Porini Camps are committed to responsible and sustainable tourism and to making a positive contribution to conservation of wildlife habitat and to create benefits for local communities in the areas where we operate.  We believe that the ecotourism industry can play a key role in raising awareness among tourists of the environmental consequences of their actions, especially when it brings them in close contact with nature and the environment, and we strive to achieve this through our camps and company philosophy. We believe that this will lead to environmentally conscious behaviour and activities to help preserve the environment.  Our environmental policy addresses the impact and management of the land, water, energy, sewage and solid wastes. 

Land
We are committed to protecting the natural flora and fauna found in the areas that we operate in.  Our tented camps, purposefully, have no permanent structures and are strategically placed around the available trees and shrubs. In so doing, when the time comes to remove the camp the area will revert back with no visible signs of a camp or people ever having been there. We are also very aware of the risks and damage of fires and ask our guests to help us avoid this.  We do not allow smoking on game drives and also ask our visitors not to smoke inside the guest tents. Within camp, smoking is limited to the area around the Mess Tent, where an ashtray is provided and we request guests to discard cigarette ends into these ashtrays.  The total number of guests at any one time is limited to a maximum of only twelve, thereby preventing damage to the environment that may be caused by the large numbers found at many other lodges and camps.

We believe in setting up private conservancies, where possible, to ensure protection of the wildlife and flora and providing a direct monetary benefit to the surrounding local communities, through a per tourist fee and also through employment.  We find that this increased-direct-value to the local communities results in their active commitment to preserving the wildlife and fauna found in their areas. The local communities have co-existed with the plant and wildlife for centuries and have a vast and valuable knowledge of the land and all contained within it. We believe, in learning from them and providing our guests the opportunity to learn first hand from the local people. We also make an effort to actively help in educating the communities on the benefits to them and their lands from ecotourism projects. 

Water
We are committed to conserving and preventing contamination of water found in our areas and realize that it is a precious resource for us and the local community.  We have to transport the water in for use at the camp and we request that our guests conserve water as much as possible. Our tents are equipped with safari showers and the total water per tent is limited to less than 20 litres.  So we advise our guests to turn off the tap while soaping, then turn it on again to rinse off. We also ask guests to only flush the toilet when necessary.  All sewage and waste water is managed so as to prevent any contamination of the water table and water courses.  

Energy
Solar Power. We have avoided relying on generators to provide power to the camp - and instead have opted for a GREEN solar power system which provides all lighting to the tents - the panels charge a series of solar batteries and step up transformer converts this to 220v. We also run our radio communication equipment from this as well as providing outlets to charge guest appliances such as video camera batteries and the like. We have no other appliances that require generated power and the camp kitchen refrigeration is through kerosene and gas fridges.

Water Heating and Cooking. We have ensured that no bush charcoal is used in the camp and conservation area - as Kenya has a massive problem with deforestation caused by production of charcoal fuel that has reached a national crisis level. Instead we have opted for a safe responsible environmentally friendly "green charcoal" briquette. This is used in our efficient boiler to heat all water for guest purposes. All cooking is done on open charcoal ovens again using the "green charcoal" briquette or using gas cookers.

Solid Waste
We have implemented a recycling system for all waste - this is segregated into certain categories [Glass, plastics, metals and tins, used oil, mineral water bottles, used batteries, paper waste, and all bio-degradable waste] The segregated waste is then treated accordingly - the bio-degradable waste is composted in a closed and locked pit - and the remainder is packed and then transported back to Nairobi for proper disposal.

Sewage
All guest waste water and sewerage is presently directed into 2 separate septic tanks for proper and effective treatment and to ensure there is no pollution of the water table.