The initial phase aims to reinvent &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta and redefine the classic Kenyan safari at &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp on the Masai Mara.
Leading experiential travel company &Beyond is committed to delivering extraordinary guest experiences, and, in line with this, the company has planned a considerable investment in its safari camps and lodges across Africa. The initial phase aims to reinvent &Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge in Botswana’s Okavango Delta and redefine the classic Kenyan safari at &Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp on the Masai Mara. Both lodges will be completely rebuilt and re-launched in July 2014 as part of &Beyond’s planned investment of ZAR 230 million (USD 23 million) into its luxury safari camps and lodges.
&Beyond Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge
&Beyond Sandibe will become the anchor lodge for &Beyond’s lodge circuit in the Delta. Guests can expect natural luxury, rich game viewing, and warm hospitality at each of the four Delta lodges.
The reconstruction of &Beyond Sandibe has been planned in four stages to minimize the impact on guests. Retaining the camp’s romantic, ethereal essence, the new design will draw its inspiration from nature, pioneering a new look that is serene, earthy, and organic. To emphasize its location on a private 62,000 acre wildlife concession in the Okavango Delta, &Beyond Sandibe’s shared guest areas will be moved forward and upward to maximize the views of the Santantadibe channel. The rebuild will also increase the number of guest suites from 8 to 15.
The 15 nest-like suites will be raised above the papyrus, camouflaged under the canopy of wild palms and fig trees. Each suite will boast a private plunge pool, as well as a fireplace for cool winter nights. Comfortable indoor and outdoor lounging spaces will include cozy nooks for private deck dining, and the interactive kitchen and unique interpretive naturalist library will keep guests entertained.
In keeping with &Beyond’s ethos of sustainable luxury, the new construction will remove all traces of concrete, as well as utilize the latest technology to decrease the camp’s footprint, with a total energy reduction of over 70%.
“The exciting new design will complement &Beyond Sandibe’s compelling location and rich game viewing experience. This renowned lodge will become our flagship property in the Delta allowing guests to explore our extraordinary Botswana circuit,” says Jason King, &Beyond Regional Director for Botswana and Namibia.
Eight of Sandibe’s new suites will open on July 1, 2014, with the remainder welcoming their first guests on September 1st.
&Beyond Kichwa Tembo Tented Camp
While preserving the rich history, romance, nostalgia, and classic safari charm that define &Beyond Kichwa Tembo, 28 of its tented suites and shared guest areas will take on a brand new look.
Complementing the camp’s enduring and timeless style, modular and contemporary guest areas will be designed to easily accommodate large numbers of guests in high season without losing the sense of intimacy in quieter periods. The camp will feature creative spaces for interactive food preparation, including its organic vegetable garden, which will become part of the guest experience.
One of the most celebrated features of &Beyond Kichwa Tembo is its extraordinary location and views of the surrounding private wildlife concession within the Masai Mara Game Reserve. By elevating some of the suites, more guests can enjoy the world-famous view; 22 suites will overlook the Mara, and six will sit in the forest canopy (with three of these forest suites also looking out over the Mara).
With the views very much the focus, the camp’s bar will benefit from an added level, while a dedicated open air ‘boma’ area will be reserved for interactive experiences with the local Maasai people. Guests will be able to explore the unique interpretive naturalist library and the re-designed Safari Shop showcasing the finest Kenyan crafts.
While 28 of the camp’s tented suites will be closed from October 15 to June 30, 2014, 12 luxury tents on the Sabaringo River will remain open throughout the rebuild, as will Kichwa Tembo’s sister lodge, &Beyond Bateleur Camp. Currently held bookings for Kichwa Tembo will be accommodated at one of those camps during the rebuild. The newly redesigned and rebuilt camp will open for guests from July 1, 2014, with a soft opening in late June 2014.
“Kichwa Tembo was one of the first and most iconic permanent tented camps in the Masai Mara, and a favorite of many. We are extremely excited by this innovative design put together by our architectural team, which will literally bring the amazing views to life, creating a visual and emotional connection between the guest and one of the most phenomenal wildlife areas in the world today. The fresh design concept has also allowed us to introduce some cutting edge ideas around sustainability and the guest experience, both of which have long been focus areas for &Beyond. The innovation continues inside as well, with unique features such as a butler hatch that will facilitate personalized wake-up calls with tea and coffee with minimum disturbance to the guest. We are confident that these features, alongside &Beyond’s renowned hospitality, will make eyond Kichwa the leading camp of its size in the Mara, Kenya and indeed East Africa,” says Mark Wheeler, &Beyond Regional Managing Director for East Africa and South Asia.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
