Tortilis Conservation & Social Responsibility

Tortilis Camp is situated on the 30,000 acre community-owned Kitirua Conservancy adjoining Amboseli National Park. The Camp leases the land on which it is built directly from the local community, ensuring they directly benefit from tourism.

More than 60% of the Tortilis staff come from the local community and are trained at camp. This results in approximately 40 staff members (Maasai) who are able to care for up to 400 - 500 family members and friends.

The Camp supplies the local community with unlimited access to clean drinking water, and the staff operate a provisions shop for them. We have also built separate washing facilities specifically designed for the use of visitors from local communities.

Rubbish is responsibly disposed of or recycled. Glass is separated in camps and sold to the recycling plant ‘Central Glass’ in Nairobi. All funds received are donated to the East African Women’s League to support a family planning program managed by the North Lake Branch, Naivasha.

Tortilis conducts walking safaris with local Maasai guides so that guests can also be educated on the Maasai culture Tortilis leases land from the local Group Ranch so that game drives can be carried out in an area other than the National Park. The local community benefits directly from tourism.

Tortilis has supported Amboseli Tsavo Game Scouts Association for many years, donating USD 21,129 towards their community training and anti-poaching work. The ATSGA recruits and trains local Maasai men to become Game Scouts. The goal of the game scouts is to achieve security of their environment, to educate their own people about wildlife / tourism benefits, and to ensure the continued safety and security of the flora & fauna of Amboseli and Tsavo ecosystems. 70% of Kenya’s wildlife is outside National Parks and the community land between the Amboseli and Tsavo National park is vital to the ecosystem.

Elephant Fencing Project

An African elephant is second only to man in changing its environment. During the 1970’s, poaching and drought kept too many elephants within the core of Amboseli national Park, devastating the woodlands.

The African Conervation Centre and Kenya Wildlife Services have created elephant ‘exclosures’ to rejuvenate woodland wetlands. Tortilis Camp rehabilitated and maintains the Olengaiya Swamp just 15 minutes from the camp. The maintenance alone costs Tortilis $1,000 per month.

We would like to create more ‘exclosures’ in the ecosystem with additional funds so that a sustainable rotation plan can be employed.

If you are interested in helping us conserve this vital elephant habitat, please donate generously to the Elephant Fencing Project. Contact Us to find out how.

Buy a Brick - Donate a Dorm

Tortilis Camp works towards preserving the greater Amboseli ecosystem by supporting both wildlife protection and community education. Amongst other conservation efforts, Tortilis worked together with 750 community land owners in establishing the 30,000 acre Kitirua Conservancy, directly paying the community KES 2.1M and giving KES 0.9M towards anti-poaching and conservancy management in 2011 alone.

In 2010, Tortilis Camp donated KES 1,000,000 towards the building of Esiteti Primary School, which opened its doors with great ceremony in August 2011.

Our Community Trust has since received a generous pledge of US$ 5,000 to kick-start the fundraising for the construction of a girls’ dormitory.

The long walk through the wilderness to and from school puts many of the girls at risk on a daily basis, and once at home, they are often expected to tend to duties rather than do their homework.

If you would like to give the girls at Esiteti Primary the opportunity to focus on their education and improve their future chances of good employment, please ‘Buy a Brick’ or two at $25 each and help us raise US$ 25,000 to build this dormitory. Contact Us to find out how.

Big Life Foundation 

Tortilis Camp's clients on package pay an extra US$ 30 per day to enter the Kitirua Private Conservancy, US$ 10 of which goes towards funding the work of the Big Life Foundation.  Tortilis Camp supports the Big Life Foundation's anti-poaching and wildlife protection efforts, as we believe they are crucial in securing a successful future for Amboseli.  The remaining $20 goes towards payments to the community that owns the land and management of the conservancy. 

In order for Big Life to maintain its operations, a great deal of funds need to be raised and every additional donation helps. We would like to encourage you to visit the Big Life Foundation website to find out more about their conservation  efforts and funds required to sustain their operations.

Please note that if you would like to contribute further to the conservation of the greater Amboseli ecosystem by supporting Big Life's efforts, you may make your donation via the Cheli & Peacock Community Trust. Contact Us to find out how.

Want to donate?

To find out how you can donate these or any other projects run by the Cheli & Peacock Community Trust, Contact Us for more information.

Pack for a Purpose

If you would like to bring any school or medical supplies to Kenya to donate during your safari, please click on the logo below for detailed information on what to bring and how. Thank you.