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Age also embodies tenderness and compassion. When it comes to a camp like Zarafa, these qualities are embodied in the shine of thousands of hours of polish on the teak floors. At Mara Plains Camp, it is in the tree growth as it captures the sunlight and glows whilst enveloping the suites.

Truly, great things never grow old or fade away; they burn with the intensity of great stories.

I am pleased to confirm that no staff member at Great Plains was laid off throughout the pandemic. Even with the stop/start recovery in the tourism industry, Great Plains staff are at full salaries and work schedules, back at their stations, ready with a smile, albeit masked, a twinkle in their eyes and prepared to welcome you.

Every camp is open and, as you will have read, refreshed, refurbished and in many cases new or rebuilt. But, I do need to publicly thank our amazing staff for switching lanes, responsibilities and gear. Waiters polished floors. Guides hoisted tents. Mechanics and chefs dug trenches. Everyone shoulder to shoulder with managers.

All our camp’s floors are now glowing. Not a single Great Plains camp needs further refurbishment. Our staff are all trained, and readiness is at its peak.
I would also like to announce changes to the grading of our Great Plains Conservation camps. It starts with our highest level, our Great Plains Réserve Collection. These member camps include Mara Plains Camp, Mara Plains Jahazi Suite, Mara Nyika Camp, ol Donyo Lodge, Tembo Plains Camp & the Tembo Plains Suite, Zarafa Camp, Zarafa Dhow Suite, Selinda Camp, Selinda Suite, Duba Plains and the Duba Plains Suite. These all-suite camps are open with exceptional wine selections from private estates, executive chefs, personal, professional cameras, high-quality binoculars in vehicles, and everything you would expect from an ultra-luxury safari experience. These Réserve Collection camps are also members of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux association.

Next, we have our Great Plains Explorers Collection, including Duba Explorers Camp, Selinda Explorers Camp, Sapi Explorers Camp, Mara Toto Camp and Mara Expedition Camp. Expect ensuite bathrooms with showers, not baths, and tents that are slightly smaller but all with plumbing and excellent facilities, but at a price point that will match younger or the more adventurous traveller’s desires.

Our Great Plains Expeditions, starting up as a soft opening this year and expected to be ready in 2022, is our version of a mobile or travelling camp. This experience is starting in Botswana and will grow into East Africa. It is a new offering, but the style is ‘old safari’ and embodies that authenticity that comes with age-old inspiration from the adventurers of 100 years ago.
Nearly 100 years wise, one such traveller is Beverly’s mother, who celebrated her 92nd birthday this week. When we asked if we should pick her up for a lunch, she said: “Heavens no, I’ll drive myself.” Authentic, wise and beautiful.

As we stand now, 98.5% of our Kenyan staff are vaccinated. By the end of this month, our Botswana staff vaccinations will start to equal that of Kenya as we commence flying medical teams into our camps. Zimbabwe has been vaccinating for a while, and similar numbers have been achieved in South Africa to date.

We have vaxxed. We are open. And we’re glowing.