2019 Sustainability Report
As we publish this report highlighting our significant contributions to Kenya’s Maasai Mara ecosystem in 2019, an uncertain future looms. With much of the world’s population sheltering in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it can sometimes seem difficult to look beyond our immediate horizons. We worry for the health, safety, and economic security of those closest to us — parents, grandparents, friends, colleagues, and members of our home community.
But when you stay with us at Basecamp Explorer, you also become part of our Maasai family in this small but critical corner of the planet. Now more than ever, we are grateful for the unwavering support that made these impacts possible.
When things return to normal, we look forward to welcoming you back in the Mara. It is our belief that travel will become even more cherished, and we plan to provide additional opportunities to connect through our shared humanity. We hope to count on your continued support to ensure these vital initiatives — which impact the survival of our staff, broader community, and beloved wildlife — can continue while you are away.
Ashe Oleng! (Thank you)
Svein Wilhelmsen
Founder, Basecamp Explorer Kenya
We welcomed more guests to our safari camps in 2019 than any other in our 21-year history. This allowed us to contribute $785,000 USD directly to the Maasai community in the form of land lease payments, salaries to wildlife rangers, and school scholarships, an increase of close to 75% over 2018. This groundbreaking partnership between conservation efforts and economic empowerment in Naboisho Conservancy was recognised by the United Nations in a landmark award and publication on Sustainable Human Settlements.
We planted 82,000 more trees through our reforestation project, bringing the total at Basecamp Maasai Mara to 197,000. This amounts to an estimated 14,775 tonnes of CO2 sequestered annually, a huge progression on our goals on climate action. We also launched our plans for building community rainwater harvesting systems, which will provide sources of clean, sustainable water for over 5,000 community members. Looking to further curb our emissions, we enacted new policies on waste management and have set ambitious targets for further reduction in 2020. Our beloved mamas at Basecamp Maasai Brand jewellery had another very profitable year, increasing sales revenue 10.5% from the previous year totalling 95,000 USD.
Finally, on November 23, 2019, we officially opened our much anticipated education and awareness centre, Enjoolata! This anchors our commitment to forging and strengthening comprehensive partnerships to further our vision and mission, including with Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association, Pardamat Conservation Area, and the upcoming Wildlife Tourism College. Throughout our company’s history, we’ve proved that positive change happens only when we Come Together. That rally cry is louder now than it’s ever been.
Full report
Do you want to learn more? Download the full report (pdf) below.