In 1967 a group of Swiss travellers flew from Basle to Mombasa to escape the cold of their winter. They fell in love with Kenya and as a result formed a group of companies dedicated to sharing their love and enthusiasm for the country with other travellers. The African Safari Club is part of this Swiss group and specialises in Nile Cruise holidays and Indian Ocean cruises. The company has been operating for forty years and has built up an international reputation. Currently the company owns ten hotels on the Kenyan coast and six safari lodges and camps. Every aspect of a holiday is managed by the company: guests are transferred to their hotels in the company’s own vehicles; a fleet of light aircraft that transfer guests to the game reserves, departing from their own private airstrip and the company also has a fleet of safari vehicles.
In 1990 the company bought the 5,600-tonne yacht, M.S. Royal Star, which is now used to offer year-round cruises in the Indian Ocean, and which includes visits to the beautiful and relatively un-commercialised islands of the Indian Ocean. In 2006 cruises on the Nile, aboard the M.S. Star of Luxor, were added to their portfolio. The fleet also includes the 5-star M.S. Da Vinci and the 4-star M.S. Fleurette.
The African Safari Club’s hotels in Kenya are exclusive to their guests and are situated in beautiful tropical surroundings. Some are located slightly inland whereas others afford a wonderful view of the ocean with white-sand beaches and coral reefs. All the hotels offer a range of sporting facilities and regular evening entertainment. The hotels offer hot or cold buffet dishes for lunch and breakfast, while in the evening guests can choose from a buffet or a menu of specially prepared local dishes. As well as the main restaurant, the hotels have bars, cafeterias and additional eateries where guests can purchase drinks and food throughout the day. While all the hotels have swimming pools, the Laguna Sea Lodge has one of the best locations in Kenya for diving where guests can also enjoy a wide range of water sports.
The company has a range of Indian Ocean cruises that vary in duration from four to eighteen nights. The ‘Voyage to the Cape’ introduces travellers to the wonderful scenery and diverse cultures of South Africa. The cruises can be combined with either a relaxing stay at one of the company’s Kenyan hotels or a safari adventure.
The M.S. Royal Star is used solely for the Indian Ocean cruises and carries a maximum of just 200 passengers, giving her a more intimate and friendly atmosphere. This ship is fully air-conditioned and stabilised which makes her ideal for cruising and her small size enables her to visit ports that larger ships could not access. Guests are allowed up on to the bridge and this typifies the relaxed and informal atmosphere on board. All cabins have an en suite private shower and toilet, air-conditioning, telephone and a safe. Most have a port-hole window, although these may be covered in bad weather. Most of the suites additionally have a mini-bar, hair dryer and two bathrooms. Breakfast, lunch and buffets are informal and served on an open-sitting basis. The menu offers a range of delicious international dishes prepared by skilled chefs. There are three bars which provide alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The hair and beauty salon provides a range of services for both men and women, including manicures, massages and facials. There are shops on board for purchasing souvenirs, gifts jewellery, clothing and duty-free items. Guests can also use the swimming pool on the Promenade deck and a range of sports equipment on the Sun Deck. A small dance troupe, the ship’s crew and occasional cabaret acts provide onboard entertainment.
The company has joined with one of Egypt’s largest tour companies to provide seven-night cruises from Luxor to Aswan. Guests travel down the Nile on either the 5-star M.S. Da Vinci or the 4-star M.S. Fleurette which are reserved exclusively for African Safari Club guests. All cabins have a private shower and toilet, telephone, fridge, television, hair dryer and large windows. Both ships have a shop, sun deck, swimming pool, bar and a comfortable lounge. Meals are served in the restaurant which provides good views of the Nile from its large windows. Breakfast and lunch are buffet affairs, whilst dinner is either buffet or waiter service. The Nile cruises also include ten free excursions on which guests can explore the amazing treasures of ancient Egypt; all the tours are accompanied by qualified Egyptologists.
Please note the M.S. Royal Star is currently out of service.
Find out about all the ships in the African Safari Club fleet
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