Ol Donyo Wuas finalist in 2009 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

Nairobi – Ol Donyo Wuas, set on the slopes of the Chyulu Hills in southern Kenya, has been recognised as a finalist in this year’s Tourism for Tomorrow awards. “It is indeed a great honour that Ol Donyo Wuas has been recognised as a finalist in the Community Benefit category of this year’s awards” comments Colin Bell, CEO of Great Plains.

“Receiving international recognition for our work in the surrounding communities of the lodge highlights the importance and success of our endeavours in our local communities – one such project being the Human Interaction & Predator Protection programme we have on the ground.”

Ol Donyo Wuas is one of the few, true Big 5 lodge properties in Kenya, and is set on 275 000 acres of community-owned concession. This 22-bed, luxury eco-lodge is in the heart of the Mbirikani Maasai conservation area on the slopes of the Chyulu Hills near Amboseli National Park. Based on the foundations of the original, legendary Ol Donyo Wuas, the recently re-built lodges all have stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, efficient solar-powered lighting, and solar-heated showers in the en-suite bathrooms, and feature décor that is modern and luxurious as well as rustic and comfortable in the tradition of the great wilderness lodges.

Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge and the Maasai people of the Mbirikani Group Ranch are partners in the operation of the camp and subsidiary businesses. The Maasailand Preservation Trust is the lodge’s link with the people of the area and the Trust maintains a series of important projects including predator conservation, education, water management, reforestation, and livestock management training. Visitors are not just tourists, but participants and contributors to the survival of the region’s fauna and flora and the advancement of a noble people.

For over 20 years Ol Donyo Wuas Lodge is the Africa cognoscenti’s dream destination and is tucked away in the spectacular “Green Hills of Africa”, above the heat and malaria, and far away from the tourist circuit. We believe that Ol Donyo Wuas is a model that many African ‘bush lodges’ can follow.

Ol Donyo Wuas is a proud member of Great Plains Conservation. Great Plains is an African and Indian Ocean conservation organisation that creates conservation initiatives, making them sustainable through a blend of small luxurious camps and lodges, carbon offsets as well as small bush homes and villa projects.