*As seen in The Logbook
For over a decade and a half, Natural World Kenya Safaris have been providing safari tours and local excursions to travelers from around the world to share the sublime beauty that is East Africa. Covering Kenya, Tanzania and other safari hotspots the company deals with over 2600 safaris annually and has one of the best rankings on Tripadvisor.
WHO ARE THEY?
Natural World Kenya Safaris are a holiday safari tour operator who take great pride in offering local excursions covering Kenya, Tanzania and other safari hotspots throughout Africa. Since 2002, they have been offering value-for-money Kenyan only and combined Kenya & Tanzania safari tour packages that have kept countless guests enthralled.
Tours set off from several locations including the Kenyan safari capital, Nairobi, as well as coastal beach areas in Mombasa, Diani, Watamu and Malindi. Each safari tour is designed to be affordable and tailorable to suit your holiday budget whilst still providing the African adventure experience of a lifetime. Since 2012 to 2018 they have been Awarded the Trip Advisor “Certificate of Excellence,” and continue to receive many positive reviews from safari participants.
Speaking with owner Humphrey Ndara, we dove into what has given Natural World Kenya Safaris the competitive edge in a crowded market space.
“Value and opportunity,” he reveals, “We aim to be affordable and offer great value for money so everyone has the chance to see the East African horizon like it should be seen.”
The main services include safari tour logistics in Kenya and Tanzania which entails safari accommodation bookings, tour transport, tour guiding and general destination assistance services. There is a lot that goes into creating the perfect safari package and Humphrey reveals that it isn’t something that was learnt overnight.
“It has taken us sixteen years to build the business,” he says, “It’s grown to a fully-fledged tour operator with sixty members of staff, a fleet of fourty 4×4 safari jeeps and ten tour minivans all fitted with pop-up tops. Offices at both Nairobi and Mombasa complete the set up.”
ACCOMMODATION
Working with a range of clients including individuals, couples and groups both large and small. Natural World Kenya Safaris have had to cultivate flexible relationships with a number of accommodation providers along their tour routes to meet the requirements of their guests.
“It’s no little thing,” he says, “Where you lay your head at night when you go to sleep can be as important as the safari adventure of the day. Our safaris are a combination of adventure and luxury. A day filled with amazement and wonder and a deep, satisfying night’s sleep. That’s what makes a great safari experience.”
And, every safari brings with it a group of people with different tastes in where they would like to stay. Some liking hotels and others favoring safari lodges or tented camps. A list of appropriate, high quality accommodation sites has been curated over the last sixteen years by the staff at Natural World Kenya Safaris to keep the guests never wanting for that perfect night sleep.
THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL SAFARI BUSINESS
Humphrey is an industry player and makes sure that he keeps up to date with what is happening in tourism, travel and hospitality.
“We keep abreast of prevailing trends in the tourism industry and we also keep up with the present and future technology and other developing needs,” he says, “We formed the business because we were passionate about tourism and safaris and we want to stay ahead of the game as much as possible.”
According to Humphrey, consistency is the secret to running a good touring business. While it may not seem it on the surface, the touring and safari industry surfs a tide of changes both economic and political in the countries where they are based. Sometimes this affects capital and resources, other times it disrupts human capital but as long as a business approaches it with consistent effort, creativity and above all passion these challenges can be overcome.
“When the business was first set up the main challenges were inadequate resource and human capital,” he says, “But we overcame them by offering the best that was possible at the time and improving a little bit on every opportunity. Learning and improving consistently is how we have become the company we are today.”
SOCIALS
To reach out to clients new and old, engage with industry partners, to comment on current events and to be involved in the going-ons of the travel industry in Kenya, requires a dedicated marketing approach. Humphrey’s marketing staff spend approximately two hours a day on social media and they can be contacted on all the major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and blogs.
“Social media is an important tool because you can connect with people on a deeper level than merely by email or phone,” he says, “It is a resource to attract new clients and engage our marketplace and keep ourselves relevant.”
SAFARIS OFFERED
For a client to select the perfect safari, many things need to be taken into consideration. Specifically, the main question to ask is: what is it that they want to experience? The fact is that East Africa is just too large to be able to fit everything into a single tour, even if that tour was several weeks long. As the song goes, “there is more to see than can ever be seen, and more to do than can ever be done.”
The sorts of tours that Natural World Kenya Safaris offer include safaris that deal with wildlife, landscape and culture. Mountain trekking safaris, holiday and beach extensions and the very popular photography safaris.
“We usually integrate elements of all of these tours into one package,” Humphrey says, “Allowing a well-rounded experience that will hopefully have the guest wanting more.”
WHAT CAN A CLIENT EXPECT?
Safari tours are divided into three main categories:
Short-haul safaris: Range from 1-3 days
Medium length safaris: Range from 4-6 days
Long-haul safaris: Range from 7-14 days
On average the tours last for seven days and each tour follows a set structure to take full advantage of time. A tour participant is collected from their hotel and they go straight to the safari. Meals such as breakfast, lunch and dinner are offered during the safari and they sleep overnight at one of the accommodations such as a lodge or luxury tented camp. At the end of the safari the client is returned safely to their hotel with a deeper appreciation for this wonderful and unique region of the world.
5 NATIONAL PARKS, “SAFARI KENYA”, FROM NAIROBI TO NAIROBI
This tour departs and returns to either the Nairobi airport or the area hotels. Using a pop-up 4×4 Land Cruiser Jeep the seven-day tour covers the Amboseli National Park, Rift Valley Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru and the Masaai Mara.
Easy paced drives and well staggered safari overnights make this a friendly safari tour for all including family or seniors. Two nights are spent at the Amboseli which is located at the floor of Mount Kilimanjaro. From there the tour progresses to the Rift Valley stopping at Lake Naivasha where the third night is spent. At Lake Naivasha guests get the chance for a boat ride to see the small game and Africa’s most dangerous animal, the hippo.
While still at the Lake Naivasha, the tour visits the nearby Hell’s Gate National Park on a short bicycle ride. From there, the tour proceeds to the Lake Nakuru National Park to view the endangered rhino and other wildlife and birdlife. Or, a visit to Lake Bogoria can be arranged instead to view the flamingos that are frequently seen in sizeable numbers here.
The World famous Maasai Mara game reserve is the last stop with two nights and days of wildlife viewing, including drives to search for The Big five.
On this safari tour accommodation is suggested in a selection of economy, comfort or luxury safari lodges and tented camps depending on budget and style.
Transport is in private pop up top 4 x 4 Land Cruiser jeep.
Natural World Kenya Safaris
ADDRESS: Natural World Kenya Safaris, Pioneer House, Kenyatta Avenue, First Floor, Next to I&M Building, P.O. Box 5036 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
Natural World Kenya Safaris, Diamond Trust Bank Building, First Floor, Moi Avenue, P.O. Box 89946, Mombasa, Kenya.
WEBSITE: www.naturaltoursandsafaris.com
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Cell: +254 700 372 169
Cell: +254 788 287 151
Cell: +254 720 367 334
Cell: +254 720 894 288 (24 hrs)
Tel: +254 41 2226715
Tel: +254 202 216 830
EMAIL:
info@naturaltoursandsafaris.com
