Finch Hattons Luxury Safari Camp joins Virgin Limited Edition

Renowned for having some of the most spectacular properties across the globe, Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition today announces the addition of the award-winning Finch Hattons Luxury Safari Camp in Kenya to its exquisite collection of unique retreats.

Finch Hattons Luxury Safari Camp, located in the Tsavo National Park of Kenya will become the ninth property within the collection and its fifth footprint in Africa, complementing its other world-class properties across the continent, including Mahali Mzuri, Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyard, and the famed Kasbah Tamadot.  It will also become an integral part of the wider parent company, Virgin Hotels Collection, encompassing Virgin Hotels and Virgin Limited Edition, which was formed last year.

The tented safari camp, already distinguished for its family values, its deep-rooted connection to community and sustainability, while offering an incredible luxury safari experience in one of the greatest biodiversity regions in the world already aligns with the familiar values of the Virgin Limited Edition brand.  It will become the second property in Kenya for the collection giving strength to the portfolio on the Kenya tourism circuit and allowing its guests to combine first-class luxury facilities and world-class safari camps in two very different and equally beautiful areas of Kenya.

Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group commented “Africa is one of my favourite parts of the world.  Each cornerstone offers something entirely unique, surrounded by rich heritage and culture.  I’m delighted Finch Hattons and all of the incredible wildlife in the Tsavo National Park will join our Virgin family and I can’t wait to visit soon.”

Finch Hattons features 17-luxury tented suites and three decades of safari experience from the Kenyan-based Gehlot family - the owners of Finch Hattons and co-owners of Mahali Mzuri – together with Sir Richard Branson. It will offer future Virgin Limited Edition guests extraordinary experiences within the treasures of Tsavo, not to mention Africa’s only Shetani lava flow and breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro.

“This is a momentous occasion for Virgin Limited Edition and the whole of Virgin Hotels Collection as we welcome Finch Hattons to our family, remarked James Bermingham, CEO, Virgin Hotels Collection.  “Growth is very much part of our plan for the entire collection over the coming years and this is just the start as we look to expand our guest choice across the globe. We are privileged to have a very special portfolio and it’s incredibly important to protect this and grow carefully with those that offer the same extraordinary and personal experiences our guests have come to love and expect.

“Finch Hattons is a beautiful family-owned luxury tented safari camp and I could not be more delighted that our guests will now be able to experience the very best of Kenya in two equally beautiful safari camps, each with their own unique offering.  I’m grateful to the entire Gehlot family for creating something so wonderful and entrusting us to continue delivering on the incredible experiences they have built.”

Leena Gehlot, Managing Partner of Finch Hattons added “Finch Hattons is a deeply-rooted part of our entire family and very much at the heart of our family group of businesses, KG Group. For more than five generations our family have had firm roots in Kenya and we are incredibly proud of our very special safari camp. Bringing Finch Hattons into the portfolio of such a global brand is a huge leap forward for us and we are incredibly excited to showcase Finch Hattons to the wider world, together with Virgin Limited Edition.

“We could not have asked for a better brand who share the same values as us.  Just as we do, Virgin Limited Edition ensure people, community, culture and sustainability are at the very heart of their business.  Our team look forward to sharing their local wisdom, culture and our beautiful luxury tented safari camp to continue creating the incredible individual experiences a Virgin Limited Edition property is renowned for.”

“Kishan, Samit & Vikas Gehlot, KG Group’s other partners are also thrilled that through this partnership with Virgin Limited Edition, the real wilderness of Tsavo National Park will touch more people’s hearts and connect them to the natural beauty of Kenya, added Leena.” 

Finch Hattons will become part of the Virgin Limited Edition portfolio from 1st July 2024.  Rates start from $796 per person per night, including accommodation, all meals and drinks, as well as all scheduled activities including game drives, excursion to Shetani lava flow, Oldonyo Larami volcano hike, yoga, nature walks and return airstrip transfers.

For more information visit https://www.virginlimitededition.com/finch-hattons-coming-soon/ or call +44 (0) 208 600 0430.

 

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Notes to Editors

PVP Hospitality LLC, a hotel development and asset management firm, acted as a strategic advisor to Finch Hattons on the transaction. 

High-res images can be downloaded at:
https://www.virginlimitededition.com/trade-and-press/ 

Virgin Limited Edition

Virgin Limited Edition is an award-winning collection of unique retreats, chosen for their beautiful locations and magnificent surroundings; each offers a sense of fun, style, luxury and exceptional personal service. The group includes Necker Island in the Caribbean’s British Virgin Islands, Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in South Africa, Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco, The Lodge in Verbier, Mahali Mzuri, a tented safari camp in the Maasai Mara of Kenya, Finch Hattons in Tsavo National Park, Kenya, Mont Rochelle Hotel and Mountain Vineyard in South Africa, and the Son Bunyola Estate in Mallorca. 

Virgin Hotels Collection

Formed in January 2023, Virgin Hotels Collection is the parent brand of Virgin Hotels and Virgin Limited Edition, two award-winning and world-class luxury hospitality brands that form part of Sir Richard Branson’s global Virgin Group.  Dedicated to providing guests with irresistible and unrivalled hospitality experiences across the world, while making a meaningful and positive contribution to the communities and destinations the brands operate in, Virgin Hotels Collection is already changing the luxury hotel business for good. Combining smart design, local arts and culture and creative food and beverage, Virgin Hotels delivers a vibrant and inclusive lifestyle experience showcasing the best of each destination. Virgin Limited Edition’s ultra-luxury brand delivers a portfolio of once-in-a-lifetime unique retreats, private islands and hotels, that takes its guests to some of the world’s most breathtaking sanctuaries for unforgettable experiences - including one of the most exclusive private islands in the world. The hotel brands are joined by Virgin Residences, which will create world-class residential communities for those who want the Virgin experience in their everyday lives. Under Virgin Hotels Collection, each distinctive brand comes together to redefine luxury hospitality with a truly differentiated customer experience, sense of style, fun, personalized service and of course the Virgin magic at the forefront. For more information on Virgin Hotels Collection and its properties, please visit www.virginhotelscollection.com

About KG Group
KG Group is a multi-disciplinary group of companies founded by Kishan Gehlot over four decades ago.   A leading company in Kenya in infrastructure construction, real estate and hospitality.  KG Group along with Sir Richard Branson created and established a 10,000 acre conservancy adding precious land to the fragile ecosystem of the Maasai Mara and built Mahali Mzuri 10 years ago.   Always striving to be at the top of their game, KG Group creates a positive impact in every industry they work in to create a more sustainable and better future for our next generations.