Just before Africa’s largest Travel Show Indaba South Africa, the Kempinski top management revealed ambitious plans for the group during the 2008 Arabian Travel Market (ATM) taking place at the Dubai International Conference and Exhibition Centre from May 6 to 9.
Kempinski Hotels has announced its intention to become a clear market leader in Africa, leading global tourism’s foray into the rapidly evolving continent with an unrivalled portfolio of diverse luxury properties – from spectacular city hotels and beach resorts to exotic eco forest retreats and game park lodges.
In a bid to get a firm foothold in Africa, the established luxury hoteliers have signed a number of management contracts since last year’s ATM, implementing a strategic expansion across the African heartland and consolidating its position as the leading provider of luxurious hospitality experiences.
Last year’s announcement of new properties in Namibia and Tanzania generated a lot of buzz in the tourism industry in the region, heralding a travel and tourism boom in the continent. This year, Kempinski have set their sights on Rwanda, where in collaboration with Dubai World Africa, they are currently developing four properties in the country, one city hotel and three new luxurious lodges, which we will begin to unveil from 2009 onwards.
Located in picturesque Akagera National Park in Rwanda, Kempinski Akagera Lodge promises a memorable escape into Rwanda’s stirring landscape decked by magnificent hills and impressive natural reserves.
Back in the hotel, guests can relax in the luxurious lodge’s 80 well-appointed rooms and suites, or unwind in the restaurant or at the bar by the poolside.
This amazing property also features a spa, a gym and a tennis court for complete recreation and rejuvenation. Phase one is up for completion in December 2008, while phase two is scheduled for unveiling in March 2009.
Heading north towards the Parc des Volcans Kempinski Lodge Gorilla Mountain sits amidst a magnificent mountain range – home of the rare mountain gorilla and the famed Virunga volcanoes.
From the hotel, guests can engage in an adventurous trek across the foothills, before entering the Parc National des Volcans where an exhilarating encounter with rare golden monkeys and mountain gorilla awaits hotel guests.
At the Kempinski Lodge Gorilla Mountain, guests are given a choice of 30-40 exquisitely designed and furnished rooms, as well as a chance to relax in the spa with five treatment rooms. Based on the park’s appeal and with the addition of its conference facilities, the lodge is a perfect site for incentive travel or conferences and exhibitions.
A trip down south leads to the Kempinski Nyungwe Rainforest Lodge located close to the famous Nyungwe National Park, the largest strip of mountain forests in Central Africa that boasts floral diversity as well as 200 different types of trees and thirteen species of primates, including mankind’s nearest of kin in the evolution change, the chimpanzee.
Kempinski Nyungwe Rainforest Lodge is currently in the development stage and once completed in June 2009, it will have 27 luxury forest rooms recreating the ambience of the surrounding rain forests. It also features a conference room and food & beverage outlets, in addition to a fully-equipped spa and conference facilities, ideal for unrivalled MICE opportunities from the Middle Eastern and European markets.
In the capital of Rwanda, Kempinski Hotel Kigali is planned to have a spa, extensive banquet facilities, approximately 150 rooms, 300 golf villa’s and 18 hole non-branded golf course. The colonial villa style hotel is set to become the social centre of the city and is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2010. This will definitely challenge the Serena group who has now with Serena Kigali the only real 5star property in Rwanda.
In Tanzania, a stunning luxury lodge will open within the Serengetti National Park in late 2008, with another equally impressive lodge in the Ngoro Ngoro Crater following shortly after, while also land in Arusha has been purchased.
Building a collection of stunning beach properties is also part of the group’s African development safari, which was initiated with the magnificent Djibouti Palace Kempinski in 2006, followed closely by Zamani Zanzibar Kempinski. Both deluxe oceanfront hotels have a very distinctive style – one opulent and regal, the other tropical and luxuriously exotic.
Elsewhere in Africa, Kempinski’s expansion plans are under way, with projects in their final phases of negotiations. Once finalised, Kempinski Hotels will have further boosted its leadership status, with exotic and luxurious properties in such enticing destinations as Comores Islands, Egypt, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Madagascar, Sudan, Nigeria, Mauritius, Mauritania, Burundi and many more.
The aim of Onsea House is to offer a comparable culinary and accommodation standard to guests travelling to or from Kempinski properties in East Africa, however at a more intimate scale. Ask info@onseahouse.com if you want to include Kempinski properties in your East African Safari.