrastructure improvement
Mara Napa supports Loigero Primary School in upscaling its infrastructure through classroom renovation and renovation of key structures like the road leading to the school. Recently Mara Napa renovated three classrooms by putting in new concrete floors, repairing and painting walls, painting and putting in new glass windows, and providing new desks for 3 pre-primary school classes. MNC also redesigned and built playing equipment, fixed gravel roads, provided bookshelves for children, and supplied learning materials in pre-primary classes at the Loigero school.
Trash is Treasure Project
According to research, 90% of the trash floating in our oceans is made of plastic, with around 46,000 pieces per square mile. Mara Napa is starting a project dubbed 'Trash isTreasure' by collecting all plastics in town centers and homes, turning them into useful products. Mara Napa intends to work with youth groups as well as women to collect the plastics and deliver them to a collection center ready for processing. In turn, each kilogram of plastic collected will earn the youth an agreed amount of money which becomes a win-win situation. This environmental impact project cleans the environment and creates jobs for the youth.
Mara Napa Camps stands as a shining example of how luxury and responsible tourism can harmoniously coexist. Beyond its breathtaking landscapes and sumptuous accommodations, this remarkable camp embodies a deep commitment to wildlife conservation and social change. By dedicating itself to the preservation of the Maasai Mara's delicate ecosystem and fostering meaningful partnerships with local communities, Mara Napa Camps sets a precedent for sustainable travel. Guests are not only treated to an unparalleled safari experience but also become active participants in safeguarding our planet's natural wonders and supporting positive societal transformation. As travelers, we can choose to be more than mere spectators; we can be catalysts for change. Mara Napa Camps shows us that the pursuit of luxury need not come at the expense of the environment and the communities that call these pristine lands home. It invites us to redefine the concept of opulence, where the true richness lies in the lasting impact we leave behind.
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