While on holiday, you can help protect the natural resources of the area in which you travel. 

The greatest contribution to protecting the environment is made simply by obeying the rules and regulations within each protected area and respecting local traditions and cultures. 

Local cultures vary tremendously throughout Kenya.  With over 30 different tribes, each with their own traditions, beliefs, language and culture, it is not possible to learn all the cultural taboos during a short vacation.  However, below are a few general “Do’s and Don’ts” that will ensure you do not offend local custom, yet protect the environment throughout the region.

• Do not approach single African women or girls on the beach.
• Nudity or semi-nudity is not permitted. It is especially offensive to the Muslim community at the Coast. Topless sunbathing is illegal. Shorts, t-shirts, trousers, skirts and dresses are suitable for all other activities. Africa tends to be casual, and western dress is perfectly acceptable.
• Prostitution and drug abuse is illegal in Kenya and will result in imprisonment.
• Wherever you go, do not litter.  Please keep your rubbish with you until it may be disposed of properly. If you bring it into the area, take it out when you leave.
• Water is a precious resource throughout East Africa.  Please use water sparingly wherever possible, using simple actions such as turning off the tap while you brush your teeth.
• Please do not give sweets, gifts or money to children on the road, on the beach or in the villages. This encourages them to leave school and start begging and can lead to immoral activities and child exploitation. Gifts should be given out through a school reward scheme or by village elders. Speak to your hotel manager for advice.
• Electricity is expensive and in short supply. Please switch off the lights if you are not using them, or if you leave the area. 
• Never touch, chase or harass the wildlife or marine life.
• Do not take photographs without permission as it may offend.  Photography of airports or any government buildings is illegal. Save your film for the wildlife and cultural villages, where photos are encouraged.
• The elderly are well respected in Kenyan culture. When introduced to a local family, addressing the eldest member first generates an excellent rapport. 
• The floral and fauna within East Africa is often fragile and endangered.  You are requested not to collect any form of flora or fauna when on your safari, whether inside a National Park or not.  In particular, do not purchase any form of handicraft or souvenir that requires the death of an animal, such as shells, starfish, ivory, animal hides, bird eggs, etc. 
• Animals on the CITES protection list are numerous in East Africa. Trade in products made from these animals is illegal, encourages illegal trade, leads directly to poaching and will result in prosecution. Ivory, rhino horn, animal hides and sea turtle shells are all prohibited items.  If these items are offered to you at any time, please report the matter to the authorities immediately.
• Many local handicrafts are hand carved from indigenous trees.  Please ensure that you purchase carvings made from woods such as mango, neem and jacaranda trees.  Avoid the hard woods such as ebony and bamba kofi as these trees take centuries to grow and are now endangered through extensive forest cutting. 
• When purchasing your souvenirs and handicrafts, purchase the work of local craftsmen and artisans. Woven baskets, beadwork, jewellery, woodwork and cotton cloth are some of the more common handicrafts.  Most tribes have traditional designs, shapes and sizes, providing a wide variety from which to choose. 
• Do not touch, damage or remove coral. It is a fragile living organism, which takes many years to form. It is also host to many rare and endangered vertebrate and invertebrate species.
• It is illegal to remove shells, starfish or any other sea-flora and fauna, as it disrupts the eco-system. Empty shells provide homes for hermit crabs and some fishes, yet the areas outside the parks are threatened by excessive shell collection.
• Do not buy shells and other marine animal products as souvenirs, as this encourages further plundering of the reefs and beaches.
• Do not discard litter into the water; it is environmentally unfriendly and illegal.  Sea turtles can confuse plastic waste with jellyfish and will die if they eat the plastic.
• Hand feeding of fish is discouraged. Certain species are dangerous; it also disrupts natural feeding patterns.
• Hook and line fishing is allowed in the Marine Reserves, but not in Marine Parks.  Use of spear guns is illegal.
• Local conditions may vary.  The Kenya Wildlife Service wardens and rangers are there to assist and advise you; please comply with any order or direction given by the warden or any other officer in any park.
• Kiswahili is the language spoken by most people in East Africa. Originally developed on the coast from a mixture of the African Bantu languages and Arabic, this ancient trading language has become the common language or all the tribes in the area.  Learning a few words of Swahili allows better communication and helps to build a rapport with the people you meet on safari.

Hotels Code of Conduct

• Hotels should ensure guests are given the Visitors Code of Conduct
• Hotels should ensure that hotel shops do not carry the same items as the local traders.
• Hotels and licensed beach operators should work together where possible – e.g. Using WABO boats where possible.
• Hotel security staff should offer assistance when illegal activities are pointed out by beach operators, by calling the Police/KWS.
• Hotels to work with the beach operators to ensure the beaches are kept clean.
• Hotels are to advise their clients to deal only with the registered and licensed, uniformed beach operators.
• Hotels to follow and respect employment and immigration laws and regulations. 
• There should be no discrimination of public entry to hotels, so long as regulations are followed.  However, management reserves the right of admission.

Beach Operators Code of Conduct

The Beach Operators WILL:

• Proactively take part in sales training as offered by Hotel Managers.
• Always wear and show a License for Beach Operation with the government seal.
• Always wear appropriate uniform.
• Assist with all beach cleanup exercises for rubbish and assist the hotels with the removal of dangerous articles found.
• Assist with the problem of the Beach Boys and amount of unregistered personnel by asking for ID from those who do not hold permits for working on Watamu Beaches.
• Allow their clients to browse in their shops without pressure to buy.
• Assist with the removal of children from the beach during school hours and stop children begging from beach clientele.
• Advise police and authorities of any unauthorized persons doing “business” on the beach.
• Work with the authorities to keep lists and licenses up to date for their members and provide lists to the hotels and police.
• Suggest and improve ways to make the tourists feel more welcome to the beaches of Watamu.
• Maintain good working relationships with the hotels.
• Take part in any local initiatives working in conjunction with the hotels to improve the tourist industry.
• Try to speak to clients in their own language and not make jokes in other languages that the guests will not understand.
• Take ‘No thank you’ for an answer the first time.
• Report cases of corruption to the authorities and WMA.

The Beach Operators will NOT:

• Allow unauthorized methods of licensing to happen within the Watamu area/zone.
• Harass and annoy the hotel clients and tourists on our beaches.
• Follow or abuse tourists on the beach and make them feel uncomfortable.
• Approach single women or girls on the beach.
• Call out names to the tourists or give any guests verbal abuse.
• Shout up to tourists who are in the safe haven of their hotels.
• Copy goods sold within the hotel shops.
• Trade within the hotels grounds without invitation.