Royal Zebra River Lodge

Positive Impact

The impact of your stay

The Zebra Plains Collection’s impact work centres on community-owned land. It leases concessions around the Maasai Mara and Amboseli, paying annual leases plus USD 15 per guest per night directly to landowners. Nearly a million dollars a year goes into conservation, protecting wildlife corridors across more than 35,000 acres in the ALOCA Conservancy and over 40,000 acres in the Lemek and Mara Ripoi Conservancies. People-wise, the aim is for 70% of the workforce to come from nearby communities, with free annual hospitality training and a track record of staff moving up into supervisor, chef and guide roles. The collection also pays school fees for more than 70 children (chosen with school management and village elders) and helps raise university funds. Over 80% of food is bought locally, and Maasai dancers perform at camps, with guests encouraged to visit villages and buy handcrafts. On the environment side, it has planted over 40,000 trees on overgrazed land leased next to the camps, with guests welcome to join in. Camps are plastic-free, with refillable glass bottles (including on game drives) and refillable toiletry dispensers. Solar covers over 85% of camps and lodges, an investment of nearly 2 megawatts.