Kenya calls

Exclusive African Treasures director Deepa Darbar says that the market has 'picked up' in Kenya.

'We are all very optimistic,' she says. 'We can now see the interest and bookings coming in.'

Exclusive African Treasures is a sales, reservations and marketing company that promotes luxury wildlife breaks cross Kenya, and prides itself on being 'unrivalled in providing the highest level of service and personalised attention'.

'Kenya is a very versatile destination and we have die-hard fans throughout the world. Forward bookings are looking good. We have a large number of room/inventory now that wasn’t available many years ago, so we can cater to any demands that may come,' Darbar says.

The company currently has seven properties in its portfolio - Chui Lodge and Kiangazi House in Naivasha, Mutamaiyu House in Laikipia, Royal Mara Safari Lodge in Mara North Conservancy, The Majlis in Lamu, Lantana Galu Beach in South Coast Diani and Vipingo Ridge in Vipingo, Kilifi.

With so many flights operating into Kenya, the Middle East offers great potential as a source market, she says.

'However, I would like to see more people come to Kenya for leisure rather than business. We are the only country in the world that has a national wildlife park in the city. We also have the David Selkirk’s Baby Elephants Orphanage, and a Giraffe Centre, where you can feed the giraffes.

'We have 61 parks in Kenya, so you can experience something different and even if you were to visit the same park more than once, unlike the pyramids for example, the animals move!

'With a great domestic flight service, it is easy to get around, and not as expensive as perceived. Therefore, within the same day, you can experience the game park and then be at a beach resort!'

Flagship properties

Guests arriving into Nairobi by 4 pm should not spend the night there but go direct to Mombasa, where they can do a game drive the same night, she says.

The property in Laikipia, Mutamaiyu house, has six rooms only but it spans 49,000 acres. It is a working ranch, part of the Laikipia Predator Project, which means there are lionesses who are radio-collared.

'This is for their own safety but it also allows us to do the game drives in a totally different way too as you know where the lions are. You still have to look for them but when you do find them, you can see up to 20 to 24 lionesses with their cubs,' she says.

The Majlis is a hot favourite among Middle East visitors, partly because of its name. However, Darbar, would like to see more patrons from the Middle East come to Vipingo Ridge as this property has a golf course.

Lantana Galu Beach, meanwhile, is family friendly, highly rated on Trip Advisor and 'continuously wins awards'.

Darbar says that all these properties offer value for money and are well placed between the luxury products and the budget offerings.

'We are providing high-end services for a medium price, so people need to know there is an option,' Darbar says.

By Kim Thomson