28 Oct 2013

Elewana Collection Expands its Luxury Safari Footprint into the Masai Mara

ARUSHA, Tanzania – October 28^th 2013:  The recent opening of the Sand River Masai Mara bush camp marks the expansion of Elewana Collection’s luxury safari footprint into Kenya’s famed Masai Mara National Reserve.  The collection’s eighth property, Sand River Masai Mara is situated on the banks of a river from which it has taken its name, on the most northerly route of the Great Migration and close to the border of the Serengeti National Park.

The extraordinary annual Great Migration of over two million wildebeest and other grazing herbivores across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem is one of the greatest and well documented natural wonders of the world.  According to Elewana Collection’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Karim S. Wissanji, Sand River Masai Mara perfectly complements the strategic positioning of the collection’s luxurious tented camps in the Serengeti – Serengeti Migration Camp and Serengeti Pioneer Camp – to ensure exemplary and unfettered access to the African spectacular.  “The three camps are able to both track and then share knowledge of the migration’s exact location, thus maximising the all important game viewing opportunities and time.

“Sand River Masai Mara demonstrates all the qualities that have made the Elewana Collection the premier choice in East Africa”, he continued.  “With carefully crafted interior designs, exceptional standards of service and a sublime and carefully chosen location providing optimal access to the wildlife, the new camp creates an increased sense of exclusivity and privacy and will surely become the standard in Kenya to surpass.”

Comprising of sixteen tented accommodations, including a two-bedroom family suite, Sand River Masai Mara is divided into two separate adjoining campsites, each with its own dining and public areas.  The smaller six-tented camp is ideal for private groups and families.  The camp was designed and styled to reflect the heydays of exclusive, permanent tented camps of the 1920’s and 1930’s, with interior fixtures and furnishings creating a grandiose colonial mood that is reminiscent of the Hollywood movies that paid homage to this classic era of African adventure.

The unexpectedly large tented rooms have been carefully placed to endow guests with unlimited privacy and blend effortlessly into nature’s architecture.  Inside, hardwood floors and luxuriant rich furnishings reveal the epitome of old world safari style fused with contemporary luxury.  Each tented room has an en-suite bathroom, twin vanity basin and a flushing toilet.  Outside a furnished wooden deck area with affords sweeping wildlife panoramas across the Sand River.

Sand River Masai Mara is an ideal destination, at any time of the year, for those wishing to enjoy exceptional game viewing. The National Reserve is best known for its large concentrations of big cats, such as leopard, cheetah and lion.  “Even the dramatic arrival of the Annual Migration merely adds to an already abundant resident wildlife that awaits discovery”, said Wissanji.  Guests can set out on exhilarating journeys to track and follow the Great Migration with day game drives, or admire the African extravaganza from inspirational lofty heights as they soar into endless blue skies with a balloon safari. 

An exceptional feature of the Masai Mara National Reserve is its colourful inhabitants, the Masai – a proud semi nomadic, cattle rearing people with a fascinating culture.  The Masai are an ever-present reminder of the history and cultural heritage of this sublime and enigmatic landscape, and leave a lasting impression for all.

Sand River Masai Mara forms part of the Elewana Collection, a bespoke collection of camps and lodges in Tanzania and Kenya that have been carefully selected for their unique accommodations and iconic locations to provide unparalleled African wildlife-viewing opportunities with an emphasis on stylish and luxurious comfort.  In Kenya and Zanzibar, two boutique beach escapes complete the indulgently luxurious collection with hotels that are as unique in character and design as their idyllic locales.

Eight-day Kenyan Bush & Beach Getaway special offer:

To celebrate the opening of Sand River Masai Mara, Elewana Collection presents a special offer to discover its two Kenyan properties: Eight-day Kenyan Bush & Beach Getaway.

To the southeast of Sand River Masai Mara and south of Mombasa on Kenya’s coast, one of the world’s most beautiful beaches is graced by the AfroChic Diani Beach boutique hotel.  Situated on the white sands, AfroChic dazzles with views of exotic, ancient dhows in full sail and is as unique in character and design as its idyllic locale.

With three nights at Sand River Masai Mara and four nights at AfroChic Diani Beach, the special offer affords travellers to East Africa to conclude an extraordinary safari adventure with a bespoke beach holiday.  Starting from USD2,800 per person sharing, the special offer is valid until 20 December 2013 and includes accommodation in a tented room, game drives, all meals, non-alcoholic drinks and beers and laundry at Sand River Masai Mara; and accommodation in a Deluxe Ocean View room, two couples massages, all meals, non-alcoholic drinks and beers and laundry at AfroChic Diani Beach.  Return flights from Wilson Airport and internal airport transfers are also included.