“You look at things you enjoy in your life, but much more important is what you can do to make the world a better place” – Paul Allen, 1953-2018
Located on a 2,000-metre-high ridge overlooking the Masai Mara national game reserve, Olarro Lodge was opened in 2012 on 20,000 acres of land leased from the local Masai landowners. Built by Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft) and designed by renowned architect Anthony Russell (designer of the award winning ecotourist Shompole Lodge in the Great Rift Valley), Olarro Lodge is founded on the principles of conservation, sustainability and community empowerment. While its 8 lodges provide luxury accommodation, it is very much an eco-resort being solar powered by 635 solar panels and solar water heaters, with two backup generators, and use LEDs for pathways to minimise light pollution. It obtains its water from a spring and borehole but practises rainwater harvesting and monitors its water consumption. Taps and toilets are fitted with water reducers to minimise water usage and black and grey water is cleansed and re-used wherever possible, such as for irrigation. Meanwhile solid waste is sorted into bio- and non-biodegradable, the former being managed through an in-house composting system, while the latter is transported to Nairobi for recycling or disposal. Again, records are kept of the waste generated.
Apart from benefitting from the lease fees the local community receives night fees from the lodge and employment opportunities as 80 per cent of the permanent employees are from the local area. Fresh dairy produce and fruit and vegetables are sourced locally while not only does the lodge purchase its bread from the local women, but it provides space for them to sell their bread and craft products to their clients. Also it engages the women to make privacy screens and repair damaged beaded products such as place mats. Importantly, the lodge also supports the education of the local children, including paying the fees of those in college or university, while it also provides discounted accommodation and meals for the peripatetic medics who service the local community.
As well as benefitting the community, the lodge cares for its staff. Wages are higher than the labour requirements and the female staff are entitled to 24 leave days a year and 3 months maternity leave, with 14 days paternity and sick leave for the men. There is also a package of staff benefits that includes sponsored training, health care, insurance cover, uniforms, food, accommodation and transport. Gratuities are shared equally amongst the employees and there is a welfare scheme that ensures the family of a member of staff who dies in service receives some compensation. None of the employees are aged less than the legal employment age of 18.
Not only does the lodge ensure that its staff receive training, but visitors are briefed on arrival about the lodge’s operations, code of conduct and environmental values, while the reception area is furnished with magazines and books about the ecosystems of East Africa, as is the library. In each guest room there is also an information folder outlining the lodge’s water and energy conservation operations as well as other sustainability services. Portraits of local wildlife decorate the walls of public areas such as the restaurant, while metallic models of the wildlife to be found in the ecosystem, such as lions, are also on display. Similarly the local culture is also promoted both in the architecture and décor of the buildings and by monthly Maasai dance performances. Also, the lodge conducts cultural village visits for their guests, each of whom pays US$10 which is paid directly to the village.
The Olarro Eco-Lodge demonstrates the concept of Harmonious Entrepreneurship as while it is designed to be a profitable enterprise it achieves its objective by protecting not exploiting both the planet and its people. It is small and local in scale and helps to preserve the local culture, communities, flora and fauna without polluting the atmosphere or contributing to climate change. It addresses SDGs 1 (No poverty), 2 (No Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), 4 (Quality Education), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Change) and 15 (Life on Land).
Ref: https://www.conservation.org/docs/default-source/audio/acf_impactreport-2022_
© Harmonious-Entrepreneurship.org / Harmonious Entrepreneurship Ltd. (2020-2023). Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Harmonious-Entrepreneurship.org/ Harmonious Entrepreneurship Ltd.
HES 2020-2025 