Great Rift Valley Association of Tour Operators - GRATO

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

07/08/2026

Let's adventure ✨️

07/08/2026

Twende Lake Nakuru National Park this Wild August 2026!
Discover remarkable wildlife and create unforgettable memories.

📸 Snap the moments. Share on your socials and tag Kenya Wildlife Service using
for a chance to win a free entry at a KWS park.

Plan your visit today👉🏽 kws.go.ke

07/08/2026

Kenya Wildlife Service 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄:
𝐔𝐏𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐈-𝐊𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐘𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐌

07/08/2026

🌍 BRIDGING THE GAP: How PPDP Phase II & GRATO are Empowering Local CBTOs! 🚀🤝

Ever wondered how grassroots community tourism actually hooks up with massive international safari networks? It takes a powerful mix of institutional backing and real,on-the-ground business linkages!
Here is exactly how the PPDP Phase II Project and Great Rift Valley Association of Tour Operators - GRATO are teaming up to transform Community-Based Tourism Organizations (CBTOs) across Kajiado, Narok, and Nakuru counties:
💡 1. From Training to Hard Cash Contracts.
While ForumCiv Eastern & Southern Africa provides the funding and the Rights Way Forward framework to train CBTOs in financial management and governance, GRATO brings the buyers! GRATO introduces these newly polished community groups directly to major tour operators and hoteliers—sealing fair, direct commercial contracts that cut out exploitative middlemen.📉

2. Crushing the "Low Season" SlumpThe project focuses on long-term financial resilience. GRATO uses its massive network to co-create and market regional eco-tourism packages that highlight local CBTO experiences year-round. This keeps the income flowing into the communities even during traditional off-peak months.

🌟 3. Matching Global StandardsThrough PPDP Phase II, CBTOs receive top-tier hospitality and customer service benchmarking. GRATO ensures these standards are maintained on the ground. This gives international safari operators the 100% confidence they need to book community homesteads, local guides, and conservancy campsites

01/08/2026

On Point!

🎞️ to an inspiring sentiment from our Chairperson, Angela Njehia, at our 2026 Ecotourism Kenya Sustainable Tourism Forum:

🗣️The challenges facing our industry are significant, but so too are the opportunities. By working together, we can build a tourism sector that creates prosperity, conserves our unique natural and cultural heritage, uplifts communities, and serves as a model of sustainability for the world.

01/08/2026

01/08/2026

01/08/2026

PPDP Phase 2 project Implemented by GRATO with support from ForumCiv

The Great Rift Valley Association of Tour Operators - GRATO, with support from ForumCiv Eastern & Southern Africa through the Public Private Development Partnership (PPDP Phase II Project), has successfully implemented a series of capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening Community-Based Tourism Organizations (CBTOs) across Nakuru County and the wider Great Rift Valley region.

The process began with the Rights Way Forward (RWF) training, which focused on equipping CBTO members with essential advocacy, life skills, including gender equality, reproductive health awareness, leadership, and responsible decision-making. This training laid a strong social foundation by promoting inclusivity, dignity, and empowerment among youth, women, and persons with disabilities involved in tourism.

This was followed by Governance and Formalization training, which supported CBTOs in establishing structured leadership systems, improving accountability, and enhancing compliance with legal and operational requirements. The training emphasized the importance of strong governance frameworks to ensure sustainability and credibility of community tourism enterprises.

To enhance competitiveness in the modern tourism market, CBTOs were further trained on Digital Marketing, where participants gained practical skills in online branding, social media promotion, content creation, and use of digital tools to reach wider markets. This has significantly improved the visibility of CBTO tourism products and services.

GRATO also facilitated Exposure and Learning opportunities during the Nakuru Agricultural Show, where CBTOs showcased their tourism products, cultural experiences, and local innovations. This platform enabled direct market access, networking with stakeholders, and learning from other exhibitors, thereby strengthening their confidence and market readiness.

Additionally, CBTOs participated in Tourism Product Development and Marketing Strategies training, which focused on packaging unique, market-driven tourism experiences, pricing, quality improvement, and customer satisfaction. The training empowered CBTOs to develop attractive, sustainable, and competitive tourism products aligned with current market demands.

Overall, these interventions have significantly contributed to building resilient, inclusive, and market-ready CBTOs, while promoting synergy, networking, and sustainable tourism development within the region.

CBTOS Involved
1. Karunga Women group - Elburgon
2. Koibatek Ecoguides self help Group - Sachagwan
3. Menengai Forest Ecoguides - Nakuru
4. Boat riders /owners - Karagita and Kamere
5. Tourguides - Hell's gate
6. Mariashoni Community Development Organization - Mariashoni
7. Sisterhood for people with Disability - Bahati
8. Blessings self help group - Nakuru West
9. Langalanga horticulture/ agrotourism group - Gilgil