Votes:
4835
MT. KENYA ECOLODGE
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI - KENYA
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Mt. Kenya National Park is a world heritage site because of its endemic biodiversity and beautiful landscape. Mt. Kenya is within the national park borders and it is the highest point in Kenya and the second highest point in Africa. The equator cuts across the National park. The mountain is one of three regions in Kenya which experience upper highland climate, the others two regions are Aberdare ranges and Mt. Elgon. The ice capped mountain has an important cultural significance to the locals as it is believed to be the residence of their god “Ngai”. There are three main access points into the national park, through Nanyuki (Sirimon route), through Naru Moru (Naru Moru route) and through Chogoria (Chogoria route). Currently the custodians of the National Park, Kenya Wildlife Services, is putting up road infrastructure which lead all the way to base camps of approximately 3000 meters above sea level. This is an initiative to promote local tourism to the mountain as it has been always associated with foreign tourists who come to summit the mountain. The push for local tourism has also been driven by the devolution of government agencies from the national level to the county level. As a result, counties are taking advantage of their natural resources within their borders and are marketing them as tourist destinations.The site is within Meru county. Currently, the Sirimon route is the most popular route used by trekkers to the summit as it offers dramatic views to the undulating terrain and its gradient offers a gentle experience to the first time trekkers compared to the steep Naru Moru route and long Chogoria route. The site is at the base camp where it will offer the first night to those going up and the last night for those trekkers going down the mountain. Its location is such that visitors can be able to access the site using all vehicles, this gives the site opportunities to school going children to visit the education center and learn about flora, fauna of the mountain,effects of receding glaciers as a result climate change, geology of the mountain and also the history of mountain climbing on the mountain. The current facilities in the mountain only offer lodging in dormitory facilities and there is no education facility which has resources on the mountain. Strategies to maintain thermal comfort of inhabitants include using composite wall, floor and roof systems, using hay as lagging material. Passive systems of using sun's energy in heating spaces and water for use within the facility and deflecting the wind from cooling interior spaces. Other outdoor activities that could take place from the ecolodge would be mountain bike climbing and team building activities.
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