Kasigau Wildlife Limited: Tourism as an alternative Source of livelihood for the Kasigau Community
To create an elegant wilderness experience that builds a stronger Africa
Kasigau Wildlife Limited, describes a business model that brings together a tour operator, Finch Travels Limited (FTL) and the 2500 members of the Taita Community living in the Kasigau area of Kenya’s Taita Taveta District.
FTL plans to build a 24 bed Eco-camp in the 52000 acre ranch. Set to begin full operations in June 2009, KWL will provide an excellent wilderness experience to middle- and high-income clients in the greater Tsavo area.
Facts
2007
| Two years ago: | 0 |
| Last year: | 0 |
| This year (forecast): | 175,610 |
| Year 2 (forecast): | 250,076 |
| Year 3 (forecast): | 338,025 |
| Two years ago: | 0 |
| Last year: | 0 |
| This year (forecast): | -32203 |
| Year 2 (forecast): | 17,806 |
| Year 3 (forecast): | 69,307 |
| Two years ago: | |
| Last year: | 2 |
| This year (forecast): | 27 |
| Year 2 (forecast): | 27 |
| Year 3 (forecast): | 34 |
Finance needed
| Finance needed for fixed assets (buying of machines, buildings, ...) | 341,216 |
| Finance needed for working capital (salaries, stock, rental, leasing, transport, ...) | 161,807 |
| Total finance needed (US$) | 503,023 |
How do you expect this to be financed?
| Own Contribution in cash | 66,667 |
| Loans (debt) | 103,023 |
| Shares in your company that you offer to investors (equity) | |
| Other sources | 333,333 |
| Total finance needed (US$) | 503,023 |
The Business
In concert with its physical design, Camp will embody the attributes most likely to appeal to the middle-high-income clientele targeted:
Exclusivity— defined size (24 beds), limiting occupancy to a maximum of 24.
Elegance—Evoking the ancient African safari tradition of style, finest meals and unrivaled personalized attention
Unlimited Adventure— day/night game drives, guided walks, mountain climbing (Mount Kasigau), horseback riding.
We target clients interested in exclusive wilderness experience blended with travel philanthropy. Besides enjoying wonderful stay, thrilling wildlife and culture, they want to see how their stay helps.
Our success resides in our focus, integrated 3Cs concept, superior products, and experience in the safari market. We intend to adhere to the strict ecotourism guidelines during planning, construction and even use of energy and waste management. Our staff are key drivers to this goal so we will continously train them and even rely on client feedback and peer review by participating in accreditation schemes such as ecorating scheme in Kenya.
KWL will employ a marketing strategy that reflects its goal for superior service and a fair partnership with the community. KWL will benefit from the already existing marketing vehicle set up by FTL and its affiliates-including a joint marketing office with Integra in Europe. An opportunity for KWL’s success currently exists due to fewer elegant properties in the area coupled with increased demand and growth in the global travel industry.
Our clients are a wonderful mix of ethical tourists who are conscious about conservation and community development and high spenders with median household incomes above U.S. $150,000 who are interested in an exclusive wilderness experience blended with travel philanthropy.
KWL’s competitors include Lion Rock Lodge, Voi Safari Lodge, and Kilaguni Serena Lodge, none of which offers exclusivity, elegance, and extra adventure (e.g., night game drives, game walks, horseback riding) to the middle- and high-income clients that we plan to target. However, their sizes, distance and location in the national park obviously sacrifices exclusivity and number of visitor activities they can offer.
We guarantee an exclusive, superior and all inclusive service to all our guests. Besides, our strong value system (Conservation, Community, Enterprise) is a desirable identity among our target clients.
The ingenious 3 C's concept (Conservation, Community Development and Competitive Returns) crafted jointly with the Kasigau community defines our business philosophy. Our value system is Key as this is going to be one of the truly ethical tourist properties in East Africa.
With its experience, reputation, competent management, and aggressive marketing through its Marketing affiliates, KWL is poised to take advantage of the regional growth in tourism to diversify its investments locally in Kasigau Area and beyond.
We will continue to seek strategic partners and investors to provide additional financing and capacity for our business expansion and overseas marketing efforts.
The Entrepreneur & Management
Frank brings in invaluable energy, passion, conservation and entrepreneurship skills thats essential in running KWL. Supporting his efforts will be, Boniface Nganga, also a Bsc. Wildlife Mngt graduate, Jim Kairu, a seasoned natural resource management expert, and Allan Bussard, managing director of The Integra Venture, a distinguished businessman, and an experienced project advisor.
KW L's team is well respected in their field for their vision and integrity, have demonstrated their commitment to sharing with their clients the exclusive wildlife areas by combining adventure and superior service. The 4 year relationship with the community and the ability to secure a 250,000 Euro grant from Slovak aid is testament to the teams ability. Their range of experience and diverse expertise provides a great and invaluable mix.
I spend between 50 % -80% of my working week in KWL. I expect to spend longer hours until construction is completed and a camp manager is recruited, there after I expect it to level to 50% time.
Development
The project is expected to significantly improve the income levels within the Kasigau Community estimated to $ 30,000-70,000 per year paid as dividends to land owners from land rent, and bed-night fees. KWL expects to directly employ 23 permanent jobs and about 20 casual annually bringing in close to 100,000 on salaries p.a. Wildlife populations are expected to double by year 3 and forest cover improved.