KENYA SAFARI OPERATORS GUIDE 2014-15 Contents General KATO Kenya Safari Operators Guide 3 KATO CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD 11 MICE is published by: Tourism Board joins Kenya Builds on success forces wiTh KaTo in of MICE secTor promoTing Kenya 12 NairobI by DAy and by NIght 4 KATO CHAIRMAns FOREWORD nairoBi – The african sTRONGER TEAMWORK IS word for joie de vivre PAYING DIVIDENDS 13 Mount KenyA 5 MessagE from KATO ceo peaK of perfecTion for KATO, the association of mainstream whaT are The BenefiTs hardy Trekkers tour operators in Kenya. of using The serVices of 14 Green season a Tour operaTor? ISSN 1754-4807 green season offers 6 LOCATION kenyA greaT Value ©2013 KATO 7 INTRODUCTION 15 AgroTourism a symBol of qualiTy and hands-on holidays giVe Design and layout by: reassurance new BoosT To Tourism Land & Marine Publications Ltd 8 Safari Options 16 Sports Tourism 1 Kings Court, Newcomen Way so many greaT ways To from aThleTics To game Severalls Business Park, Colchester enjoy specTacular Kenya fishing – iT’s a sporTing Essex CO4 9RA, UK Ecotourism mecca Tel: +44 (0)1206 752902 10 Fax: +44 (0)1206 842958 green agenda is iTem one 17 Lamu E-mail: [email protected] for Tourism secTor Kenya’s own ZanZiBar Website: www.landmarine.com moVes aT a Tranquil pace The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor nor Features of any other organisation associated with this publication. 18 African Horizons 35 WildTrek Safaris No liability can be accepted for any 19 Somak Safaris 37 HemingwayS Expeditions inaccuracies or omissions. 20 Fidex Car Hire LIberty Africa SAFARIS 21 TwigA Tours 39 Mombasa Air Safari Cover picture: Hot Air Balloon hovers over Amicabre Travel Services 23 SOUTHERN CROSS SAFARIS (nairobI) the winding Mara River in the Masai Mara Safari Destinations Reserve, Kenya. 25 pRIVATE SAFARIS 41 UniglobE Silverbird Travel 27 Southern Cross Safaris (mombasa) Gamewatchers Safaris Other photographs supplied by: 29 KObO SAFARIS Dan Messmer 43 KenyA Wildlife Trails Anna Omelchenko (Shuttershock.com) 31 pOllman’S tours & safaris Elsamere 33 Balloon Safaris Printed by: Buxton Press Ltd View this publication online: MeMber listinGs http://www.issuu.com/Landmarine/docs/kato_2014?e=1056874/5031791 44 Corporate members 56 Category C Members 46 members index 60 Category D Members 48 Category A Members 68 Category E Members 54 Category b Members 87 Associate / Affiliate members 1 Foreword Tourism Board joins forces wiTh KaTo in promoTing Kenya ollowing a peaceful and successful general election in Kenya early this year under the new constitution, the f restructuring of government ministries placed tourism under the Ministry of east african affairs, Commerce and tourism. The government has further set targets geared towards raising the overall contribution of tourism as part of the country’s economic growth. For the Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), the challenge is to grow international arrivals to 3 million in the next few years. To achieve the targets set for the industry, KTB continues to work closely with the private sector bodies including the Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO), especially in marketing. Over the years, KATO has grown in terms of its membership and credibility due to the stringent vetting and binding agreements that are made between the Association and its members. There We take this opportunity to thank KATO members who have has been a deliberate effort by KATO to ensure that all the continued to work closely with KTB and participated in the members are bound by a code of conduct that ensures, among annual Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) over the last two other things, a sense of integrity and quality service to the editions. We are certain that the numbers in participation this clients that they serve. This we fully support. year will soar as the event grows to a global level. We take this opportunity to encourage as many tour operators WINNING TEAM as possible to join industry umbrella bodies like KATO which The membership drives by KATO in various regions of the country gives them an edge in doing business across many markets are an opportunity that will now see the Association introduced to due to enhanced credibility. With the regularising of the the new county governments through renewed vigour by existing industry now under way through various Ministry initiatives, tour operators wishing to be part of a winning team. it is important for tour businesses to operate within credible associations such as KATO. At the KTB Magical Kenya website, we have only hosted bona fide KATO members. This enhances their credibility as well as opening Finally, I invite you to savour details from some of the region’s an avenue for them to do business with other global players. best tour operators as contained in this guide. As Kenya looks to host key tourist events including the World Asante sana. Travel Awards (WTA), we encourage KATO members to tap into Muriithi Ndegwa the destination profiling that comes with hosting this event. OgW 3 KATO ChairMan’s Foreword Stronger Team worK is paying diVidends t is my pleasure to present to are closely monitored during the overall objective of bringing together of the list is to explore the viability of iyou the fifth edition of the KATO election period and any concerns that national apex tourism bodies within instituting the Professional Indemnity safari operators’ Guide. this Guide would affect tourists are reported East Africa and identifying barriers (Errors and Omissions) Cover, which continues to be a very useful tool for immediately. The citizens of Kenya did affecting the business environment. would go a long way to protecting destination marketing and it is our our country proud and demonstrated This entails engaging in dialogue with KATO members and their clients in the commitment to continue publishing that we could conduct a complex the national governments of East normal course of doing business. The it into the foreseeable future. election in an atmosphere of peace. African Community (EAC) member Bond Scheme begun in 2010 continues states and advocating for change in to grow stronger and a PI cover would The year 2013 has been a very public policy. A key success has been be a natural additional. We are also challenging one for Kenya. The Partnership the decision to have a Single Tourism concentrating on training and several first quarter saw the very peaceful KATO has continued to work Visa for Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda areas of service enhancement will be general elections that ushered in in partnership with all the key with effect from January 2014. Other undertaken. a new government. KATO joined stakeholders in an effort to promote EAC countries are expected to join the hands with other stakeholders to tourism not only in Kenya but also initiative at a later date. In conclusion, I wish to remind all help with the traditional election within the region. intending visitors once again about monitoring through the Kenya Within KATO, we will continue to how important it is to book their Tourism Federation’s Safety and A notable avenue of cooperation has explore ways and means of enhancing safaris through registered and licensed Communication Centre. This is geared been through the newly formed East the customer experience and a tour operators. This Guide offers a to ensuring that all the tourism circuits African Tourism Platform, which has the number of projects are lined up. Top wide variety from which to choose. 4 MessaGe FroM KATO Ceo whaT are The BenefiTs of using The serVices of a Tour operaTor? ver the years, vast strides have what to expect and can substantially refund. This option is not available for been made in several aspects of help to improve your overall ‘DIY’ holidays. o leisure travel. Most significant has been experience. the growth of IT and communication, Emergency assistance: In the unlikely which allows one to virtually sample Safety/assurance: Tour operators by event of an emergency, visitors the holiday product and make all the virtue of product knowledge are able travelling with a tour operator have necessary travel arrangements online. to provide an environment of safety for someone on hand to take care of all the visitors. Different parts of the country details. On a self-organised holiday, one This has on occasion led to the question offer different challenges and your tour would be pretty much on their own. that some intending holidaymakers operator is able to effectively guide you ask: Why do I need a tour operator to through your holiday. It is becoming increasingly clear that organise my holiday for me? despite the growth of information Convenience/stress-free: A holiday technology, there is still a place for the As easy as it may seem to put together can at times have several components tour operator in leisure travel. Tour a holiday overseas, there are still some that might require precision timing – operators however continue to ensure very valid reasons why you should for example, local air travel. Your tour that they continually provide ‘value entrust the process to a tour operator: operator will be able to offer seamless added’ services so that their role goes connections from one location to beyond merely what the travellers can ‘Asante sana, karibu Kenya.’ Value for money: Tour operators, by the other. This greatly minimises any do on their own. virtue of the volumes they occasionally inconveniences and should local Adam Jillo handle, are able to get the best rate conditions change, your tour operator Fred Kaigua Chairman , Kenya Association of for most of the components of the can make alternative arrangements based Chief Executive, Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO) holiday package.