Jacaranda Plus Magazine - Issue 1

ISSUE ONE I 2012-13 I www.jacarandahotels.com

ZUMBAfi tnessCRAZE SWEEPS NAIROBI

Lake ElementaitaBIRDLIFE SPECTACLE ATNATURE+

DIANIBOUNDA RICH MAN’S PLAYGROUND

http://www.goplaceskenya.com

http://www.theglobalimagegroup.com

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


FOREWORD

nature+ BIRDLIFE

in tHe PinKLesser fl amingo at Lake Elementaita

at LaKe eLeMentaita


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


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


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

http://www.kcr-hr.com

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


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


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

http://www.fly540.com

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.


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


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


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


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.


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

http://www.jacarandahotels.com

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


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


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


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


JAcArANDA iNDiAN oceAN beAcH resorTp.o. Box 73 – 80400 Ukunda, Diani Beach – Kenya

Tel: 254-040 3203730fax: 254-040-3203557


lAKe elemeNTAiTA loDgep.o. Box 66 gilgil

Tel: (+254-050) 50836/50648fax: (+254-050) 50836


piZZA gArDeNp.o. Box 14827-00800, Nairobi

Tel: +254-2-4448713/4fax: +254-2-44446159/4448977


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


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


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


service Hotel guests receive

attentive service

I ISSUE 01 I 45

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


perFecT seTTiNg Breakfast ‘al fresco’

with a beautiful view

I ISSUE 01 I 47

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


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

http://www.kenchic.com

http://www.asantemedia.co.ke

Documents

Jacaranda Plus Magazine - Issue 1