SEGERA OPENS NAIROBI OFFICE
(Posted 19th October 2014)
Conservancies, especially those with close links if not outright partnerships with the local communities, are of late seen as one of the saviours of wildlife based tourism and a recipe of future success in percolating tourism benefits directly to the community grassroots through added job opportunities and financial returns, i.e. royalties and ground rent, which can sustain a range of social benefits like access to clean water, additional educational and health facilities and more.
While the main and best known conservancies in Kenya are mainly located in the northern part of the country, Lewa Down and the surrounding new conservancies being a case in point, are the Laikipia plains not far behind with Ol Pejeta leading the way in that part of the country. An entire buffer zone of conservancies has emerged around the Masai Mara Game Reserve and similar developments have been reported here in the past about the greater Amboseli area and areas adjoining the Tsavo West National Park.
The Segera conservancy, at the centre of the sprawling Laikipia plains, is with about 50.000 acres of community land not the largest but certainly a major conservancy by any standards and through its links with the Zeitz Foundation – reported here some weeks ago – and other partners ideally positioned to make a difference for the people of the area..
Segera subscribes like several others to the 4C’s, being Community, Commerce, Culture and Conservation and the retreat they created is helping to create the cashflow to sustain the conservancy itself.
The opening of an office in Nairobi last week will go a long way to bring Segera closer to the main market place, where all the conservancies and the properties on them are competing for travelers and their money and Jens Kozany, GM of the Segera Retreat which comprises 10 rooms in 8 villas, had this to say when launching their Nairobi presence: ‘I am proud to announce the opening of a dedicated sales and reservations office in Nairobi. It is already in full operation and based at Nairobi Business Park. Our Nairobi presence is aimed at growing relationships with local trade partners and providing a more efficient enquiries and booking service’.
For added information on Segera and Segera’s partners click on any of the following sites: www.segera.com www.wildernesscollection.com www.thelongrun.com www.zeitsfoundation.org
3 Responses
Community conservancies, such as Amu Ranch and the NRT project in Pate, the Manda Conservancy and the Manda Toto (Marine) Conservancy, are also protecting large areas in Lamu.
Your comment is much appreciated as it shows how this concept has taken root across Kenya. Thanks for reading my blog.
W.
And, if I may ask, what is the status of the Lamu Cultural Festival – I met some of the Lamu County staff at MKTE2014 and they promised to get back to me with details but no response inspite of some follow up. Perhaps you can assist?
W.