UNDERSTANDING THE EAST AFRICAN LUXURY TRAVEL MARKET
east Africa, in particular, is home to some of the most sought-after travel destinations in the world, and for good reason: the area boasts some of the most spectacular natural wonders on this planet. The Ngorongoro Crater, developed after a volcanic explosion of a mountain and a place that is now home to almost 24 000 animals, including one of the densest populations of Maasai lions. The great migration from the plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania to Maasai Mara in Kenya is one of the most incredible wildlife sights to behold. It is truly nature’s grandest spectacle, with around 1.5 million wildebeests and some 200 000 zebras crossing the terrain, with a backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro’s peak rising into the clouds.
Kenya is home to Africa’s biggest fresh water lake, Lake Victoria, and the warm Indian Ocean coastline is dotted with white sandy beaches and tropical forests. The Great Rift Valley stretches 6 400km from the Red Sea to Mozambique, forging canyons and great lakes through Kenya. Nairobi, Kenya’s bustling capital city, is a cosmopolitan melting pot of various cultures and the hub of commercial and economic activity.
In the 1920s, it became popular for the well-heeled and wealthy to visit Africa for leisure safaris and hunting expeditions. They returned home with exotic stories, photographs and trophies as proof of their adventures. The Norfolk Hotel is one of the landmark hotels that was built in Nairobi in 1904 and still stands today, owned and refurbished by global luxury brand, Fairmont resorts and hotels. The Mt. Kenya Safari Club, another grand Fairmount resort is located in Nanyuki. The 120 luxurious rooms reflect the 1950’s colonial architecture with the elegance of a country club and ambience of a plantation- style home, which was frequented
