How Could Local Traditions and Ways of Living Influence Tourist Experiences? Basecamp Explorer in Maasai Mara and Svalbard

This chapter presents and discusses the case of a wildlife resort company, Basecamp Explorer, which has established camps in different regions with quite diverse natural environmental conditions. This article focuses first of all on Basecamp Masai Mara (BCM) in Kenya (African context) and makes an additional comparison with Basecamp Spitsbergen (BCS) in the Arctic. In the case of both camps, local nature-based traditions have been a central theme, both for their sustainable tourism principles and for their experience. The manner in which the local traditions and values are represented, however, varies between the two base camps, and the chapter shall demonstrate how similar company philosophy could result in different experiential staging or framing, i.e. either substantial or symbolic experiences. This is highlighted in the first case by presenting the wildlife “through the eyes of the Maasais” and in the second case through traditions dating back to the hunting societies and arctic explorers in the past. The article is based on both interviews conducted with the owner, the management and staff in other positions as well as on own observations.