jacaranda plus magazine - issue 1
DESCRIPTION
The in-room magazine for Jacaranda Hotels Kenya, published by Land & Marine Publications Kenya Ltd.TRANSCRIPT
ISSUE ONE I 2012-13 I www.jacarandahotels.com
ZUMBAfi tnessCRAZE SWEEPS NAIROBI
Lake ElementaitaBIRDLIFE SPECTACLE ATNATURE+
DIANIBOUNDA RICH MAN’S PLAYGROUND
A FRESH NEW LOOK FOR OUR FINE RANGE OF HOTELS
WELCOME
I ISSUE 01 I 1
Dear guest,
As chairman of Jacaranda Hotels Kenya, it
gives me great pleasure to welcome you
to the fi rst edition of our new magazine,
Jacaranda Plus.
Over the last few years we have trans-
formed Jacaranda Hotels and driven our
properties into the 21st century.
One of our key aims and objectives is
to ensure that all our properties have
a competitive edge in what is a highly
competitive local hospitality sector, and I
believe that we are achieving this.
I am delighted to report that our expe-
rienced management team is offering a
world-class service for our guests and that
we continue to provide these services on a
value-for-money basis.
I would like to wish all our guests a happy
and enjoyable stay at Jacaranda Hotels.
Kung’u Gatabaki
Chairman
Jacaranda Hotels Kenya
ONE OF OUR KEY OBJECTIVESIS TO ENSURE THAT ALL OUR PROPERTIES HAVE A COMPETITIVE EDGE
CONTENTS
2 I www.jacarandahotels.com
A publication of Jacaranda Hotels and designed by
Land & Marine PubLications (KenYa) LtdSuite A5, 1st floor, Ojijo Plaza Plums Lane, off Ojijo Road, Parklands
PO Box 2022, Village Market 00621, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 (0)20 374 1934 Cell: +254 (0)722 731 003
E-mail: [email protected] www.landmarine.com
Contributing Editor: Denis Gathanju Sales Manager: Linda Gakuru
Photo credits: Denis Gathanju, Jacaranda Hotels, Shutterstock
The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the editor, or any other organisation associated with this publication. No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omissions.
©2012 Land & Marine Publications (Kenya) Ltd
16
CONTENTS
I ISSUE 01 I 3
Contents ISSUE ONE
6
22
36
26
04 Foreword More reasons than ever to enjoy
your stay with us
06 nature+ Birdlife spectacle at Lake Elementaita
10 Kekopey Ranch Larger-than-life tale of resort’s
blue-blooded creator
13 News Briefs Latest news from the world
of Jacaranda
16 Diani A rich man’s playground
33 The Hon. James Njenga Karume
Rise and rise of the charcoal burner
36 Kiambu Golf Club Spectacular tournament keeps
golfing traditions alive
38 Jacaranda Hotels Index
39 Location Map
40 Hotel Profiles
21 Eating Out The Go Places Chef’s Delight Awards
22 sport+ touch rugby Touch rugby event puts Diani
Beach on world map
24 business+ Westlands is a growing business hub
26 sport+ Volleyball Bouncing with health – and
reaching for victory
28 Fitness+ Zumba Zumba craze sweeps Nairobi
It gives me great pleasure to welcome
you to the fi rst edition of Jacaranda
Plus, the corporate and in-room magazine
of the Jacaranda Group.
For those who are unfamiliar with it, the
Jacaranda Group comprises three hotels:
the fl agship Jacaranda Hotel in Nairobi; the
exotic Indian Ocean Beach Resort at Diani,
on Kenya’s south coast; and the colonial-
style Lake Elementaita Lodge in the Great
Rift Valley.
In addition, the group embraces non-hotel
interests such as Pizza Garden, conveniently
located opposite the Jacaranda Hotel, and
the getaway Village Inn in Kiambu.
As a group, we have won a hard-earned
reputation for fi rst-rate service and a will-
ingness to continually upgrade our product.
This, of course, has been particularly
evident in Nairobi, where we have added
what is, without doubt, the city’s best gym
and spa plus a fabulous new swimming
pool area to the Jacaranda Hotel as well as
installing fl at-screen TV sets in each room.
Down at the coast, we have installed TVs
in all rooms and improved security at our
More reasons tHan eVer to enJoY Your staY WitH us
FOREWORD
Indian Ocean Beach Resort and we have
equipped all rooms at our Lake Elementaita
property with TV sets.
We don’t plan to stand still. Our exciting
plans for 2012 include a refurbishment
of the lobby area and coffee shop at the
Jacaranda, together with the opening of
serviced apartments and offi ce space. At
Indian Ocean Beach Resort we will boost
capacity by adding more rooms. We will
be refurbishing rooms and adding more
capacity at Lake Elementaita. We also plan
to extend the dining area.
This is an ambitious programme of
enhancements, and we are convinced that
guests will be delighted with the end result.
So, welcome to Jacaranda Hotels. We will
do everything possible to make sure you
enjoy your stay with us.
Patrick Muriuki
Managing Director
Jacaranda Hotels Kenya
AS A GROUP, WE HAVE WON A HARD-EARNED REPUTATION FOR FIRST-RATE SERVICE
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FOREWORD
nature+ BIRDLIFE
in tHe PinKLesser fl amingo at Lake Elementaita
at LaKe eLeMentaita
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Birdlifespectacle
nature+ BIRDLIFE
LAKE ELEMENTAITA IS PART OF A WIDER LAKE BASIN ECOSYSTEM THAT CONTAINS SOME OF THE RICHEST AREAS OF BIRDLIFE IN AFRICA
I ISSUE 01 I 7
Birdlife
The constant chirping of birds awakens
me. i lie still in my bed, watching the
orange rays of the morning sun peering
through the curtains and trying to fi gure
out where i am.
After driving from Nairobi with a detour
into Hell’s Gate National Park in Naivasha,
I arrived here at Lake Elementaita Lodge
tired and in urgent need of a soft and warm
place to lie down and relax.
aLKaLine LaKes
Listening to the chirping of the morning
birds, I try to decipher the sounds using the
little knowledge I have of birds. I soon give
up as other sounds from my stomach rudely
inform me it is time for breakfast.
The Lake Elementaita ecosystem is part of
a wider lake basin ecosystem that contains
some of the richest areas of birdlife in Africa.
The lake is part of a system that also includes
Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria. These three
alkaline lakes form a unique triangle that is
rich in resources and birdlife. Together, the
three bodies of water provide a habitat for
over 600 resident and migrant bird species.
The three lakes have recently been added to
the Unesco list of World Heritage Sites.
The fl amingo – one of the few birds I can
identify – is a resident of this ecosystem.
The pink-coated bird is a favourite with
birdwatchers in particular and nature lovers
in general. It comes in two varieties: the
lesser fl amingo and the greater fl amingo.
After breakfast, I meet Joseph Ole Kodonyo,
senior naturalist at the lodge. A Maasai from
the local community, Joe has a wealth of
knowledge, especially on birdlife in the area.
Joseph normally takes people out on nature
walks. As I walk with him round the lawns
of the lodge, he is quick to point out a
resident bird here, a migratory bird there
and a rare bird there.
LocaLe
According to Joseph, Lake Elementaita is
the only place in East and Central Africa
where pelicans breed. On the western side
of the lake is a secluded island that provides
the birds with a secure location where they
can breed safely away from predators and
human encroachment.
“Birds are very sensitive and particular to
security,” explains Joseph. “They will only
stay in a location for long and breed there
nature+ BIRDLIFE
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VERREAUX’S EAGLE-OWL AND THE NORTHERN SHOVELER ARE AMONG THE RARE BIRDS THAT CAN BE SPOTTED IN THIS LOCALE
coLourFuLThe lesser fl amingo is a favourite with birdwatchers
because they have been afforded security
and feel they are not threatened by other
predators or external forces.”
Other birds that can be spotted in this
locale include the Verreaux’s eagle-owl, one
of the rarest birds in Kenya. The northern
shoveler is another rare bird that can be
seen here. According to Joseph, the bird is
very sensitive to intrusion and relies largely
on its instincts for survival. Among the
known predators of the northern shoveler
are the fi sh eagle, the crested eagle,
baboons and human encroachment on
nature+ BIRDLIFE
I ISSUE 01 I 9
eaGLe-eYedBelow: One of the rarest birds in Kenya is Verreaux’s eagle-owl
‘KinG oF tHe birds’Left: The rare hammerkop
golden bunting, golden oriole, wood
sandpiper, superb starling, Montagu’s
harrier, African marsh harrier, black heron
and squacco heron.
‘KinG oF tHe birds’
While on a birdwatching expedition here,
look out for the rare hammerkop, nick-
named ‘king of the birds’. Though small
in stature, it has acquired this nickname
because of the big nests it makes. The nests
are divided into compartments that allow it
to share living space with other birds. This is
mainly for security reasons as the bird feels
much safer in the company of others.
The hammerkop takes up to six months to
build its nest, which can accommodate up
to 20 different birds. The entrance to the
nest is made so small so that bigger preda-
tory birds cannot gain access.
Apart from its king-sized nest, the
hammerkop is the only bird that can toss
frogs and fi sh. It belongs to the stork family
and is the size of an eagle or the hadada ibis.
MiGration
Lake Elementaita receives a wide range of
migratory birds from the Middle East, Asia
and Europe. During the winter of 2010 the
lake was host to more than 200,000 white
storks from Europe which had fl own south
to escape the harsh conditions in Europe.
Explains Joseph: “The birds stayed here
for two weeks before fl ying south-east to
Ngong and northwards to Europe.”
their territory. These birds can be seen only
within the Lake Elementaita ecosystem.
rare sPecies
Other rare birds here include the white
browed coucal, Temminck’s courser,
bLue-bLoodedThe Hon. Galbraith Lowry Egerton Cole
KEKOPEY RANCH
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THE YOUNG EGERTON COLE ACQUIRED A TASTE AND LOVE FOR AFRICA AFTER HE WAS DISPATCHED TO SOUTH AFRICA AT THE AGE OF 19 TO FIGHT IN THE 2ND BOER WAR
Egerton Cole. He was packed off in 1917 to
what was then German East Africa; but he
returned to Kenya disguised as a Somali
and was somehow rehabilitated and
allowed to resettle.
Unfortunately, and despite his grand home
and seemingly idyllic lifestyle, it seems that
Egerton Cole was not a happy man. He was
blind in one eye and suffered badly from
rheumatoid arthritis. At the age of 48 he
shot himself at his favourite lake viewing
place. Today, the spot is marked by a
memorial in the shape of an obelisk.
Egerton Cole’s son David (the 6th Earl of
Enniskillen, who died in 1989) continued to
farm the estate until 1977 when it was sold
to a cooperative society and the expansive
farm was divided into small plots. The brick
farmhouse remained fi rmly in place and it
is this farmhouse that now forms the main
building of Lake Elementaita Lodge.
CHURCH OF GOODWILL
Not far from the main house, is another
relic that was constructed by Lord Cole’s
wife. This is the Church of Goodwill which
stands off the Old Nairobi-Nakuru Road.
The church was built in 1945 by Lord Cole’s
wife as a goodwill gift to God for the safe
return of Lord Cole’s two children, David
and Arthur from the Second World War.
TALE OF RESORT’S BLUE-BLOODED CREATOR
Built in 1916 and set in more than 100 acres, Lake elementaita Lodge
retains the typically grand atmosphere of a colonial home in africa.
The man behind the creation of this still
spectacular lodge was a blue-blooded
settler rejoicing in the name of the Hon.
Galbraith Lowry Egerton Cole, son of the
4th Earl of Enniskillen (a town in Northern
Ireland).
EARLY LIFE
The young Egerton Cole acquired a taste
and love for Africa after he was dispatched
to South Africa at the age of 19 to fi ght in
the 2nd Boer War. Wounded in battle, he
later travelled to Kenya, where his sister had
already married the eminent British settler
and fellow aristocrat Lord Delamere.
TROUBLED
His good fortune in gaining close ties to the
Delamere family resulted in his new and
immensely wealthy brother-in-law offering
him 30,000 acres overlooking Lake Elemen-
taita. Egerton Cole chose the Maasai name
Kekopey Ranch for his splendid new home.
Not everything was going swimmingly,
however, and after he shot a local labourer,
the British colonial administration deported
LARGER-THAN-LIFEKEKOPEY RANCH
New facilities for Jacaranda Hotels
Jacaranda Hotels Kenya is looking
to expand its facilities to cater for
growing demand.
under the new programme, the
hotel group will increase the accom-
modation facilities and create an
international conference centre at the
Jacaranda indian ocean beach resort
in diani as well as building a new
eco-lo dge in the scenic Masai Mara
national reserve.
the new conference centre at Jiobr
will accommodate up to 600 people.
it is part of the group’s strategy to
win more business in the conference
tourism sector.
the hotel group embraces the Jaca-
randa Hotel in nairobi, the Jacaranda
indian ocean beach resort in diani,
the Lake elementaita Lodge near
nakuru and the Village inn in Kiambu.
neWs brieFs
I ISSUE 01 I 13
Sales team gets motivated
With a view to enhancing service standards at Jacaranda
Hotels, the group provides regular training of staff. this
helps them to respond to market dynamics and anticipate
customer expectations.
the sales and marketing team at Jacaranda Hotels recently
underwent a course on sales motivation.
Jacaranda
Briefs
beLoW
Members of the sales team receive their certifi cates after the training course. Left to right: Edwin Kihara, Doris Makena, Liz Tapawa, James Chege, Rose Naggi and Joyce Wambui.
conFerence FaciLitiesPart of the Jacaranda Hotels strategy is to develop business and conference services
Jacaranda at Travel ExpoJacaranda Hotels participated in the Holidays 2012 tourism Fair at the sarit
centre. this annual travel trade show is aimed at promoting foreign and
domestic tourism in Kenya.
in line with the aim of the expo, the hotel group was offering attractive
discounts on travel and holidays across its product line including the Jaca-
randa Hotel in nairobi, the Jacaranda indian ocean beach resort in diani
and Lake elementaita Lodge near nakuru.
neWs brieFs
I ISSUE 01 I 15
Scenic visit for corporate guestsJacaranda Hotels recently arranged a familiarisation trip to the scenic
shimba Hills forest for 20 corporate guests. the trip was organised in
conjunction with airKenya.
sHiMba HiLLsCorporate guests enjoy a scenic trip courtesy of Jacaranda Hotels and AirKenya
sarit centre Jacaranda marketing team at the Holidays 2012 Tourism Fair
DIANI
DIANIGovernment invests in new infrastructure to ease access and spur tourism
16 I www.jacarandahotels.com
By Denis Gathanju
A rich man’s playground
DIANI
a GLiMPse oF ParadiseDiani has one of the world’s fi nest beaches
I ISSUE 01 I 17
IN RECENT YEARS DIANI HAS BECOME AN EXCLUSIVE DESTINATION AND A MAGNET FOR THE RICH AND FAMOUS.
Tourism in Kenya is on an unprec-
edented trajectory. With tourism
earnings amounting to nearly Kes 100
billion last year and over 1.3 million
tourist arrivals, there is no doubt that
the industry is on a growth path.
In recent years, the industry been looking
to add innovative products and services
aimed at enhancing and complementing
the traditional tourism offerings such as
beach and safari holidays.
The Vision 2030 blueprint, which aims to
turn Kenya into a middle-income economy
by the year 2030, has identifi ed tourism as
one of the main routes to realisation of this
dream.
Laid-bacK Paradise
The Kenyan coast continues to play a critical
role in tourism development, and the
resort cities of Mombasa and Malindi are
at the core of this. However, the projected
development of a new resort town south of
Mombasa catering for high-end tourists has
continued to excite the industry.
In recent years Diani, a sleepy and laid-back
Header HEADER
paradise just 35 km south of Mombasa,
has become an exclusive destination and a
magnet for the rich and famous.
The resort has become a favourite holiday
getaway for high spenders thanks to its
relative quiet and the exclusivity it offers
guests. Today, its white sandy beaches are
home to over 20 star-rated tourist hotels
and 500 or so luxury villas and cottages.
This holiday hot spot has one of the
longest, widest and most beautiful public
beaches in the country and is considered
by many to be among the world’s fi nest
beaches.
For these reasons, Diani has continued
to attract huge investment in new luxury
beach hotels, villas and holiday homes.
The resort town has seen rapid economic
growth recently, with over 10 commer-
cial banks and a major supermarket chain
opening their doors to tap the business
potential.
Diani’s main challenge, however, is the
problem of access. The resort is reached by
way of the Likoni Channel Crossing from
Mombasa City and the Likoni ferries often
18 I www.jacarandahotels.com
break down, causing huge delays for people
on their way to or from the south coast.
In addition, major traffi c jams on either
side of the crossing, especially during the
morning and evening peak periods, add
to the delays for tourists making their
way between the north coast and south
coast. These delays can even result in some
tourists missing their return fl ights home.
To deal with this problem, tour operators
and hotel companies based in the south
coast have teamed up with Kenya Ferry
Services to help provide a faster movement
of tourist passengers. This has been
achieved by introducing a special permit
that allows vehicles from tour companies
and hotels to gain express passage onto
the ferry without having to queue. This has
eased the situation somewhat.
airstriP iMProVed
The Kenyan government has shown its
commitment to providing better access to
the south coast by investing heavily in infra-
structure. A key project has been the recent
renovation works at Ukunda Airstrip, which
serves the whole south coast. The govern-
Fun in tHe sunHolidaymakers enjoythe beautiful beach
Header HEADER
ment, through the Kenya Airports Authority
(KAA), is working to enhance the capacity
of this airstrip to serve not only domestic
but also regional fl ights.
Air traffi c at Ukunda Airstrip has been
growing year on year. Major carriers such
as Fly540 and AirKenya fl y directly into
Ukunda from Wilson Airport. The airstrip
also serves chartered fl ights from Mombasa
and Malindi as well as fl ights to national
parks and game reserves across the
country.
When Jose Mourinho, manager of Real
Madrid Football Club, came to Diani for a
two-week stay, his chartered plane landed
at Ukunda. The same happened when inter-
national football manager Guus Hiddink
and the Hollywood star couple Brad Pitt
and Angelina Jolie came to holiday in Diani.
Those arriving at Mombasa’s Moi Interna-
tional Airport have to travel to Diani via the
Likoni Channel Crossing.
However, with new properties continuing
to be developed in Diani and the govern-
ment keen to establish a resort town, there
are plans to ease access to the south coast
by going ahead with construction of the
long-overdue Dongo Kundu bypass.
The Kenya National Highway Authority esti-
mates the 17.5 km bypass will cost about
KES 4 billion. The new bypass will also link
the Mombasa-Nairobi highway with the
Likoni-Diani highway at Ng’ombeni. It will
start from Miritini, just west of Moi Inter-
I ISSUE 01 I 19
national Airport, on the mainland. As well
as improving access to the south coast, the
bypass will serve the Mombasa Free Trade
Zone in the Port of Mombasa, thus helping
to boost trade and commerce.
tHinGs to do
So, what can the rich and famous do while
in Diani?
Apart from leisurely walks on the unspoilt
white sandy beaches and relaxing by the
poolside, there is a host of exciting things
to do.
For those keen on game watching, the
Shimba Hills Game Reserve and the Mwalu-
ganje Elephant Sanctuary offer the ideal
destination.
Other outdoor activities include bird-
watching and nature trails in the exclusive
Kaya Chale and Kaya Kinondo, where
visitors can get to know more about local
culture.
Lovers of water sports will be spoilt for
choice in Diani, which offers a wide range
of activities, from kite surfi ng to scuba
diving and snorkelling and from sailing to
big game fi shing.
This aside, the rich man’s game is never far
away, and Diani has one of the best golf
courses in the country. The Leisure Lodge
Golf Club is an 18-hole, par 72 champion-
ship course that is also the venue for the
Diani Beach Masters Golf Championships.
So next time you’re thinking of a stylish
holiday on the coast – give Diani a try.
DIANI HAS CONTINUED TO ATTRACT HUGE INVESTMENT IN LUXURY BEACH HOTELS, VILLAS AND HOLIDAY HOMES
The Go Places Chef’s Delight Awards
programme seeks to recognise and
honour restaurants and chefs in Kenya
who have made a notable contribution
to the art of cooking. Initiated in 2002
under the banner ‘Vote to Win with Go
Places’, it brings together food enthu-
siasts, culinary artists and restaurants
to celebrate the culinary styles and
signature dishes of Kenya. The awards
programme, which is the fi rst of its kind
in the region, allows the restaurants
to bring out the best of the country’s
culinary scene in a competitive spirit.
The Chef’s Delight Awards involves restau-
rants and chefs who are nominated through
a strict selection process by a team of experts
in the culinary, hospitality and tourism sectors
in Kenya. These restaurants and chefs receive
a Nomination Certifi cate and Nomination
Pack and are duly recognised by Chef’s
Delight insignia in the establishments.
Through these awards, restaurants get a
chance to showcase their brilliance in taste,
ambience and service, while the culinary
artists who are the chefs get a chance to
display their creativity through unique
signature dishes.
THE GO PLACES CHEF’S DELIGHT AWARDS INITIATIVE TO HIGHLIGHT GOOD RESTAURANTS IN KENYA
EATING OUT
I ISSUE 01 I 21
ABOUT LEISURE AND TRAVEL GUIDES EALeisure and Travel Guides East Africa (L&T), the company behind the Chef’s Delight Awards and the Go Places brand, was established 17 years ago. L&T has fi ve main products: the fl agship Go Places magazine, giving details of travel and leisure options in the region; Go Places Hotel and Restaurant Directory, a detailed listing of the best accommoda-tion and dining establishments in East Africa; Go Places Conference Directory, highlighting the best conferencing options in the region; the Go Places Privilege Card, which provides card holders with discounts of between fi ve and 40 per cent at over 500 establishments in East Africa; and sister company Global Image Adver-tising, which offers tailor-made Above the Line and Below the Line marketing and branding solutions.
The Chef’s Delight Awards is also an ideal
platform to signifi cantly increase the number
of walk-in clients at dining establishments.
The awards are intended to help cultivate
customer loyalty and guarantee customer
retention. The programme will position
restaurants strategically to benefi t by
tapping into a signifi cantly wide market.
Members of the public will participate in
the programme by providing their honest
opinion and reviews on the quality of
service and food offered by the various
For more information on how to participate
in the Go Places Chef’s Delight Awards,
please visit www.chefsdelightawards.com
THROUGH THESE AWARDS, RESTAURANTS GET A CHANCE TO SHOWCASE THEIR BRILLIANCE
dining establishments through the Vote &
Win with Chef’s Delight initiative. Those
diners who provide their opinion will get
a chance to win an assortment of prizes,
such as airline tickets, holiday packages,
restaurant and shopping vouchers as well as
instant prizes from corporate sponsors.
THE PANEL
The panel of experts who will provide
consultancy services to participating restau-
rants include: L&T CEO Mansoor Jiwani,
who is also a qualifi ed professional chef;
Chef Felix Huwyler, of Top Chefs Culinary
Institute; Chef Tom Owino, of Tanzania-
based Chef Tom Culinary Services; Nicci
Pain, a South African-trained wine expert;
Lucy Macridis, a hospitality expert from
LMC Consultancy, who is also president of
SKAL International Nairobi; and Jacqueline
Anjao, a hospitality expert, also from LMC
Consultancy.
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The Forty Thieves Beach Bar in Diani
will be the host venue for this
year’s Diani Beach Touch Rugby Tourna-
ment, to be held on 6, 7 and 8 July. The
tournament, now in its fourth year, is
recognised internationally, attracting
professional teams from other East
African countries and from overseas as
well as from all over Kenya.
Last year’s tournament consisted of 20 teams,
with three international teams attending
from Swaziland, Tanzania and the United
Kingdom and some of the best Kenyan teams
from Nairobi, Naivasha, Mombasa, Nanyuki
and Diani. The tournament has various team
categories for women, men, mixed teams
and veterans (over 40).
GROWTH
Since the tournament began in 2009, Kenya
has seen a growth in the popularity of
touch rugby. There are now four recognised
tournaments each year – three in Nairobi
and one in Naivasha.
Rugby, a game originally developed on the
muddy fi elds of England, is not something
naturally associated with idyllic sandy
beaches. Touch rugby, however, is a non-
contact sport, traditionally played in order
to keep players fi t without risk of injury, and
Diani Beach provides the perfect backdrop
for a weekend of tags, teams and tries.
ENERGETIC
Over the weekend, men and women, young
players and ‘veterans’ (or any combination
of the above) play each other, while friends
and family cheer from the touchline. Each
match lasts just seven minutes a side, so play
is quick and energetic, allowing players to
retreat to the shade at regular intervals.
This year the ocean tides will allow most of the
games on Saturday and Sunday (7 and 8 July)
TOUCH RUGBY EVENT PUTS DIANI BEACH ON THE WORLD MAP
SPORT+ TOUCH RUGBY
UNITEDPlayers from all 20 teams celebrate the end of the 2011 tournament
I ISSUE 01 I 23
SPORT+ TOUCH RUGBY
SMILES OF VICTORY2011 Eisy Bru Shield winners
to be played in daylight. All teams are expected
to be present on Friday, 6 July for a captain and
team briefi ng and a few starter games.
The aim of the event is to provide an enter-
taining weekend with some great touch
rugby while catching up with old friends
and making new ones. For non-partici-
pants, there are plenty of other activities to
enjoy, including kite surfi ng, scuba diving
and deepsea fi shing. Or, if you prefer to
just relax, the beach is the perfect place
to laze around.
CHARITY
The Forty Thieves Beach Bar will stay open
throughout the weekend and food will
be served all day until 10 pm. Toilets and
showers will be available.
As well as providing fun for players and
spectators, the tournament aims to raise
funds for the Age Grade Rugby Programme,
initiated by the Rugby Patrons Society, and
to make more people aware of this charity.
NURTURING
Under the direction of the Kenya Rugby
Football Union, the Age Grade Rugby
Programme targets underprivileged
children and street kids aged from nine to
16 years, nurturing their rugby skills and
identifying talent at an early age.
RUGBY, A GAME ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED ON THE MUDDY FIELDS OF ENGLAND, IS NOT SOMETHING NATURALLY ASSOCIATED WITH IDYLLIC SANDY BEACHES
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?For further information, entries, sponsorship or suggestions, please contact George Barbour:
Tel +254 735 411 110Email: [email protected]
The leafy suburb of Westlands in
Nairobi continues to grow in stature
as an up-and-coming business district.
Once mainly a residential area, West-
lands has been transformed over the
years into a hub of commerce and trade.
Located west of the Central Business
District of the capital city, Westlands
continues to attract large corpora-
tions, businesses, hotels, restaurants and
shopping malls. Today, the area is domi-
nated by the construction of new offi ce
blocks and residential apartments.
COMMUNITY
As well as being a magnet for new business,
Westlands is a popular meeting place for
many Nairobians. It attracts a range of well-
to-do entertainment seekers including the
large expatriate community, most of whom
live within walking distance of Westlands.
Other revellers include wealthy Kenyans
and the growing Kenyan middle class.
The area offers a wide choice of entertain-
ment spots, from pubs and restaurants to
high-end nightclubs.
But what has led Westlands to achieve the
status of a commercial hub in such a rela-
tively short time? One of the main reasons
is the continuing congestion in Nairobi’s
Central Business District, where offi ce space
has become scarce and parking is a night-
mare for many businesses. The net effect
is that businesses have relocated away
from the bustle of the Central Business
District to less congested and quieter
neighbourhoods.
The only downside of this is that the move
to Westlands has put a considerable strain
on roads, telephone lines, utilities and other
aspects of the infrastructure. However,
the ongoing programme to expand and
upgrade the city’s transport network will be
of benefi t to Westlands. This programme
includes a new overpass at the Museum Hill
and Limuru Road junctions and the planned
construction of a new ring road linking
Westlands with Ngong Road via Waiyaki
Way, which will divert through traffi c away
from Westlands.
Access to Westlands from the Central
Business District is via the busy Chiromo
WESTLANDS IS A GROWING BUSINESS HUB
BUSINESS+ WESTLANDS
24 I www.jacarandahotels.com
BUSINESS+ WESTLANDS
I ISSUE 01 I 25
EXCLUSIVENew facilities in Westlands
Road, to the south, and Parklands Roads,
just north of the district.
SHOPPING MALLS
Apart from the new offi ce blocks and
apartments that are mushrooming there,
Westlands is home to some exclusive
shopping malls and arcades – more than
any other district in Nairobi. These include
the Sarit Centre, The Mall and Westgate
Shopping Mall. These shopping malls offer a
wide range of social amenities and facili-
ties such as ATM machines, banks, cinemas,
clothing stores, food courts, restaurants and
supermarkets as well as large exhibition halls.
Westlands is also served by smaller
shopping centres like Soin Arcade, Viking
House and Waumini House.
In the daytime, the streets are a hive of
activity. The shopping area is dotted with
little stalls offering wonderful opportuni-
ties for bargain-hunters. Here, one can buy
anything from fruit and vegetables and
freshly cut fl owers to African curios and
paintings to second-hand clothes and cut-
price shoes.
In the early evening, the nightlife awakens on
the well-lit streets of Westlands as people come
out to enjoy the rich variety of amenities.
The quieter residential areas and apart-
ment blocks of Westlands are popular with
expatriates, young professionals and a few
families. However, others prefer to live in
the quieter surroundings of Spring Valley,
where bungalows and large houses replace
the apartments of Westlands.
AS WELL AS BEING A MAGNET FOR NEW BUSINESS, WESTLANDS IS A POPULAR MEETING PLACE FOR MANY NAIROBIANS
26 I www.jacarandahotels.com
What began as an opportunity for
recreation has turned into a high-
fl ying success story for the staff volleyball
team of the Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach
Resort. These talented lovers of the game
have proved themselves to be one of the
best teams in Kenya, winning trophy after
trophy over the past few years.
The Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort
Volleyball Club was set up in October 2006 as
a recreational facility for members of staff. A
SPORT+ VOLLEYBALL
TEAM MEETINGSafaricom Youth Beach Volleyball tournament 2010
month later a qualifi ed coach, Benedict Juma,
was hired to train the players and improve the
quality of the game.
By December 2006 the team had won the
Diani Senior Volleyball Trophy at district level.
The coach hit on the idea of integrating the
team with young players from school with the
aim of improving the standard of play of the
existing older staff players.
RECRUITMENT
In 2007, following the recruitment of several
young players, the team saw a huge improve-
ment in the standard of volleyball at Indian
Ocean Beach Resort. The team (men and
women) scooped 12 of the 16 trophies in a
competition organised by the Kenya Volleyball
Federation’s Coast Branch offi ce. The team was
registered in National League, 2nd Division.
Thanks to these good performances, the
Jacaranda team was nominated to represent
BOUNCING WITH HEALTH – and reaching for victory
Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort Volleyball Club
I ISSUE 01 I 27
SPORT+ VOLLEYBALL
violence, which had a negative impact on
the tourism industry. The team played fewer
games but stayed together and managed to
defend three trophies as well as retaining the
Nyerere Memorial International Volleyball
Trophy at Tanga, Tanzania, for the second year
running, despite the hardship.
COMEBACK
In 2009 the team made a comeback and
registered in the National League, 2nd
Division, where it won its fi rst league match
against Nyeri Stima Club in Machakos. The
women were runners-up in the Kenya Volley-
ball Federation Coast Branch Chairman’s Cup
in Voi in February.
Over the past four years the team has partici-
pated in the Hotoso Games in Nairobi and in
2008 it won the Hotoso Volleyball Trophy.
In the East & Central Beach Volleyball Tourna-
ment, held at Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach
resort, the Jacaranda team, consisting of John
Ndungu and Herman Sifuna, was eliminated
in the quarter fi nals. Rwanda came fi rst and
the Uganda were runners-up.
The Jacaranda team won the third Nyerere
Memorial International Volleyball Tournament
2009 in Tanga, thus becoming the permanent
holders of this trophy. The trophy now has
pride of place in the general manager’s offi ce
at the Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort.
THE JACARANDA INDIAN OCEAN BEACH RESORT VOLLEYBALL CLUB WAS SET UP IN OCTOBER 2006 AS A RECREATIONAL FACILITY FOR MEMBERS OF STAFF
HOW JACARANDA TEAM HAS PERFORMED2006 – Team wins Diani Senior Volleyball Trophy at district level in December
2007 – Team wins 12 trophies in a Kenya Volleyball Federation Coast Branch competition and joins 2nd Division of National League. Team represents Kenya at the Nyerere Memorial International Volleyball Tournament in Tanga, Tanzania, taking fi rst prize.
2008 – Team wins eight trophies and is voted Most Promising Team by Kenya Volleyball Federation.
2009 – Team wins its fi rst league match against Nyeri Stima Club in Machakos.
2011 – Team takes a break from the local league, but enters the Hotoso Games, where it wins the Volleyball Trophy. Team also wins the Nyerere International Memorial Cup at Moshi (14 to 19 December).
2012 – Looking forward to joining the National Volleyball League.
Kenya at the inaugural Nyerere Memorial
International Volleyball Tournament in Tanga,
Tanzania. The team emerged the winner,
taking the trophy along with a cash prize of
TSH 250,000 (equivalent to KES 14,000).
TROPHIES
The same feat was repeated in 2008. The
year brought a bumper harvest for the team,
which won (among other competitions)
the Bamburi Cement Trophy, the Mduda
Waweru Trophy, the Coast Chairman’s Trophy,
the Kalumass Trophy, the Charles Lwanga
Trophy, the David Maveke Trophy, the Seaside
Academy Trophy and the Jacaranda Hotels
Volleyball Trophy, thus setting the crown on
a super volleyball year. At the end of the year,
the Jacaranda team was voted Most Promising
Team by the Kenya Volleyball Federation.
In 2008 there was uncertainty for the
Jacaranda team because of the post-election
CRAZE SWEEPS NAIROBI
Dance your way to physical fitness
FITNESS+ ZUMBA
28 I www.jacarandahotels.com
CRAZE SWEEPS NAIROBI
Dance your way to physical fitness
FITNESS+ ZUMBA
I ISSUE 01 I 29
A new fi tness craze has taken Nairobi
by storm. In a fast-paced world,
where the rigours of everyday life take
their toll on our bodies, it’s no surprise
that so many people are looking to
physical fi tness as an outlet. In recent
years, this has led to a mushrooming
of fi tness centres and gyms across the
Kenyan capital.
But it is the rapid spread of a new fi tness
regime that has got tongues wagging and
bodies shaking in the keep-fi t community.
Known as Zumba, this new fi tness
programme – only two years old in Kenya
– combines music and exercise to help tone
the body and tighten the muscles. The
programme involves dance and aerobic
elements that rely on music and rhythm to
keep the fi tness class moving.
PHENOMENON
Since Zumba was fi rst introduced to Kenya
in 2009 it has grown tremendously and
has become widely accepted as a genuine
fi tness programme. One of the key attrac-
tions of Zumba that have made it a fi tness
phenomenon is that almost anyone can
participate. Initially it was popular with
women, but men have recently taken the
Zumba plunge.
A typical Zumba programme lasts an hour
and includes a warm-up session and high
and low intensity dance routines followed
by a cool-down. The workout also incorpo-
rates a series of traditional strengthening
exercises, including lunges and squats, so
as to complete a full body workout.
HEADER HEADER
Another key factor that has led to
Zumba’s popularity in Nairobi is that it
does not involve complex body move-
ments or terminology that might
deter newcomers. Unlike an aerobics
programme that requires people to
move in drill-like steps, Zumba offers
a medley of dance moves that lead to
an invigorating workout led by an
instructor.
With Zumba, the music is the
central element that guides the
person’s body movement.
INNOVATIVE
Apart from physical fi tness,
Zumba helps people
learn the basics of other
popular Latin American
dance styles such as the
cumbia, merengue, salsa
and samba.
Zumba owes its origin to
the Colombian aerobics
instructor Alberto Perez.
It is derived from a
Colombian word that
means to move
fast and have
fun. The fi tness
programme
was acciden-
tally developed
by Alberto after he had left his aerobics
music tapes behind while hurrying to the
gym to teach an aerobics class. Alberto
decided to get creative and came up with
innovative dance moves that were much
appreciated by his class.
MISSION
Zumba, however, did not gain ground until
1999 when Alberto exported it to Miami,
Florida, in the USA. There, he teamed up
with two other Colombians to form Zumba
Fitness LLC. They trademarked the word
Zumba and began a mission to spread it
across the world.
30 I www.jacarandahotels.com
FITNESS+ ZUMBA
HEADER HEADER
Today, over 12 million people around the
world are said to be attending Zumba
classes. In Nairobi, fi tness-conscious people
have taken to Zumba with near-fanatical
zeal and, today, almost every gymnasium
and health club worth its name is offering
Zumba sessions.
FUN FOR EVERYONE
In order to take part in Zumba
sessions, the fi rst thing you need to
do is ensure that you are properly
kitted out with sweat pants, a T-shirt
or vest and comfortable sneakers to
allow ease of movement.
The benefi ts of Zumba include weight
loss as well as improved muscle tone.
But the greatest appeal of Zumba lies in
the fact that it’s fun. Unlike other fi tness
programmes, such as aerobics, there is no
steep learning curve, so that even beginners
can learn quickly. This is especially impor-
tant when it comes to encouraging
regular exercise by slow learners or
those who are easily demotivated
by traditional exercises.
Another signifi cant fact is
that Zumba is not only
enjoyed by young people.
It appeals equally to
older people who are
less supple and fi nd it
hard to cope with
the rigours of
aerobic exercises.
While the programme
has become an all-time
favourite for fi tness-
conscious Nairobians, the
only drawback is the lack of
proper Zumba instructors.
THE BENEFITS OF ZUMBA INCLUDE WEIGHT LOSS AS WELL AS IMPROVED MUSCLE TONE. BUT THE GREATEST APPEAL OF ZUMBA LIES IN THE FACT THAT IT’S FUN
I ISSUE 01 I 31
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?Zumba is offered at:Jacaranda Gym & SpaP.O. Box 14827-00800 Nairobi, KenyaTel: 254-2-4448713/4/5/6/7Fax: 254-2-44446159/4448977Email: [email protected]
FITNESS+ ZUMBA
HEADER HEADER
When an old man dies, so goes the
African proverb, a whole library
burns down. This is particularly true of
the Hon. Dr James Njenga Karume, who
died on 24 February aged 82. His was a
remarkable story of rags to riches.
Those who knew him speak of his humility.
He was able to converse easily with anyone,
regardless of social status, from the
rise AND rise oF THe cHArcoAl burNer
TRIBUTE
I ISSUE 01 I 33
movers and shakers of Kenyan politics and
commerce to ordinary villagers.
Njenga Karume made his name in business,
working his way to the top. Entering the
world of business at a time when Kenya was
still under British colonial rule, the young
Karume faced everyday challenges with a
clear vision of a better tomorrow.
THe HerDer
Njenga’s formative years on Lord Dela-
mere’s Estate in Elementaita, Nakuru
County, where he herded cows and goats,
gave him a sense of responsibility and
teamwork. The threat of an attack by wild
animals was ever-present, and Njenga and
his peers learned how to depend on and
take care of each other – a vital lesson that
would help him in later life.
WHEN aN oLD maN DIES, So goES THE afRICaN pRovERB, a WHoLE LIBRaRy BURNS DoWN
FAmily occAsioNAbove: James Njenga Karume with his wife Grace at the wedding of his son Kigera oFFiciAl opeNiNgBelow: The Hon. Najib Balala, Minister of Tourism, with Dr Njenga Karume at the opening of the Jacaranda Gym and Spa
A tribute to the late Hon. James Njenga Karume By Denis Gathanju
It was during his time on Lord Delamere’s
Estate that he began to take a keen
interest in education. He was fascinated
by the ways of the colonial masters or
athungu, as they were known to the
Kikuyus. His quest for an education was
prompted by the humiliation that was
directed at the african labourers by their
white masters.
In his memoirs, entitled ‘Beyond Expec-
tations: from Charcoal to gold’, he
describes a visit to his uncle when he saw
a white man for the fi rst time. He asked
why africans feared the British so much
and wondered how a few British people
could instil so much fear into hundreds of
africans. “It is because the athungu are
educated,” his uncle told him.
THe sTuDeNT
In 1942, at the age of 13, he began his
elementary education at Kahuho primary
School, where the fees were pegged at KES
1.50 per term. Like many children at this
time, he walked to school barefoot. In 1944
he joined Riara primary School, in Kiambaa,
which was run by Catholic missionaries.
Njenga was curious to know why they
TribuTe
34 I www.jacarandahotels.com
Dr Njenga Karume and his wife Grace with the Hon. Najib Balala, Minister of Tourism, at the offi cial opening of the Jacaranda Gym and Spa in 2011
were known as ‘brothers’ when their looks,
culture and language suggested otherwise.
These white people were much kinder to
the africans than those he had encoun-
tered in Elementaita. Curious to know more
about the white people, he passionately
studied Christianity so as to understand
their religion.
He was baptised in 1947 and chose the
Christian name James. for the fi rst time,
he wore a proper shirt and pair of shorts.
Having worn goatskins since birth, he saw
this as a privilege.
THe eNTrepreNeur
It was while living with his uncle, gatenjwa
munge, that Njenga had his fi rst direct
encounter with commerce and learned
some vital lessons about business. He writes
in his memoirs about observing how his
uncle would buy goods to stock his shops
and sell them at a profi t. This was a revela-
tion to him and the cornerstone of his fi rst
commercial enterprise.
In 1948, while still at Riara School in
Kiambaa, the 19-year-old Njenga saw a
business opportunity that he could not
TribuTe
I ISSUE 01 I 35
pass up. He discovered that exercise books
cost 15 cents from an Indian-run shop in
Kiambu compared with 30 cents at the
Catholic bookshop. a light bulb lit up in
his head. The missionaries were selling the
books at double the price and making good
money. If they were making a profi t, he
thought, then why not him?
There was a problem in the shape of
start-up capital. But Njenga never lacked
ingenuity. He decided not to pay his school
fees in time so he could use the money
to buy the books and sell them in school,
then pay his school fees a week later and
keep the profi ts. He bought the books for
15 cents and sold them to students for 25
cents. It was his fi rst successful business
venture.
THe selF-mADe mAN
Njenga failed to secure a job after he
rudely questioned from whom and at
what price the Wazungus (white men)
had bought the land. The frustration that
followed this made him vow that he would
never be employed by someone else. He
wanted to go into business and become
his own boss.
It was at that point that he ventured
into charcoal burning, cutting the trees
to make charcoal and cedar posts. He
sold charcoal to the africans for 25 cents
and cedar posts to the white settlers for
fencing at KES 1 per pole.
Business was brisk and Njenga opened a
sawmill in Njoro. He also started buying
quantities of red potatoes from local
farmers for KES 1 and selling them to white
settlers for KES 2. Soon afterwards, he
ventured into the timber industry, buying
timber from local sawmills and sending
it to Nairobi by train to be sold to Indian
customers.
The rest, as they say, is history. from
humble beginnings, he lived true to himself
and created a business empire that included
the Jacaranda Hotels group.
Njenga Karume was a walking library of
wisdom and counsel. as well as leaving
behind a wife and children, he has left
a valuable legacy in the form of his
memoirs, which will doubtless prove a
source of inspiration for thousands of
young Kenyans who want to succeed both
in business and in life.
fRom HUmBLE BEgINNINgS, HE LIvED TRUE To HImSELf aND CREaTED a BUSINESS EmpIRE
KIamBU goLf CLUB
36 I www.jacarandahotels.com
Spectacular TournamentKeeps golFiNg TrADiTioNs Alive
KIamBU goLf CLUB
I ISSUE 01 I 37
TropHy wiNNerStephen Karanja receiving the Karume Cup in 2011
On every third saturday in
september since 1982, golfers have
gathered in large numbers at Kiambu
golf club, just outside Nairobi, to play
for the prestigious and highly coveted
Karume cup.
The Karume Cup is probably the oldest
continuously sponsored corporate event in
Kenya and the annual tournament has been
a particular passion of the late Hon. Njenga
Karume, former chairman of Jacaranda
Hotels.
on this occasion, chefs and other catering
staff from Jacaranda Hotels take over the
venerable Kiambu golf Club for the day and
– provides one of the best examples of a
settler-built and designed golf course.
a certain and probably long-since-forgotten
W.a.f. platts, was named as the club’s fi rst
president in 1922. mr platts was, in fact,
meru’s District Commissioner. He would
surely still recognise the clubhouse and the
course, which is little changed since colo-
nialists fi rst huddled around the large open
fi re at the ‘19th green’ over 90 years ago.
only now are things starting to change a
little and Jacaranda Hotels is at the forefront
of the club’s plans for a new KES 6 million
irrigation system that will, during the dry
season, transform the sometimes parched
look that greets golfers. Now players can
look forward to a year-round lushness.
IN SEpTEmBER 2011 SomE 180 To 200 goLfERS TURNED oUT To CompETE foR THE KaRUmE CUp
provide a truly spectacular buffet including
a delicious nyama choma (roasted meat)
feast for club members and invited guests.
cHAriTAble
Jacaranda Hotels also donates gifts and
prizes, and a large share of the proceeds
from the day’s golf is donated to various
charities. These charities change from
year to year but are mostly located in and
around Kiambu.
In September 2011 some 180 to 200 golfers
turned out to compete for the Karume Cup,
with the winner receiving a new golf bag.
The nine-hole Kiambu Club was opened
in 1920 and – along with nearby Limuru
Spectacular
38 I www.jacarandahotels.com
KENYA
JACARANDA HOTEL NAIROBIincluding Jacaranda Gym & SpaPIZZA GARDEN
JACARANDA INDIAN OCEANBEACH RESORT
LAKE ELEMENTAITA LODGE
HeAD oFFice & ceNTrAl reservATioNsWaiyaki Way, p.o. Box 14287 – 00800 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254 – 020 – 444 8713/4/5/6/7fax: 254 – 020 – 444 5818/6159/8977mobile: 254 – 0722 205 486/7, 0733 60161/4
Email: [email protected]: [email protected]
JaCaRaNDa HoTELS INDEX
JAcArANDA HoTel NAirobip.o. Box 14827-00800 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254-2-4448713/4fax: 254-2-44446159/4448977
Email: [email protected]
JAcArANDA gym & spAp.o. Box 14827-00800 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254-2-4448713/4/5/6/7fax: 254-2-44446159/4448977
Email: [email protected]
JAcArANDA iNDiAN oceAN beAcH resorTp.o. Box 73 – 80400 Ukunda, Diani Beach – Kenya
Tel: 254-040 3203730fax: 254-040-3203557
Email: [email protected]
lAKe elemeNTAiTA loDgep.o. Box 66 gilgil
Tel: (+254-050) 50836/50648fax: (+254-050) 50836
Email: [email protected]
piZZA gArDeNp.o. Box 14827-00800, Nairobi
Tel: +254-2-4448713/4fax: +254-2-44446159/4448977
Email: [email protected]
I ISSUE 01 I 39
KENYA
JACARANDA HOTEL NAIROBIincluding Jacaranda Gym & SpaPIZZA GARDEN
JACARANDA INDIAN OCEANBEACH RESORT
LAKE ELEMENTAITA LODGE
KENYA
AFRICA
JACARANDAGYM & SPA
Body fitness and wellness are two
very different things – and yet, to
most people, they mean the same. but,
in fact, it does not really matter which is
which, especially for the average person
who is looking to achieve and maintain a
healthy body. The pressures of family life
and the fast-paced corporate scene have
led to an increased focus on body fitness
and wellness.
The Jacaranda Hotel in Nairobi came up
with the right answers to this in 2010 when
it established the Jacaranda gym and Spa,
one of the best health clubs in the Kenyan
capital. This spacious and ultra-modern
health club, set in four acres of grounds in
the heart of the Westlands Business District,
offers a breath of fresh air to the fitness and
wellness seeker.
beAuTiFul gArDeNs
The gym and spa is housed in a new custom-
designed building next to the hotel. There
is a large heated swimming pool as well as
beautiful gardens and well-kept lawns, all
helping to create an inviting and relaxing
atmosphere. Designed and equipped to
meet the most discerning expectations of its
customers, the Jacaranda gym and Spa can
proudly stand its ground against the best in
Nairobi’s gym and spa market.
There is free underground car parking
and the health club has its own entrance,
conveniently separated from the hotel.
THe spA
The spa is devoted to enhancing the overall
well-being of its customers by offering a
variety of body treatments to encourage
and enhance the renewal of mind, body
and soul.
The spa offers personalised services and
professional treatments that are designed
to achieve a head-to-toe sensory revival as
well as cultivating inner and body strength
and creating a healthier, more balanced
lifestyle.
Spa services:• massages
• Body treatments
• facials and foot spas
• manicure and pedicure
• Body treatments
THe gym
The well-equipped gym features the latest
in Life fitness equipment. professional
fitness trainers and gym instructors are on
hand to assist the guests and help them
TAKiNg THe perFecT pATHwAy To FiTNess AND well-beiNg
40 I www.jacarandahotels.com
JACARANDAGYM & SPA
to meet their fitness and wellness targets,
whether these consist of total fitness,
controlled weight loss, body toning or any
other special need.
The gym also has steam room and sauna
facilities in the women’s and men’s
changing rooms as well as a clean and
spacious rest area.
Personal training• This combines high-density workouts
and nutritional counselling with the
motivation needed to reach and maintain
long-term personal goals.
• Every lesson is structured to build cardio-
vascular endurance, improve strength
and increase flexibility.
Class exercise• Introductory classes, aerobics
• Sport conditioning, traditional cardio
training
• Dance fitness
• Spinning
• Step and athletic training
for the mind and body
• Stretch and relaxation
• yoga
• T’ai chi (an ancient mind-body exercise).
I ISSUE 01 I 41
relAX Guests can enjoy a range of professional treatments, or simply unwind in the heated swimming pool
Located in the business area of
westlands, a leafy western suburb of
Nairobi, the Jacaranda Hotel is an ideal
venue for business guests in search of
fi ve-star service at a four-star price.
one of the longest-established hotels in
Nairobi, it began life as a training facility for staff
of the Italian oil company agip in the late 1950s
and early 1960s, also doubling as a motel with
just 42 rooms. The property was acquired by
the late Hon. Njenga Karume in 1963.
In subsequent years, the hotel was trans-
formed as it was leased to various leading
hotel operators such as alliance Hotels
when its name changed to Quality Inns. It
was later leased to Block Hotels in 1995 and
its name changed to Landmark Hotel.
It was during this period that the hotel
brought new quality standards and proce-
dures to its operations. This led to the
adoption of enhanced training programmes
for staff and a gradual improvement in
services and product standards at the hotel.
Between 1999 and 2001 the hotel changed
its name to Sheraton four points Hotel after
Block Hotels sub-leased it to the internationally
recognised hospitality brand Sheraton Hotels.
However, Block Hotels went into receiver-
ship in 2003 and the property changed its
name to the current Jacaranda Hotel.
Between the leaseholds, the hotel under-
went continuous upgrades and today the
accommodation consists of 128 rooms.
It is a four-star facility catering mainly for
business travellers looking to stay in the
quiet neighbourhood of Westlands while
attending business meetings and confer-
ences in Nairobi.
In order to meet the accommodation
requirements of its many business guests,
the hotel is set to install 48 new business
executive suites and to convert one wing of
the hotel to cater for business travellers.
In addition, the hotel has one of the most
modern health club and spa facilities in Nairobi.
coNFereNciNg
The hotel has various conference facilities to
cater for the needs of its business clientele.
These include the Wariara Conference Centre,
which can accommodate up to 250 people in
theatre style, and the palm, acacia and Jaca-
randa rooms, each of which can each hold 40
people. There are also two boardrooms, each
with a capacity of 18 people.
HoTel oFFers Five-sTAr service AT A Four-sTAr price
42 I www.jacarandahotels.com
swimmiNg pool The tranquil pool is ideal
for cooling off
I ISSUE 01 I 43
guesT room Modern furnishings and crisp white linen come as standard
AT A glANceChoice of 128 tastefully furnished en-suite rooms suitable for all guests.
Each room has:• Central ceiling fan• Direct-dial telephone• Satellite TV• Minibar• Electronic safe deposit• Work station area• Mosquito net on request• Tea/coffee-making facilities• 24-hour room service.• Private bathroom and toilet en-suite• Hairdryer
Facilities & Activities: • Gym and spa• Heated swimming pool
On what many regard as one of
the best stretches of beach in the
world lies one of the best-kept secrets of
Kenya’s south coast, the Jacaranda indian
ocean beach resort (Jiobr).
Located on more than 29 acres of prime
land overlooking the blue waters of the
Indian ocean, the JIoBR offers its guests a
perfect holiday getaway.
ArAbic iNFlueNce
The resort, which opened in 1992, is built
on the site of a 16th-century mosque.
Known originally as the Indian ocean Beach
Club, it was an exclusive and luxurious
property. Like the Nairobi-based Hotel
Jacaranda, it was at that time under the
management of Block Hotels.
To underline the rich infl uence of the
Swahili culture that was once dominant on
the Kenyan coast, especially under the rule
of the Sultan of Zanzibar, the architectural
style adopted in all the buildings at the
beach resort has a strong arabic infl uence.
The beach resort contains various antiques
and relics from the Sultan’s palace. The
main reception area, for instance, features
an antique chandelier that was given to the
sultan by British traders in exchange for
landing rights.
The JIoBR also has a tastefully designed
room suitable for physically challenged
guests. In addition to the above amenities,
it has a walk-in shower and both shower
and toilet are fi tted with hand supports.
There is a four-bedroom villa suitable for
families.
coNFereNciNg
The Wariara Convention Centre is one of
the largest conference facilities on the south
coast, with a capacity of about 300 people.
luXury beAcH resorT wiTH A HiNT oF ArAb ANTiQuiTy
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service Hotel guests receive
attentive service
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seA breeZe Guest relax by the pool, which overlooks the Indian Ocean
AT A glANce100 deluxe rooms (including 25 ocean-facing rooms), all handsomely designed and beautifully furnished.
Each room has:• En-suite bathroom with bath/shower and separate toilet• Minibar and tea/coffee-making facilities• Air conditioning and ceiling fan• Safes• Hairdryer• Own veranda• Smoke detectors• Room attendance and evening turndown.
Facilities & Activities: • Kids’ club• Water sports • Diving • Massage & salon• Tennis • Volleyball
Lake elementaita lodge is situated in
over 100 acres of land on the banks
of the magnifi cent lake elementaita off
the Nakuru-Nairobi highway.
The lodge’s main building, which contains
the main restaurant, is a relic of the colonial
era, built in 1916. It was a farmhouse
owned by the pioneer settler and farmer
galbraith Cole.
specTAculAr
In front of the main house is a terrace
overlooking the well-kept lawns in the
foreground and the spectacular Lake
Elementaita beyond.
The lodge is located in an area known in
colonial times as Happy valley. The name
came from the monthly meetings organised
by the then colonial masters. These festive
gatherings brought together white farmers
and colonial leaders from across the Rift
valley, Nairobi and Central regions.
coNFereNciNg
The lodge offers the perfect conference
setting in a relaxed country atmosphere.
The conference room is fully equipped to
meet the needs of the most discerning
conference groups and can accommodate
50 people.
a secretariat and conference amenities are
available on request
eXperieNce THe HAppy vAlley
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perFecT seTTiNg Breakfast ‘al fresco’
with a beautiful view
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sHADy reTreATThe terrace overlooks well-kept lawns
AT A glANceThe lodge has 33 rooms (11 triples and 22 twins).
Each room has:• A fi re place• Bath & shower• Own veranda
Facilities & Activities: • Large swimming pool• Horse riding• Nature walks• Birdwatching• Visits to Kariandusi prehistoric site
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The upmarket pizza garden in Nairobi
has become a favourite rendezvous
for local people and visitors who appre-
ciate good food and warm hospitality in
an unpretentious setting.
Built in the 1950s, the pizza garden was
originally an eating place for trainees of
the Italian oil company agip at the former
agip motel, now the Jacaranda Hotel. most
of the agip trainees were from Italy, so
the pizza garden was established to serve
Italian cuisine.
TrADiTioNAl
Since its acquisition by Jacaranda Hotels
group, the pizza garden has maintained
its Italian tradition and is perhaps the only
place in Nairobi where you can enjoy a truly
authentic Italian pizza made the traditional
way in a coal-fi red oven.
This tradition has been maintained over
the years thanks to constant training and
the handing down of information from the
former Italian pizza cooks to the restaurant’s
modern-day chefs. This explains why the
pizzas at this restaurant have a superior taste
and colour to those at some other outlets.
Today, the pizza garden is a vibrant and
informal restaurant, open every day of the
week including Sundays. It has a chil-
dren’s playground that makes it a popular
weekend venue for families. The pizza
garden also has a lively nightclub with
theme nights to cater for fans of contempo-
rary african music (Rumba afrique) as well
as rock, soul, jazz and the latest hits.
apart from pizza, you can order other
dishes from the à la carte menu, which
includes burgers, grilled items, vegetarian
dishes and snacks.
upmArKeT eATery wiTH AN AuTHeNTic iTAliAN FlAvour
iTAliAN sTyleThe mouth-watering
pizzas are famous