Responsible Tourism Policy

Effective Date: 27/7/2026


At Mt Kenya Trekking Expeditions, we believe travel should be enjoyable and memorable while respecting the environment, local communities, wildlife, culture, and people who make Kenya a special destination.
Our Responsible Tourism Policy brings together the principles that guide our approach to sustainable and respectful travel.

1. Respect for People and Communities

We encourage Guests to interact respectfully with local communities and to appreciate local cultures, traditions, customs, and ways of life.
We do not support discrimination, exploitation, harassment, abuse, or disrespectful treatment of local people, employees, guides, porters, drivers, or other service providers.

2. Supporting Local Economies

Where practical, we aim to support local businesses and employment through local guides, porters, cooks, drivers, accommodation providers, suppliers, and other tourism service providers.
We encourage Guests to support locally owned businesses and purchase locally made products where appropriate.

3. Protecting the Environment

Guests are expected to help protect the natural environments we visit.
This includes avoiding littering, reducing unnecessary waste, conserving water and energy, respecting trails, and avoiding damage to plants, habitats, geological features, and other natural resources.

4. Wildlife Responsibility

Wildlife should always be observed responsibly.
Guests must follow the instructions of their guides and relevant authorities and should not feed, chase, touch, provoke, harass, or otherwise interfere with wild animals.

5. Respect for Protected Areas

Guests must follow the rules and instructions applicable to national parks, reserves, conservancies, forests, mountains, and other protected or managed areas.
Kenya's tourism framework regulates tourism activities, while environmental legislation provides a framework for sustainable management and protection of natural resources.

6. Cultural Respect

Guests are encouraged to ask permission before photographing people, homes, ceremonies, or culturally sensitive activities.
We encourage respectful interaction rather than treating communities or cultural practices merely as tourist attractions.

7. Children and Vulnerable Persons

We support the protection and dignity of children and vulnerable persons.
Guests should never engage in inappropriate, exploitative, or unsafe interactions with children or vulnerable people during a trip.

8. Responsible Photography

Photography and filming should be undertaken with consideration for privacy, dignity, safety, wildlife, and local customs.
Guests should obtain appropriate permission before taking identifiable photographs of individuals where reasonably required.

9. Fair and Ethical Travel

We discourage activities involving exploitation, trafficking, forced labour, illegal wildlife trade, or other forms of abuse.
We encourage Guests to report serious concerns to our team or appropriate authorities.

10. Guest Responsibility

Responsible tourism is a shared responsibility. Guests are encouraged to:
  • Respect people and local cultures.
  • Follow environmental and protected-area rules.
  • Keep natural areas clean.
  • Respect wildlife.
  • Use water and energy responsibly.
  • Support local businesses.
  • Follow guide and safety instructions.
  • Avoid exploitative or harmful tourism activities.
  • Treat guides, porters, drivers, staff, and fellow Guests with respect.

11. Continuous Improvement

Mt Kenya Trekking Expeditions recognizes that responsible tourism is an ongoing process.
We will continue to review our operations and identify reasonable ways to improve our environmental, social, cultural, and economic contribution to the destinations in which we operate.